They came quietly, without much fanfare or the robotic dominance some might have expected.
After six years navigating supermarket aisles, Woolworths’ safety robots have now been officially retired.
The supermarket giant has confirmed that its much-discussed trial of in-store robots—first launched in 2019—has come to an end, with the machines deemed ‘not the right fit’ for the chain’s more than 1000 stores across Australia.
If you ever shopped at one of the select stores in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria or Queensland where these robots were trialled, you might remember the odd sight: a tall, slow-moving robot gliding past the fruit and veg, scanning for spills or stray items, and occasionally making announcements over the intercom.
For some, it was a glimpse of the future. For others, it was a source of confusion, amusement, or even mild irritation.
Why did Woolworths try robots in the first place?
The idea behind the robots was simple: improve safety for both customers and staff.
The robots were designed to patrol the aisles, using sensors to detect hazards like spills or misplaced products.
When they found something, they’d alert staff so the issue could be fixed quickly—potentially reducing slips, trips, and falls.
A Woolworths spokesperson explained: ‘We began trialling safety robots in 2019 across select Woolworths stores to find potential safety hazards for our team members to respond to. The trial came to an end last year due to the project not being the right fit. We thank our customers and team members for their support and feedback throughout the trial.’
How did shoppers react?
Not surprisingly, reactions were mixed. Some shoppers found the robots delightful and amusing.
Others found them strange or even unsettling—particularly when the machines seemed to follow them.
One user on a community forum explained the robots’ purpose to a confused shopper: ‘They move around the store and scan for any items on the floor or any spills. Once it detects something, it will announce over the intercom where the spill/item is so that an employee can clean it up.’
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, one robot was even seen wearing a mask—reminding shoppers that no one, not even a machine, was immune to the times.
But not all experiences were positive. Some customers reported that the robots startled guide dogs or blocked narrow aisles.
In 2020, Casey Hyde, a shopper with low vision, said that a robot repeatedly announced ‘obstruction’ as it followed her and her guide dog, Bridget. ‘It scared the dog and also distracted her,’ Hyde said.
What happened to the robots?
Despite some grumbles, a number of shoppers developed a soft spot for the robots.
When they suddenly disappeared, a few regulars turned to online forums to ask what became of them.
On one Canberra community board, a shopper wrote: ‘Just pure curiosity to know what happened to my good friends “Frank” (what I called the one at Kippax) and Steve (what I called the one at Charnwood)?’
It’s a reminder that even the oddest bits of technology can become part of our routines.
Have your say
Woolworths’ six-year robot experiment is over, but the conversation about technology in retail is far from finished.
Did you ever spot one of these robots in your local store? Were they a helpful safety tool, an annoyance, or just a passing curiosity?
We’d love to hear what you think—share your experience in the comments below.
Also read: Woolworths shopper’s $52 mistake sparks triple check warning
