Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is working on self-driving shopping carts.
A patent filed by Walmart with the US Patent & Trademark Office reveals plans for shopping carts that customers can summon with the aide of an interface device, which would likely be a smartphone. The patent mentions that these carts would have motors attached to them with sensors that could let them see their surroundings.
One possible use of the Walmart self-driving shopping carts would be returning carts to the store. This could mean that carts corrals would no longer be needed and employees wouldn’t be given the task. The cart could also scan store shelves to assure that they stay stocked with products for customers to buy and lead them to the items.
The system to create self-driving shopping carts would have the company retrofitting its normal carts with new technology. This technology would be a motor with various sensors. The motor in the patent is detachable, which means it could be used on different carts, reports CNNMoney.
Five Elements Robotics is reportedly working with Walmart to develop the self-driving shopping carts. The robotics company is said to be evaluating a prototype in its lab. This wouldn’t be the company’s first helpful robot. It also released Budgee in 2014. This robot is designed to help a person carry things in inside and outside environments. It has been used to help people with disabilities, Bloomberg notes.
Walmart’s work on self-driving shopping carts is likely part of an effort to make shopping easier on customers. The retailer has been working to find ways to better compete with online retailer Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).
