Japan OMU Base

Cloudpick’s AI vision and weight‑sensor technology enable a walk‑through checkout‑free store – serving students and faculty with zero queues.

Insights

Customer Requirements
Cloudpick Solution
Result
Customer Testimonial
Video

Osaka Metropolitan University Launches Japan‘s First Co‑op Walk‑Through Unmanned Store “OMU Base” with Cloudpick

Customer Requirements

Osaka Metropolitan University promotes a “Smart Campus” vision, aiming to create new student experiences by integrating cutting‑edge digital technology into daily life. As part of this initiative, the university’s co‑operative association (Co‑op) decided to introduce a walk‑through unmanned payment store called “OMU Base” – the first of its kind at a Japanese university co‑op.

The Morinomiya Campus has approximately 5,000 students and staff, making it one of the largest campuses in the Kansai region. During lunch hours, over 2,000 students are expected to use the co‑op facilities. Traditional cafeterias and shops face significant peak‑hour congestion, with long queues and limited operating hours.

The university and co‑op needed a solution that could reduce wait times, provide 24/7 accessibility, and deliver an exciting new shopping experience for students.

Cloudpick Solution

Cloudpick deployed its AI‑powered unmanned store solution at OMU Base. The system combines ceiling‑mounted AI cameras and shelf‑embedded weight sensors to track exactly “who” took “what.”

How it works:

Entry registration: Students register through the LINE official account in advance, linking their payment method (currently PayPay supported).
Entry: Users display a QR code on their phone and scan it at the entrance gate – just like passing through a train station ticket gate.
Shopping: Customers simply pick up desired items from the shelves. There is no barcode scanning, no self‑checkout. If they change their mind, they just put the item back.
Exit & payment: Customers walk straight out through the exit gate. The system automatically identifies the items taken and completes payment. Within moments, the transaction appears on their phone – no wallet, no card, no cashier.

The technology behind it:

Ceiling cameras track “who is where” at all times.
Shelf weight sensors detect “which item was lifted” (becoming lighter).
These two data points are combined to accurately determine which items each customer took.

Result

OMU Base is located in the student lounge on the first floor of the Morinomiya Campus. The store offers a curated selection of daily essentials: bread, beverages, ice cream, frozen meals, snacks, cup soups, and even university original T‑shirts.

Student feedback highlights the benefits:

Speed and convenience: “It‘s just so easy. Regular co‑op convenience stores have self‑checkout, but here there’s no waiting in line. It‘s perfect between lectures or when you’re in a hurry.”
Novel experience: “At first, I felt a strange sensation – ‘Can I really just walk out?‘ But once you get used to it, it’s actually really fun.”
24/7 accessibility: Unlike regular co‑op shops with limited hours, OMU Base operates whenever the student lounge is open – and the system itself is capable of 24/7 operation.

The store not only reduces peak‑hour congestion but also provides a new, exciting shopping experience that supports students‘ academic and research lives.

Customer Testimonial

“OMU Base is a concrete step toward realizing our ‘Smart Campus’ vision. With Cloudpick’s technology, we can offer students a frictionless, checkout‑free shopping experience – no queues, no waiting, no hassle. It’s the first of its kind at a Japanese university co‑op, and we‘re proud to bring this innovation to our students.”

— Osaka Metropolitan University Co‑operative Association