ANA to Test Shopping Service Using Robot

Tokyo, Dec. 4 (Jiji Press)--ANA Holdings Inc. <9202> said Wednesday it will test a service in which a robot remote-controlled by a smartphone app does shopping on behalf of a customer.

The test will take place between Thursday and Dec. 24 at the Coredo Muromachi 3 commercial building in Tokyo's Chuo Ward, the company said.

The robot equipped with cameras will move around the store by wheels attached to the base. The user will be able to purchase products by communicating with store staff displayed on the smartphone screen. Payments will be made via the smartphone.

Member registration and reservations will be required to use the service.

The ANA-developed, horsetail-like robot, named newme, is 150 centimeters tall. It has a display at the top that will show the face of the user.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]