Telexistence Model T

2020: Use of Telexistence Model T robots in shops of Japan

At the beginning of November, 2020 it became known that in shops of Japan began to use the Model T robot from Telexistence company. Employees can manage the robot performing functions of the merchandiser, directly from the house using virtual reality.

The Japanese company Telexistence already agreed about partnership with local retail network FamilyMart. As of November, 2020 Model T robots are used for arrangement of drinks on shelves, however developers intend to expand functionality of the robot.

In shops of Japan there were Telexistence Model T robots tracing a remaining balance of goods on shelves

Control of the Model T robot is exercised using a helmet of virtual reality and also special controllers which are available worldwide where there is a connection to the Internet. Video conference between the operator and the robot has a delay in 50 milliseconds that practically does not affect synchronism.

Telexistence expects that in 2022 Model T robots will work in 20 Japanese shops at a permanent basis. In the long term the company is going to implement robots in FamilyMart shops across all Japan.

Nevertheless, Model T developers should solve some problems. First, the speed of movement of the robot on supermarket too slow in comparison with the speed of work of the person. Secondly, the VR headset can make dizziness or sick operators, especially if they carry it for a long time.

The head of Telexistence Yuichiro Hikosaka notes that Japan with its aging population even more often faces labor shortage - it is especially fair concerning jobs with low income. He claims that it can be partially solved by deployment of thousands of Model T robots in places where sometimes it is necessary to perform physical work and also they can be provided to the companies for an opportunity far off to employ people for control of the robot, when necessary.^[1]

Notes