News
The AGH University Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, in collaboration with MAKRO Cash and Carry Polska, has launched a new research project on the use of humanoid robots in modern retail.
The project focuses on developing technologies that will enable autonomous robots to assist shop staff with day-to-day tasks, such as monitoring product availability, checking that displays are correct, identifying stock shortages, and carrying out stock-takes. Research carried out directly within the shop environment will enable the development and validation of these solutions, whilst helping to accelerate the development of autonomous robotic systems.
The project is yet another example of the close cooperation of AGH University with its industrial partners. By conducting research in a real-world environment, it is possible to develop solutions that meet the specific needs of businesses and translate research findings into practical applications more quickly.
“The continued development of artificial intelligence and robotics plays a pivotal role in driving innovation in both modern science and the global economy. At AGH University, we are committed to cultivating an environment that fosters collaboration between academia and industry, enabling innovative solutions to be developed and tested inreal-world conditions. This project closely reflects our university’s mission to foster technological innovation that meets the evolving needs of the economy and to train highly qualified specialists capable of developing, deploying, and refining these solutions in practice,” emphasises Professor Jerzy Lis, AGH University Rector.
The first stage of the project is to collect a representative data set from a real-world retail environment. The data will be used to develop state-of-the-art robotic perception algorithms based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. As a result, robots will be able to recognise products, analyse their surroundings, understand the context of the tasks they are performing, and make autonomous decisions.
“Humanoid robots are no longer merely technology demonstrators; they are becoming platforms capable of performing real-world tasks in environments designed for humans. Our aim is to develop perception and decision-making methods that will enable robots to operate autonomously and efficiently in a dynamic retail environment. By joining forces with an industry partner, we can conduct research under real-world conditions and significantly accelerate the transfer of the technologies we are developing into practical applications,” says Professor Paweł Skruch from the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, the project leader.
The experiments that are being carried out as part of the study make use of a commercial humanoid platform directly within the shop environment. The robot is used both for data collection and for testing and validating the algorithms under development, making it possible to assess the effectiveness of new methods under conditions similar to those of future deployments and to gradually increase the level of autonomy of robotic systems.
“In the coming years, humanoid robots will play an increasingly important role in a number of sectors of the economy. In order to work effectively with humans, they must first learn to understand the world around them. That is why we are starting by building high-quality datasets and developing advanced perception algorithms, which form the foundation of future autonomous robotic systems. This project combines scientific research with the real needs of industry and demonstrates the potential of the artificial intelligence being developed at AGH University,” adds Dr Joanna Jaworek-Korjakowska, Associate Professor at AGH University and Director of the Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence.
The project aligns with the Centre’s long-term strategy for the development of intelligent autonomous systems and humanoid robots. The technologies under development may find applications not only in the retail sector, but also in logistics, warehousing, smart factories, healthcare, among many other sectors of the economy.
Initial experiments confirm the great potential of humanoid robots as intelligent collaborators of us humans. The project paves the way for the development of a new generation of autonomous systems, which could significantly change the way modern shops and other work environments operate in the coming years.
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