NAMA's Newest Robots & Unattended Retail Solutions
Cantaloupe, Mr. R, Qarm, Wonderfil
Last week the NAMA Show — the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s big annual get together — landed in Los Angeles, and Ottomate was on site to check out the latest innovations. Between aisles and aisles of sugary snacks and pre-packaged sandwiches, there were a number of interesting robots, vending machines and unattended retail solutions on display. Here are a few that caught our eye:
Cantaloupe Smart Aisle
Amazon may be giving up on its checkout-free shopping, but Cantaloupe sure isn’t. While the brand has a number of smaller solutions for unattended retail, its Smart Aisle paints the biggest picture: 3D cameras, AI and shelf scales track all the goods and customers, billing visitors as soon as they walk out.
Mr. R Micro Robotic Convenience Store
Why not stick a six-axis arm in a vending machine? That seems to be the eye-catching concept behind the Mr. R Micro Robotic Convenience Store, which just landed from Singapore. While it may not be the most space efficient, the 12 3/4 x 7 1/2 foot box is also festooned with screens, making it sure to garner attention from passersby looking for a novel shopping experience. It feels like scaled down version of VenHub.
Qarm Robotic Barista
Does the world need another coffee bot? While the folks at Hestia and Cafe X might not welcome the competition, Qarm is making its way stateside, in a move that is sure to put more downward pricing pressure on the overall concept.
Wonderfil
Sometimes the best concepts are the simplest ones. Wonderfil takes the familiar mechanics of pouring a pint of beer and applies it to personal care items, helping cut down on waste at markets, colleges and hotels. Founder Amelia Eichel gave us a hands-on tour, below.