Home-grown firm shows off robotic, AI convenience kiosk

Inside a bright orange kiosk measuring 3m by 2m, a robotic arm grips and dispenses items on sale with a magnet, performing all the tasks of a typical store clerk.

- Joyce Lee

After the packaged snacks or crochet toys of anime characters are dispensed into the gigantic vending machine's collection slot, the robotic arm swivels to replenish the respective items from a restocking shelf.

This robotic convenience kiosk is Mr R, an automated retail solution developed by local start-up Unistop.

Unlike ordinary vending machines, Mr R can display up to 300 product types and store over 2,000 individual items.

Separate freezer, chiller and room temperature compartments allow retailers to offer a wide variety of snacks, drinks and daily essentials.

Since winning $95,000 in funding in 2023 from tech accelerator programme Stellarate by Stellar Lifestyle, the business arm of public transport operator SMRT, Unistop has expanded its operations and upgraded the system.

From six locations in 2023, Unistop now operates at 10 sites islandwide, including one at Esplanade MRT station and several at Housing Board void decks in Jurong and Choa Chu Kang.