Robot arms are replacing shelf stockers in Japan's convenience stores

Dubbed TX SCARA, each unit can replace one to three hours of human work per day per store. - TELEXISTENCE INC./FACEBOOK

TOKYO (Bloomberg): Telexistence Inc and FamilyMart Co are rolling out a fleet of AI-driven robots to restock shelves in 300 convenience stores across Japan.

The robot arms are designed to replenish drinks in refrigerators and are now in mass production, Tokyo-based Telexistence said in a statement Wednesday (Aug 10). They’ll be installed in FamilyMart locations across major metropolitan areas later this month and help relieve store workers while also filling the void left by a shrinking workforce in the country.