Advances in robots is stunning the world Just wait until Elon Musk’s additions to the field are fully integrated and launched. I predict not only will his robot be able to pack groceries, but they will also be able to do almost anything we humans now do. Just give them a couple of years. Watch…
In 1986, a Kroger grocery store on the outskirts of Atlanta introduced the first self-checkout system, a technological novelty that foreshadowed a shift towards more automated grocery shopping experiences. Now, decades later, these systems are ubiquitous across the United States, and the next advancement in grocery automation may soon follow: robotic bagging.
The @Ocado OSP smart platform on display at #modex202.
Moving at speeds of up to 4m/s, the bots collaborate to transport containers of grocery products that will be packed into customer bags by robotic arms or people.
Video Credit: Isaac Griffith#logistics #engineering pic.twitter.com/AgstGiAMjh
— Wevolver (@WevolverApp) March 31, 2024
This week, researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) are presenting a new development named RoboGrocery. This innovative system utilizes computer vision coupled with a soft robotic gripper designed to handle a variety of grocery items. In a demonstration of the system’s capabilities, researchers tested RoboGrocery with 10 different products that the robot had never encountered before, placed on a grocery conveyor belt.
MIT’s new soft robot is revolutionizing food packaging! It can gently & efficiently grasp delicate items like fruits & veggies. This tech could automate grocery packing & reduce food waste. #Robotics #FoodTech #Innovation https://t.co/3F277T8Hpe
— Paul | Interstellar Design (@ISDesignStudio) June 30, 2024
The assortment included both fragile items such as grapes, bread, kale, muffins, and crackers, and more durable goods like soup cans, meal boxes, and ice cream containers. The system’s vision technology first identifies and assesses the items, analyzing their size and placement. The robotic gripper then adjusts its handling based on the delicacy of the items; for example, it carefully picks up grapes with enough gentleness to avoid crushing them, recognizing their vulnerability, a lesson many human shoppers learn only from experience.
Visited Israeli high-tech company 1MRobotics this morning. Check out this robotic machine, already installed throughout Africa, that dispenses @Apple products. We also reviewed the prototype automated grocery store we plan to pilot test in the United States. pic.twitter.com/th4uWfNS7b
— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) June 14, 2024
Annan Zhang, a leading researcher in the study, highlighted the significance of their work: “This is a significant first step towards having robots pack groceries and other items in real-world settings. Although we’re not quite ready for commercial deployment, our research demonstrates the power of integrating multiple sensing modalities in soft robotic systems.” He noted that while the system marks a promising advance, further enhancements are needed, particularly in refining the gripper and vision systems to optimize the packing order and handling methods.
Major Points
- In 1986, the first self-checkout system was introduced at a Kroger store near Atlanta, marking the beginning of automation in grocery shopping.
- MIT’s CSAIL team has developed RoboGrocery, a system that combines computer vision and a soft robotic gripper to automatically bag groceries.
- The robot was tested with a variety of items, from delicate goods like grapes and bread to sturdier items like soup cans and ice cream containers.
- RoboGrocery’s vision system identifies and analyzes items on a conveyor belt, while the gripper adjusts handling based on item fragility.
- The technology shows promise for broader applications, including industrial and recycling facilities, although it requires further refinement for commercial use.
Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
