WRS Future Convenience Store Challenge
2024
Innovation TaskRulebook
2024/6/18

Revision History
June 18, 2024
・ First draft

0. Terminology
TermDefinition

Big Data

Data collected on customers, staff and products inconvenience stores.

Digital Twin

Models for customers, staff and products
convenience stores and their applications.

IoT Devices

Various sensors and actuators can be networked tocollect data or drive actuators in real time.

Mobile Robot

A robot that can move autonomously.

Infrastructure

Unique infrastructure that can be installed inside theconvenience store to support the robot’s tasks. Thisequipment includes markings, IC tags, sensors,actuators, and auxiliary tools attached to products, etc.
Infrastructure consisting of sensors and actuators canalso be considered as stationary robots.

Manipulator

Robot arms, end effectors, and other equipment for
manipulation tasks which can be installed on a mobile
robot or as part of the infrastructure.

Product(s)Item(s)inor Article(s) for sale in the convenience store.

Customer

Person who visits the store to purchase products.

Container

Box-like repository for holding and transporting
multiple products.

ProductArea

Display Section of the convenience store where display cases orshelves are installed.

Cashier Area

Section of the convenience store where the cashiercounter is installed.

Eat-in Area

Section of the convenience store where customers canconsume the purchased products.

Restroom

Section of the convenience store where the toilet isinstalled．

Aisle

Section of the convenience store for customers androbots to come and go.

Backyard

Section of the convenience store where customers are
not allowed.

Display Cases

Shelves for displaying products. At the start, multiple
products are mixed in these cases.

Chief Judge

Judge who declares the start of the task and issues
instructions to the participants.

Assistant Judge

Judge who assists the Chief Judge by performing
measurements for scoring, catching rule violations,etc.

Operator

Team member who starts the robot operation inside
the competition field. After starting the robot, theoperator leaves the competition field.

Safety Observer

Team member who manages the safety of the system
inside the competition field and performs operations

such as emergency stop. This team member may be thesame as the Operator.

1. Overview
This competition (Innovation Task) focuses on the overall operations withina convenience store, expecting participants to propose solutions or services
that leverage information and communication technologies such as big data,digital twins, and IoT, as well as robotics technologies to create a new kind ofconvenience store. Participants are to set tasks in line with the concept of thiscompetition and freely propose solutions or new services in an open task
format.
There are two methods of participating in the competition: one is presenting
ideas through presentations using videos or other media, and the other isdemonstrating ideas using actual systems. Participants choose one of thesemethods and apply for participation.
Those who participate in the competition and perform demonstrations will
use the systems, robots, and infrastructure they have developed todemonstrate in a simulated store space, competing on the novelty, usefulness,and feasibility of their developed systems.
In the competition store, "display cases" and "cashier counters" areavailable for use. Their placement and use can be decided based on theparticipants’ demonstrations.
In addition, the proposed system must contribute to energy saving in
general, and/or to work efficiency.

2. Flow of the Competition Task
The competition time is 10 minutes. In case of presentation only, thepresentation time is 10 minutes. In case a demonstration is to be conducted,
the flow of the task in the mandatory order is:(1) Presentation: 2 minutes(2) Demonstration of proposal: 8 minutes
Participants must indicate their progression to the judges when moving from
(1) to (2) and when completing the task. After the competition, there will be aQ&A time about 5 minutes long.
Please note the presentations and the demonstrations must be done inEnglish or in Japanese, which is the official language of the competition.

2.1. Renovation Time

Participants will add or replace furniture such as shelves and otherinfrastructure, install their robot, and set products as necessary. For example:
・・Installation of unique infrastructure inside the convenience store
Replacement of existing furniture such as display cases and the cashiercounter

Arranging their robot and products in any initial positions inside thesimulated convenience store.
The renovation time is NOT included in the task time for the competition.
Participants should complete the renovation of the competition field BEFORE
their competition standby time.

・2.2. Presentation

Explanation of the proposal is provided. Participants must inform thejudges when the presentation is over or if the presentation will be conductedat the same time as the demonstration.

2.3. Demonstration

After the judges confirm that the preparations are finished, they declarethe start of the competition time.
If the participants demonstrate the system, they give a presentation, andafter that, they operate the system with a command to start the operation.

However, if there is a system malfunction and continuing the task isdeemed difficult, the participants can decide to retry the task as describedhereafter.

3. Details of the Challenge
3.1. Innovation Task

Participants are free to set tasks related to convenience store operations
and propose solutions or services that utilize digital twin, big data, and IoTtechnologies to create the convenience store of the future. The competition
targets the overall operations within a convenience store and expects
proposals and demonstrations that suggest new services for future
convenience stores. Examples of tasks include the following:Improving the quality of customer service
Reducing the workload of store staffMaximizing customer satisfaction
Maximizing sales opportunities and revenue
Optimizing the efficiency/use of robots
In the demonstrations, participants are expected to showcase the concrete
usage of the proposed system by performing scenarios and so on. It is essentialthat the proposals are original ideas that have not yet been commercialized;
introductions of commercialized products will not be accepted.
The judging panel evaluates those demonstrations from the perspectives
outlined below.
 Innovation Viability
 Feasibility
The three criteria are evaluated based on the following viewpoints:
how valuable the proposal is as a new service at a convenience store, and how
feasible the proposal is to be introduced to all convenience stores worldwide
in a specific style of convenience stores. Also, in the case of proposals thatassume big data or digital twin models, the technical feasibility of theproposal will be evaluated.
Additionally, awards will be given in the following two categories:
Best Innovative Idea Award

Best Innovative Idea Demonstration Award

Participants are responsible for preparing the actors of customers and store
staff in their demonstrations.

3.2. Requirements for Digital Twin, and Big Data

Participants may use hypothetical models for digital twins, big data, andIoT devices, but they must specifically envision big data and other resourcesthat will be obtainable and usable in the future and propose methods for theirutilization. Additionally, there is a virtual environment called the Social
Intelligence Generation Simulator (SIGVerse ™). A 3D environment of aconvenience store is provided, and 3D models of the store environment andproducts are available. For more details, please refer to the following URL.
Social Intelligence Generation Simulator (SIGVerse ™)
https://github.com/FCSCinCyberSpace3.3. Retry

Participants can ask the judges to terminate the demonstration to retry thetask if the system malfunctions and continuing the demonstration is deemed
difficult.
However, the clock will continue to run while the demonstration is stopped.
The participants can decide in what state to resume the task.

4. Specifications and Restrictions
4.1. Simulated Convenience StoreThe convenience store will be approximately 4 m x 5 m. The store isequipped with display cases and a casher counter, which can be used fordemonstrations. The layout of the store and the functions within the store canbe set up according to the participants’ demonstrations.

4.2. Products

Participants shall prepare the products to use in the demonstration.

4.3. Mobile Robot and Infrastructure Restrictions
4.3.1. Hardware Restrictions


There are no restrictions on the number of mobile robots.
Each mobile robot must occupy less than 1 m x 1 m of floor space and allof the mobile robots must fit into a 2 m x 2 m area.
Infrastructure can be installed anywhere inside the convenience store but
different restrictions apply according to the area of the store. Please see
the documents provided separately for more information.

4.3.2. Software Restrictions


The robots and infrastructure must operate autonomously after the startof the task. However, participants may monitor the internal status
remotely in order to know the state of their system.
Mobile robots are prohibited from moving outside of the convenience store.

4.3.3. Energy Source Restrictions
Participants should provide an energy source for their robots.
A power supply within AC100V/1500W is planned as the energy sourcefor participants to use.
Any energy source deemed to be dangerous or inappropriate for use will
not be allowed.

4.3.4. Venue Restrictions
Participants are prohibited from intentionally dirtying or damaging theconvenience store.

Infrastructure must be able to be removed immediately after the task
ends to return the venue to its original state.
The convenience store has no ceiling or walls.

4.3.5. Safety Restrictions


Systems must have an emergency stop switch.
The emergency stop switch must be separate from the switch used to start
the system.
The emergency stop switch must be located in a place where it can besafely pressed while the system is in motion, or activated remotely.
When activating the emergency stop remotely, only a wired push-button
emergency stop switch may be used, and it must be located more than 1.5
m away.
If the emergency stop switch is pressed, all of the movable parts includedin the system must immediately stop operating.
The design must prevent the system from tipping over at all times,including during an emergency stop.
Measures must be taken to shield any area with a danger of pinching thearms and legs of people in the vicinity.
Hot areas and sharp edges must not protrude.
Energy sources utilizing fire or high temperatures are prohibited.
Any laser used in the system must be class 1 or lower.
Products and parts of robots must not eject anything.

5. OtherThis rulebook is subject to change without notice.