Amazon unveils ‘smart’ shopping cart

According to the Associated Press, Amazon has debuted a new smart shopping cart called the Dash Cart. It uses cameras, sensors, and a scale to automatically detect what shoppers drop in. A screen near the handle lists what is being charged, and the cart can detect when something is taken out and have it removed from the bill. There is also a way for shoppers to let the cart know if they throw a jacket or purse in the cart. Upon leaving the store, the shopper’s Amazon account is charged. No cashier is needed.

The Dash Cart will first show up at a new Los Angeles supermarket Amazon is opening later this year. The store will have cashiers, but Amazon said it wanted to give shoppers a way to bypass any lines. In the future, it could be used at Amazon’s Whole Foods grocery chain or other stores, if Amazon sells the technology, but there are no plans for either right now.