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The issue of job shortages has recently grown to become a major cause of concern in the retail industry. It has led to a significant increase in stress and workload for existing retail workers, because they have to work harder to cover jobs that are vacant. As a result, Amazebot has taken a giant step towards resolving this issue with its latest innovation. Introducing… THE CS1! The CS1 is a customer service robot designed and innovated by Amazebot. It is a robot that will assist retail workers by filling in vacant roles, reducing their stress and workload. The CS1 is capable of assisting with customer queries through vocal communication and also assists with shelf stocking. It can even assist with click-and-collect orders, where the robot will personally pick items from the shelves and bring them to cars parked in allocated areas. The CS1 can also take in-store orders, for individuals with a pension or disability card, where it can collect items for them, and bring them straight to the checkout. This robot will help reduce stress from retail workers and employers, whilst also providing greater customer convenience and satisfaction. BODY The CS1 uses a telescopic arm structure that allows the arm length to be altered in order to be better suited to different situations. Its scissor lift structure allows the robot to be able to reach shelves up to 2.5 metres above the ground. It has a container compartment in which items are placed. The bottom lining on the inside is made of rough rubber, which stops items from rolling around and potentially breaking. The CS1 has the ability to carry up to 150kg. EFFECTORS The CS1 has many effectors including wheels, speakers, robotic arms and a scissor lift. ACTUATORS The CS1 has many different actuators. There are two electric motors: all components above the base are connected to the first motor by internal wires. This motor allows the movement of its arms, and its scissor lift. The scissor lift is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. It relies on the cylinder being filled with a reservoir of hydraulic fluid. This fluid maintains pressure on the lift and holds the working platform at the desired height when the unit is extended. In its robotic arms, the CS1 uses electrical actuators which convert electric energy into linear or rotary motion. The wheels are operated by the second motor. This allows the robot to drive around, and can change the speed of the robot. The 4WD actuator controls the traction and torque of the wheels. This actuator is responsible for effective navigation, and prevents the robot from skidding. The robot also uses a sound actuator located in its speakers that converts complex electrical analogue signals into sound waves. This allows the robot to communicate with customers. The brakes give the robot the ability to slow down or to stop a movement. SENSORS Sensors allow for perception, they collect data required for the CS1’s functions. They perform the vital function of providing the input to the robot. Proximity sensors: This sensor can detect the presence of a nearby object within a given distance, without any physical contact. The CS1 uses ultrasonic proximity sensors which generate high-frequency sound waves; a received echo suggests an object interruption. The sensors are located on all sides of the CS1 and are used to detect the presence of obstacles such as a human presence or fallen objects. When such obstacles are detected, the robot will either reverse or drive around the obstacle. The proximity sensors are also located on the arms of the robot, and help it detect how close it is to an object. Navigation Sensors: Navigation sensors are used to approximate the position of a robot. The CS1 uses an Indoor Positioning System (or IPS) for accurate indoor mapping and navigation. This allows the robot to effectively navigate through aisles. Sound Sensors: The CS1 uses sound sensors in the form of a microphone that detects sounds and returns a voltage proportional to the sound level. The CS1 uses sound sensors for speech and voice recognition, which will allow the robot to effectively communicate with customers and answer their queries. Contact Sensors: There are many contact sensors around the sides of the robot that are also used for object avoidance. Contact sensors are also located in the robotic claw, which helps the robot identify if they have successfully picked up an object. Pressure Sensors: There are pressure sensors located in the robotic hands that measure the amount of grip and pressure required to hold an object. This is useful for fragile items such as eggs, as it will ensure that there isn’t too much pressure that could cause them to break. Tilt Sensors: There is a tilt sensor located in the robotic hands that helps the robot identify whether or not an object they are carrying is tilted. This is useful for items such as cake, where it would be necessary for the item to be held upright. Touch Sensors: Touch sensors are located on the screen of the robot, and allow the robot to detect touch. This means that users can use the screen as a touch screen device to chat or order groceries and is more convenient for the end user. The robot has 18 DOFs in each arm, 8 DOFs in the scissor lift structure and 12 DOFs in the wheels. There are a total of 56 DOFs in the CS1. The robotic arms consist of ball joints, hinge joints and slider joints.This means that there are 18 DOFs in each arm. The scissor lift structure consists of hinge joints and has a total of The CS1 runs on its own newly developed software called ’AMSS’ which stands for AmazeBot Software System. It is a software that has been tried and tested on many other new designs, all of which have produced outstanding results. The CS1 has already been tested in a variety of retail businesses, big and small, it was reported that it was fulfilling and highly effective. Many businesses have claimed that it has significantly reduced the stress on retail workers and improved convenience for both workers and customers. This robot is mainly targeted at assisting retail workers and employers who are being impacted by the job shortages. It is also designed to help senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, who may otherwise struggle to do their shopping by themselves. The CS1 is capable of assisting with customer queries, shelf stocking, click-and-collect and in-store orders. The CS1 will help reduce stress and workload from retail workers and employers, whilst also providing greater customer convenience and satisfaction.