The Robots Have Shown Up for Work in This Futuristic Los Angeles Store
The robot revolution is here. It just doesn’t look like what you might expect.
A new chapter in retail automation has arrived in Los Angeles, but it’s not quite the sci-fi spectacle some might imagine. At the newly opened LAX/Metro Transit Center station, the big attraction isn’t the sleek new transit infrastructure—it’s VenHub, a fully automated “smart store” that operates around the clock without any human staff.
VenHub functions much like a high-tech, app-driven bodega. Customers use an app to select and purchase items, after which two industrial robot arms—named Barb and Peter—spring into action. These robots, reminiscent of those found in car factories, use grippers and suction cups to retrieve products from storage and deliver them to a secure window. Once customers scan a QR code to confirm their purchase, the window opens and their order is handed over, all without human intervention.
This system is designed to be both efficient and reliable. The robots can back each other up: if one encounters a technical issue, the other takes over seamlessly. The store’s glass is bulletproof, and the entire process is monitored by cameras and sensors for added security. The automation also means VenHub can operate 24/7, sidestepping common vending machine frustrations like jammed products or swallowed bills.
VenHub’s selection includes drinks, snacks, basic toiletries, and tech accessories, all at competitive prices. CEO Shahan Ohanessian acknowledges that while robots are replacing some traditional retail jobs, the system still requires human workers for restocking and technical support. He argues that such innovation creates new roles in automation and robotics maintenance, echoing broader debates about AI and employment.
VenHub’s debut is seen as a sign of things to come, with plans to expand into more locations, including underserved communities and major airports. As Ohanessian puts it, “This is the direction in which the world is heading in the coming years”.
Austin H-E-B shoppers can order groceries and have them delivered by a friendly-looking robot, as the store in the Mueller neighborhood now has bots on wheels posted outside ready to fulfill orders.
According to a banner at the location, shoppers can get up to 10 small items delivered by one of the robots, decorated with a red flag protruding from the top and a front side that lights up with triangles mimicking eyes. The service is available exclusively in the Mueller neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The banner also provides a code for users to take advantage of a no-delivery-fee offer. Plus, no tip is necessary, the banner notes.
H-E-B told Chron that it has launched a small pilot in which select Favor orders are delivered using autonomous vehicles. The androids, which have a service radius of approximately one mile, have been parked at the Mueller H-E-B since at least late May. H-E-B commented on an Instagram post about the robot's "cute and friendly" appearance about three weeks ago, writing, "Finally, a delivery service that won’t judge for ordering ice cream in the winter."
Delivery robots at the Mueller H-E-B.
The robots are labeled as an "Avride autonomous delivery robot," indicating that the Austin-based company is behind the robot couriers. Just a year ago, Avride had 10 robots wheeling around Mueller and delivering food for restaurants, KXAN reported last May. Now, it's seemingly doing the same for H-E-B, and had six parked outside the store on Friday afternoon.
And while 10 small items might not be enough to fill up a customer's grocery order for the week, Avride boasts that its delivery robots contain a hatch that can hold six 16.5-inch pizzas and five 1.5-liter bottles.
The delivery robot moves at speeds between three to five miles per hour with the help of LiDAR, allowing it to detect objects even in the dark. The bot's other tech involves cameras to identify traffic signals and ultrasonic sensors to stop if an object comes in its path. Avride also claims the robots can move in any weather condition, including rain and snow.
This wouldn't be H-E-B's first time recruiting robots for help; during the pandemic, H-E-B partnered with an automation firm to use robots for support with curbside and delivery orders.
The Texas grocer has also been focused on tech improvements in recent months. In August, H-E-B and Favor launched a service known as H-E-B Now, allowing customers using the Favor app to get 15 items or fewer and have them delivered in under 45 minutes. Then, in October, H-E-B started rolling out tap-to-pay at all of its stores to the excitement of its customers. And in February, H-E-B opened a new e-commerce fulfillment center in Houston to support curbside and delivery orders in the metro area.