ROBOTIC STORES - IN JAPAN 

Robotized supermarkets a thing of the future? The Japanese supermarket chain Seiyu is already ending their third year of operation -the first in the world -- of their really modern ultracomputerized store in the Nokendai section of Tokyo.

It features standard high tech such as automated billing, accounting, inventory control and robots to handle the merchandise. But would you expect an "Information Salon" where parents can leave their children while they shop? Kids can learn English in a "Star Words" game, be guided by an actual Masai chief (on a laser videodisc system) in a search for animals in "Jungle Game". The process introduces children from three years and older plus their computerilliterate parents to the educational uses of computers and knowledge-enhancing videodiscs. The Salon has a piano-playing robot and another that puts jigsaw puzzles together.

The whole concept could change retailing forever. According to Seiyu President Seiji Tsutsumi the focus is where it belongs - "on there person-to-person relationship between customer and retailer." Clerks now actually help the shopper instead of wasting time carrying crates of lettuce or stacking shelves. No humans are involved in that process from unloading trucks to stocking shelves. Staff complaints of back problems have vanished. All this is done at night when the stores are empty. Videotapes of the robots night actions are played for customers education the next day. The stockroom keeps track of every sale reordering according to past demands based on day, time, season and product.

The automated process begins outside when the parking robot opens the gate and hands you a magnetic-tape parking card. If you hold a credit card from the supermarkets parent company "Saison" you require no cash. The charge is added to your account. A Cosmo Planet robot welcomes you at the door. The speech you might expect but not the change in facial expression as it greets each shopper. This robot was the official mascot of EXPO 85 held in Tsukuba in 1985.

A recipe-information system can do an 850-item search for the family cook. Dietary nutrition evaluation services and household programming services will soon be added.

One feature North American shoppers would appreciate is that prices for each item are clearly shown by light-emitting diode displays. They are up-dated daily by the central computer. As the shopper's hand reaches for an item an infrared sensor detects that desire and gives a recorded description of the item being selected. Roving robots announce specials and new products. The meat section is the hi-tech star of the store. The shopper enters a robot-operated self-enclosed, sanitary environment.

After selecting choice, thickness and number of slices the price is shown and can then be accepted or rejected. If satisfactory the order is sliced, weighed, wrapped and priced. Meanwhile a female voice explains everything in the 30 to 45 seconds taken by the whole process. Kids say this robot system is so simple that even adults can handle it.

Behind the scenes a computer handles all requirements needed for a store that handles 6,000 customers each day. Physical systems handle the lighting, air-conditioning, freezers and sterile kitchens. More than 150 sensors handle security, disaster warnings, etc. while a spray-mist system sterilizes the food-processing area.

One store executive told me that sales at this store are well above their other non-robotized outlets and the clerks can now really provide "personal attention to the customer". More details: Seiyu Ltd., 3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima ku, Tokyo 170, Japan. Phone: 011-81-3-989-5109.

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