Walmart is evaluating a smart cart prototype for use in stores

It won’t be the George Jetson robot maid (as if many Millennials know who that is), but Walmart is working with Five Elements Robotics to develop a shopping cart that helps customers find items on their lists and saves them from pushing a heavy cart through a large store and parking lot.

The New Jersey-based tech company said Tuesday (June 14) that it’s working with the world’s largest retailer on a robotic shopping cart. Wendy Roberts, CEO of Five Elements Robotics, shared the news at the Bloomberg Technology Conference.

While robots have become standard in some manufacturing, they are still a novelty in retail and other applications. Walmart recently told the media during its shareholder week that there is a team of scientists and technology experts within Walmart that continually look at ways technology can be used to bring efficiency and convenience throughout the business. This innovation team is also looking at drone technology and exploring how that can be used across the business.

Walmart is evaluating a smart cart prototype in its lab and giving feedback to the robotics company. Ravi Jariwala, corporate spokesman, said the company had no details to share on the robotic cart.

“We test many new technologies at any given time, including innovations from several companies. We are focused on testing how these advanced technologies can help make shopping faster, easier and more convenient for our customers,” Jariwala told Talk Business & Politics.

Five Elements Robotics first developed Budgee in early 2014 with the goal of seeing the robot integrated into daily life. The robot is equipped to carry items for the user. Budgee weighs just less than 20 pounds and can be driven by remote control using a smartphone or tablet. The company said in 2014 a second target for this type of smart cart would be retail chains and mall management services.

“For retail chains such as Walmart, KMart, Target, etc, having a fleet of Budgees will not only draw shoppers due to the novelty, but also help them with sales,” the company said.

This type of smart cart can be equipped with helpful information such as where store items are located and also remind customers of sales and their locations in the store. The robot can also be equipped with a scanner to better facilitate checkout and allow customers to skip the line. The company also said the smart cart could alert management if a customer tries to leave with an item they didn’t purchase.

Budgee retails for $1,399 and can carry up to 50 pounds. It is not clear what prototype Walmart is evaluating. It’s unlikely Walmart would spend that kind of money on shopping carts, but given the retailer’s own tech savvy perhaps there is a way Walmart can make its own shopping carts smarter in the years to come.

The retailer remains committed to making the shopping experience easier and more enjoyable and is investing quite heavily in those endeavors. The company will roll out Walmart Pay, its mobile payment option across the nation this month. It continues to expand online grocery pickup and recently announced its testing home delivery of groceries with Uber and Lyft in two markets.