Japan tests staffless store for commuters

Busy Tokyo-ites can now make use of a staffless convenience store during their commute.

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Starting today, the experimental store at Akabane station in northern Tokyo is accessible to commuters who tap their Suica – a popular travel and prepaid card – at the entrance.

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The robo-store has 80 cameras – including ones embedded into the shelves – to watch what shoppers pick up, reports NHK.

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Footage credit: NHK

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An image recognition and AI system then calculates the bill, which shoppers pay by tapping their Suica before exiting.

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Footage credit: NHK

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East Japan Railway, Suica’s creator, is trailing one store at Akabane station for two months before possible expansion, according to the Japanese news channel.

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Japan has long had a love affair with convenience stores and vending machines, so this hi-tech blend of both things could be a big hit.

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Cashierless stores have already taken off in China, where people pay with their phones via one of two hugely popular wallet apps.

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Footage credit: Bingobox

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Over in the US, Amazon has opened five of its unmanned Go stores, where payment is tied to a users’ Amazon account.

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