Why online supermarket Ocado wants to take the human touch out of groceries

By Jacopo Prisco, CNN

Updated 0807 GMT (1607 HKT) May 24, 2021

Robots are an increasingly familiar presence in warehouses. At the south-east London warehouse run by <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/26/world/ocado-supermarket-robot-warehouse-spc-intl/index.html" target="_blank">British online supermarket Ocado, 3,000 robots fulfill shopping orders</a>. When an order is sent to the warehouse, the bots spring to life and head towards the container they require. <strong>Scroll through to see more robots that are revolutionizing warehouses.</strong>
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
Robots are an increasingly familiar presence in warehouses. At the south-east London warehouse run by British online supermarket Ocado, 3,000 robots fulfill shopping orders. When an order is sent to the warehouse, the bots spring to life and head towards the container they require. Scroll through to see more robots that are revolutionizing warehouses.
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In response to the coronavirus pandemic, MIT collaborated with Ava Robotics and the Greater Boston Food Bank to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/04/tech/mit-csail-coronavirus-robot-scn-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">design a robot that can use UV light to sanitize the floor of a 4,000-square foot warehouse in just 30 minutes</a>.
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, MIT collaborated with Ava Robotics and the Greater Boston Food Bank to design a robot that can use UV light to sanitize the floor of a 4,000-square foot warehouse in just 30 minutes.
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<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/14/business/robots-japan-supermarkets-spc-intl/index.html" target="_blank">Seven-foot "Model-T" robots produced by Japanese startup Telexistence</a> have been stacking shelves in two of Tokyo's largest convenience store franchises. Featuring cameras, microphones and sensors, the Model-T uses three "fingers" to stock items such as bottled drinks, cans and rice bowls. The robot is controlled by shop staff remotely.
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
Seven-foot "Model-T" robots produced by Japanese startup Telexistence have been stacking shelves in two of Tokyo's largest convenience store franchises. Featuring cameras, microphones and sensors, the Model-T uses three "fingers" to stock items such as bottled drinks, cans and rice bowls. The robot is controlled by shop staff remotely.
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US company Boston Dynamics has become known for its advanced work robots. <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/videos/business/2019/04/02/boston-dynamics-handle-robot-orig.cnn-business" target="_blank">"Handle" is made for the warehouse </a>and equipped with an on-board vision system. It can lift boxes weighing over 30 pounds.
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
US company Boston Dynamics has become known for its advanced work robots. "Handle" is made for the warehouse and equipped with an on-board vision system. It can lift boxes weighing over 30 pounds.
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<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/videos/business/2021/03/29/boston-dynamics-new-robot-stretch-rn-orig.cnn-business?utm_term=video&utm_content=2021-04-03T20%3A01%3A04&utm_source=twbusiness&utm_medium=social" target="_blank">Stretch is the latest robot from Boston Dynamics</a> and can work in warehouses and distribution centers. Designed to keep human workers out of harm's way, Stretch's tentacle-like grippers mean it can manipulate boxes.
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
Stretch is the latest robot from Boston Dynamics and can work in warehouses and distribution centers. Designed to keep human workers out of harm's way, Stretch's tentacle-like grippers mean it can manipulate boxes.
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Although not specifically designed for warehouses, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/16/tech/boston-dynamics-robot-dog-spot-sale/index.html" target="_blank">Boston Dynamics' dog-like robot "Spot"</a> can lift objects, pick itself up after a fall, open and walk through doors, and even remind people to practice social distancing.
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
Although not specifically designed for warehouses, Boston Dynamics' dog-like robot "Spot" can lift objects, pick itself up after a fall, open and walk through doors, and even remind people to practice social distancing.
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This robot is used to plant seeds and check plants at the "Nordic Harvest" vertical farm based in Taastrup, Denmark. The indoor farm is one of the biggest in Europe.
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
This robot is used to plant seeds and check plants at the "Nordic Harvest" vertical farm based in Taastrup, Denmark. The indoor farm is one of the biggest in Europe.
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Robots sort packages at a warehouse run by JD.com -- one of China's largest e-commerce firms, in Wuhan, China, ahead of the annual Singles Day online shopping bonanza, in 2019.
Photos: The robots running our warehouses
Robots sort packages at a warehouse run by JD.com -- one of China's largest e-commerce firms, in Wuhan, China, ahead of the annual Singles Day online shopping bonanza, in 2019.
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(CNN)In a warehouse larger than three football fields, 3,000 bots scuttle along at 13 feet per second, swerving to avoid each other in a complex dance governed by artificial intelligence. Their goal? To get your groceries much faster than humanly possible.

The south-east London warehouse is run by British online supermarket Ocado and features the latest in its automation technology. The company started out developing the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP) for its own use, but the system has proved so successful it licenses it to other supermarkets.