Walmart used Bossa Nova robots to scan store shelves for inventory and pricing problems.
The machines were developed by Bossa Nova Robotics, a company founded in Pittsburgh in 2005 by Carnegie Mellon University robotics researchers. Walmart began introducing the shelf-scanning system in 2016, initially testing it in 50 U.S. stores before expanding its use.
The robots used cameras, bright lights, depth sensors, and lidar to move through aisles and inspect shelves. They could identify out-of-stock products, misplaced merchandise, incorrect prices, and missing labels. The resulting data helped store associates decide which shelves needed attention.
“Bossa Nova” refers most commonly to the company and its retail robot system; the robots were also associated with the company’s Auto-S product line. Walmart ended its contract with Bossa Nova in 2020, so the robots are no longer a current feature of its stores. They are often confused with Walmart’s other automation projects, such as warehouse systems and floor-cleaning robots.