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An army of robots – all named Marty – this year goes to grocery stores in Maryland and Virginia.
The giant food stores will deploy the robots in 172 of its stores to help prevent the risk of tripping and clean up spills. Some locations in Culpeper, Virginia, and Hagerstown, Maryland, will be equipped with robots.
Marty – a tall, gray and boxy robot with large, wide-eyed eyes – is expected to handle spills of liquids, powders and bulk foods, while allowing time for employees.
The robots were tested as part of a pilot program in two Pennsylvania Giant stores, Ahold Delhaize USA parent company said in a press release Monday.
"Bringing robotics and AI from a research lab to the point of sale has been a very exciting journey, and we have been delighted with the reaction of our customers in our pilot stores," said Nicholas Bertram, president of Giant Food Stores. "Our badociates have worked hard to bring this innovation to life with extraordinary partners."
Marty is about to arrive by waves and to be present at all the stores owned by Ahold Delhaize USA by mid – 2019.
A Marty will be awarded to six Maryland stores, including Hagerstown, Eldersburg, Lavale and Rising Sun. Nine stores in Virginia will receive a Marty, located in Culpeper, Royal Front, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Stephens City, Waynesboro and Winchester.
Giant Food, a distinctly better known grocery chain in the Washington area, does not get the bots.
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