AT&T is partnering with retail robotics company Badger Technologies to test how 5G networking can accelerate retail automation. Badger makes autonomous mobile robots that monitor shelves in grocery stores to identify out of stock or inappropriately shelved items.
Badger plans to roll out its robots in more than 500 North American retailers over the coming years, including Giant, Martin, and Stop & Shop stores.
See: What is 5G? The definitive guide to next-generation wireless technology
The problem is that mobile robots put a heavy networking strain on retailers’ Wi-Fi networks, which may also be used for vital functions like payment processing. One promising answer on the horizon is 5G networking.
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