Californian artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company Brain and Minnesota-based Dane Technologies are working together to develop inventory-scanning retail robots.

The platform, designed with a modular architecture, is the latest evolution of Brain’s BrainOS robotics platform, which powers more than 30,000 autonomous robots operating in commercial public spaces.

The partnership will leverage Brain’s expertise in AI and autonomous technology and Dane’s work in manufacturing and deploying retail technology. The collaboration will focus on delivering to retailers robots for intelligent inventory management and other applications to increase productivity, efficiency and visibility.

“We’re thrilled to further our partnership with Dane Technologies and bring the next generation of inventory-scanning retail options to market,” said John Black, senior vice president at Brain. “Retail is a rapidly evolving business with large opportunities, and this collaboration is focused squarely on delivering robots able to consistently make retailer’s lives easier, elevate their customers’ experiences and ensure their stores run even more efficiently.”

Brain’s robotics platform includes fully automated, zero touch robot operation, enablement of vision-based AI data applications, localisation and navigation performance, safety and durability, and improved human-robot interaction.

“We’re excited to be working closely with Brain to deliver a new generation of autonomous inventory scanning retail options,” said Dan Johnson, CEO of Dane Technologies. “The next-generation platform is the perfect complement to our manufacturing and deployment capabilities, and we’re very confident that our combined expertise will deliver meaningful expense reduction and exceptional RoI to retailers worldwide.”

Brain (www.braincorp.com) specialises in robotic AI software that powers autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) operating in commercial public spaces. OEMs use the company’s BrainOS cloud-connected platform to create scalable, self-driving robots that are used to clean floors and sense environmental data. Brain powers more than 30,000 AMRs.

Dane Technologies (www.danetechnologies.com) was founded in 1996 to help retailers address the safety and productivity challenges of manual shopping cart retrieval and management. It has grown from that single product to serve clients in retail, industrial, distribution, transportation and healthcare around the world.