Sensei has created what it describes as Europe’s first ever autonomous petrol station convenience store.

The company signed a contract with Galp, a large petrol station network located in the Iberian Peninsula, to create a 323 square foot autonomous convenience store in Lisbon.

“This new autonomous pod, which is mobile and street facing, enables us to offer more for people walking by on the street or stopping at the station for food, enabling them to purchase grab and go meals, snacks, drinks and other products with the ease and speed that only autonomous technology provides whilst avoiding the queues caused by fuel purchasers,” said Teresa Abecasis, executive board member and chief operating officer, Galp.

Abecasis also said that the company will use data captured through the new store to implement a “highly efficient restocking operation”, offering the most attractive products for each specific location. She said the store will allow for smaller gas stations in lower traffic locations to offer non-fuel products to customers through a “profitable operation”.

The technology works by using cameras and sensors, creating and keeping track of each person’s virtual shopping bag and charging them automatically via the app when they leave the shop.

“The newly opened petrol station convenience store is a shining example of how we have expanded our reach beyond powering bespoke autonomous stores for large grocers to now also offering modular and mobile “Plug & Play” Pods that can be easily adapted to suit any and all retail needs,” said Vasco Portugal, chief executive, Sensei. “We are thrilled to be pioneering this concept in Europe with Galp. It is also the first of many petrol and service station stores that we look forward to launching with different partners in the coming months.”

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