F5 Future Store is a convenience store that uses a combination of machine automation and artificial algorithms instead of labor.
The 35-square-meter F5 shop in Shenzhen consists of two counters for food and goods, a beverage-maker and a self-cleaning dining table. Customers can order and pay for products at a special terminal or wirelessly with their smartphones. The retrieval of goods and cleaning of tables is done solely by robotic arms attached to the appliances.
Shoppers receive their items in under a minute without having to line up to check out.
The unmanned convenience store is a nascent industry that is attracting big companies both in China and abroad. E-commerce giant Amazon sparked market interest when it revealed its concept of Amazon Go stores, which allow shoppers to walk in, pick up goods and leave without interacting with anyone. Technologies including computer vision, deep-learning algorithms and sensors help track what buyers take and then bill their accounts.
Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area 