Striding AI Unveils Two Retail Robots Reaching 99% Autonomy
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Striding AI unveiled two store-floor robots and an orchestration platform in Singapore on October 8, 2026, targeting autonomous overnight restocking and customer service for 24-hour retail chains.
Founder and CEO Song Yao introduced the setup at APRCE 2026, where the company reported the system completes up to 99 percent of retail tasks autonomously.
The suite combines the C1 mobile manipulator with the H1 humanoid robot, designed to automate shelf replenishment, inventory checks, carrying, and patrols while operating in narrow aisles without extensive store modifications.
The C1 mobile manipulator navigates tight spaces on an omnidirectional chassis with an operational reach spanning 100 mm to over 1,750 mm. Front and rear depth sensors, 360-degree vision, and emergency braking for obstacles detected within 30 cm support safe navigation around shoppers.
Working alongside it, the H1 humanoid robot handles customer greetings and guidance using multimodal interaction across more than 20 languages, 45 facial expressions, and 36 gestures, supported by open APIs for retailer integration.
Latent Action Models in Store Aisles
Both machines operate through Striding AI’s SLM-0.5 latent world action model, which computes decisions in latent space rather than relying on pixel-by-pixel prediction. Under reported evaluation settings, the system achieves 187 ms latency per action chunk, delivering a 98.6% success rate on LIBERO and 91.22% on RoboTwin.
Real-world operations feed back into a reinforcement learning framework called STEAM, designed to refine operational policies from physical floor experience. Coordinating the fleet is the M1 management platform, which uses edge autonomy so core navigation, task execution, and grasping continue without continuous network connectivity.
Replacing the Graveyard Shift
For convenience store operators, late-night staffing remains a demanding operational hurdle. Robots can undertake repetitive overnight work, reducing late-night employee shifts while sustaining 24/7 store operations.
Deployments are designed to adapt to existing store layouts, workflows, and operating conditions, minimizing remodeling requirements subject to site-specific assessments. As Song Yao noted: “Retail is one of the most complex and dynamic environments for robots to operate in, with diverse products, changing workflows, and frequent human interaction. By bringing Physical AI into real retail environments, we can continuously learn from deployment and turn real-world experience into more capable robotic systems.”
Expanding to Kitchen Tasks
Founded in 2026, Striding AI maintains operations across Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, and Shanghai. Its full-stack team spans foundation models, embodied agents, motion control, embedded software, and humanoid design.
The company plans to validate the system with global retail chains across hot-food preparation, inventory management, delivery sorting, and packaging before opening commercial services in 2027 through direct purchase or Robotics-as-a-Service subscriptions.
Striding AI also plans to expand its lineup with heavy-duty models and the A1 precision-manipulation robot for checkout and bagging.
Questions & Answers
Q.What distinct roles do the C1 and H1 robots perform in stores?
What distinct roles do the C1 and H1 robots perform in stores?
The C1 mobile manipulator manages physical tasks such as shelf replenishment, inventory checks, carrying items, and overnight patrols. Meanwhile, the H1 humanoid robot provides customer-facing support, offering greetings and in-store guidance across more than 20 languages using expressive gestures and facial displays.
Q.How does the system ensure store operations continue during network outages?
How does the system ensure store operations continue during network outages?
Fleet coordination runs via the M1 management platform, which relies on edge autonomy. This architecture ensures essential functions, including navigation, grasping, and task execution, continue operating reliably on the shop floor without requiring continuous network connectivity.
Q.What safety mechanisms prevent the C1 mobile manipulator from colliding with shoppers?
What safety mechanisms prevent the C1 mobile manipulator from colliding with shoppers?
The C1 robot navigates safely around customers using front and rear depth sensors combined with 360-degree vision. It is also fitted with an automated emergency braking system that stops the machine if an obstacle is detected within 30 centimetres.
Q.When will the robotic system become commercially available, and under what business model?
When will the robotic system become commercially available, and under what business model?
Striding AI plans to launch commercial services in 2027 following validation trials across hot-food preparation, inventory management, delivery sorting, and packaging. Retailers will be able to adopt the setup through direct purchase or via Robotics-as-a-Service subscriptions.
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