If a certain tech startup succeeds with its task, you could soon see a robot roaming the aisles of the store while you're looking for those 'healthy' snacks.
"Tally" is the name of the inventory-tracking robot that Simbe Robotics hopes to sell to retailers like Target and CVS.
It’s able to tell when a product is in low-supply or placed on the wrong shelf. That task is usually done by employees with handheld scanners. Simbe's CEO says an employee takes 20 to 30 hours a week surveying items at a midsized store. He claims "Tally" can scan 15,000 items in an hour.
It’s a strong selling point, considering one firm's estimate that out-of-stock items cost retailers nearly $500 billion a year.
Instructional Links
Website: Robot Shop, How to Make a Robot
http://www.robotshop.com/blog/en/robots/gorobotics/tutorials/how-to-make-a-robot
Lesson Plan: What is a Robot?
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/eng06.sci.engin.design.lp_robot/what-is-a-robot/