Lowe’s puts robots to use in eleven stores

After a pilot project, which was started two years ago, Lowe's is now extending the use of robots across the shop floor. This autumn, the US-based DIY retailer introduces the system it has called LoweBot in eleven Lowe's stores throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Following a successful robotics test of OSHbot at one of the company's Orchard Supply Hardware stores, LoweBot will roll out in phases over a seven-month period, beginning in September in Silicon Valley, specifically in San Jose, CA.
LoweBot isn't intended to replace consultants, but merely add a layer of support to amplify the advice of Lowe's employees as it helps customers with simple questions, enabling more time for employees to focus on delivering project expertise and personalised service. Having the ability to scan inventory and capture real-time data with LoweBot will also help detect patterns or gaps that will ultimately influence business decisions, according to expectations on the use of these robots.
LoweBot was developed through a partnership between Lowe's Innovation Labs and Fellow Robots, the same Silicon Valley technology company that worked on the OSHbot pilot.