Robot Underlords<\/p>\n
Two major convenience store franchises in Japan are testing out robots capable of stocking shelves using two creepy hands with three fingers each, CNN reports.<\/p>\n
The seven-foot is called Model-T, named after the Ford automobile that triggered a car revolution in the early 1900s, and was developed by Japanese startup Telexistence. During a pilot program, it was controlled by a pilot in an office miles away.<\/p>\n
It is able to grasp, or pick and place, objects of several different shapes and sizes into different locations, Matt Komatsu, head of business development and operations at Telexistence, told CNN.<\/p>\n
That makes it more nimble and mobile than the robots used by Walmart to scan shelves for inventory, according to its inventors.<\/p>\n
The goal is to allow a single human to work at multiple stores, a solution for possible labor shortages. Japan also has a rapidly aging population with fewer able-bodied people ready to take on such jobs.<\/p>\n
The Model T is controlled by a human wearing a virtual reality headset and special gloves. A microphone and headphones even allow for communication with nearby shoppers.<\/p>\n
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic ended up accelerating development of the Model T as such a technology could end up reducing human-to-human contact. According to CNN, Telexistence saw an uptick in interest over the last couple of months.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Seven-foot robots are stacking shelves in Tokyo convenience stores [CNN]<\/p>\n
More on robotic workers: Walmart Employees Hate Their New Robot Coworkers<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More: Robot Underlords Two major convenience store franchises in Japan are testing out robots capable of stocking shelves using two creepy hands with three fingers each, CNN reports. The seven-foot is called Model-T, named after the Ford automobile that triggered a car revolution in the early 1900s, and was developed by Japanese startup Telexistence. During a pilot program, it was controlled by a pilot in an office miles away. Continue reading
\nStores In Japan Are Stocking Shelves With Remote-Controlled Robots - Futurism<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"