A San Diego-based software technology company called Brain Corp has announced that it will provide Walmart with artificial intelligence (AI) services, thanks to a new partnership with the world’s largest retailer.

Right now, Brain Corp’s Brain Operating System (BrainOS) platform automates more than a hundred of Walmart's fleet of commercial floor scrubbers across the U.S.

With BrainOS, the machines have autonomous navigation and data collection capabilities, which are all tied into a cloud-based reporting system.

By the end of its fiscal year, Jan. 31, 2019, Walmart expects to have 360 robots powered by BrainOS in its stores.

“We are thrilled to partner with Walmart to enhance customer experience at its retail locations,” says Dr. Eugene Izhikevich, CEO of Brain Corp.

“BrainOS technology allows robots to effectively and safely function in complex, crowded environments, ensuring increased productivity and efficiency across applications. We look forward to continuing to work alongside Walmart to help build intelligent, connected stores.”

With Walmart's BrainOS-powered floor scrubbers, store associates can quickly map a route during an initial training ride, and activate autonomous floor cleaning by simply pressing a button. 

Using multiple sensors, the robot can scan its surroundings for people and obstacles, providing what Brain Corp calls the “industry's highest level of safety and performance.”

“We're excited to work with Brain Corp in supporting our retail operations and providing our associates with a safe and reliable technology,” comments John Crecelius, Walmart's VP of Central Operations.

“BrainOS is a powerful tool in helping our associates complete repetitive tasks so they can focus on other tasks within role and spend more time serving customers.”

Described as a “proprietary operating system” that integrates with off-the-shelf hardware and cloud technology, BrainOS is the foundation of Brain Corp's technology platform, as it provides a cost-effective "brain" for robots. Equipped with computer vision and AI libraries, BrainOS can quickly and efficiently develop smart systems that learn and adapt to people and complex environments.

The platform's navigation stack also provides advanced self-driving capabilities for cluttered and dynamic indoor environments.