Instacart is setting a new standard for in-store grocery technology by integrating NVIDIA AI software libraries running on the NVIDIA Jetson Orin edge AI platform into Smart Trolleys, its AI-powered smart trolley.
NVIDIA Jetson’s onboard AI helps Smart Trolleys provide a delightful customer experience while creating new revenue streams for both retailers and brands. With customers simply dropping items into the trolley, real-time latency is critical for automatic and fast item recognition – NVIDIA Jetson offers a powerful platform that unlocks significant amounts of computing right on a Smart Trolleys.
Smart Trolleys also use NVIDIA Jetson to capture and process the full view of the basket and items. Smart Trolley seamlessly recognises items leveraging an advanced sensor fusion approach, tapping signals from an array of Smart Trolley cameras connected to NVIDIA Jetson, combined with signals from Smart Trolley digital scale and location sensors.
“Smart Trolleys are revolutionising supermarkets by making AI approachable for all customers of all ages. We’re using AI to deliver a delightful shopping experience directly in the aisles of neighbourhood supermarkets,” said David McIntosh, Chief Connected Stores Officer at Instacart. “Through the power of Jetson, we’re able to accurately and quickly capture items placed in a Smart Trolley, creating a seamless shopping experience that feels like magic. By combining NVIDIA’s deep hardware expertise with more than a decade of Instacart’s grocery technology experience, we’re powering a best-in-class Smart Trolley experience for customers, retailers and brands.”
“AI-powered smart trolley are helping turn grocery shopping from a chore into a pleasure,” said Azita Martin, VP of AI for Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods and Quick-Service Restaurants at NVIDIA. “Instacart’s Smart Trolley, powered by NVIDIA Jetson accelerated computing and AI, is providing customers in the U.S. and Europe with the real-time insights they need to make informed shopping decisions.”
Traditional AI implementation relies on cloud infrastructures and large data centres to power model training and inference for object detection or product recommendation. NVIDIA Jetson enables the local deployment of various types of AI models by combining high-performance, low-power compute modules with NVIDIA’s technology stack. It delivers powerful AI compute and high-speed interface support, making NVIDIA Jetson an ideal platform for applications like advanced robotics, and other autonomous products, like Smart Trolleys. And for environments like supermarkets where network connections can be unpredictable, NVIDIA Jetson-powered edge computing enables a reliable, consistent experience.
Retailers currently offering Smart Trolleys include Bristol Farms, Fairway Market, The Fresh Grocer, Geissler’s Supermarket, Kroger, McKeever’s Market & Eatery, Price Chopper, Schnucks and ShopRite in North America, as well as ALDI in Austria. With a net promoter score of 70+ at ramped locations and suitable for retailers of all sizes, Smart Trolleys offer an efficient and delightful shopping experience and digital screen engagement an average of over 30 minutes per shop.
To learn more about Smart Trolleys or book a demo, get in touch today.
