MiLo Store is a research project exploring how robotics and automation can transform both retail operations and the customer experience.

I worked on this project throughout my master’s and doctoral research, developing robotic and mechatronic systems for automated retail environments.

In the proposed system, small mobile robots travel behind the display shelves and transport products stored in trays. In addition to automatically replenishing products, the system enables the physical arrangement of products on the shelves to change dynamically depending on the time of day or store situation.

The goal is not only to reduce the workload of store employees, but also to explore how automation can create new forms of physical product presentation and new shopping experiences for customers.

System Concept

The MiLo Store concept integrates:

• Automated product transportation

• Automated shelf replenishment

• Dynamic physical product layout changes

• Robotic systems operating behind conventional retail shelves

Small carrier robots transport product trays behind the shelving system and deliver them to the required positions.

By combining automated replenishment with dynamically changing shelf layouts, the project explores a retail environment in which the physical store itself can adapt over time.

My Role

I joined the project from its earliest stage.

At the beginning, the core idea was simply:

“What if the arrangement of physical products on retail shelves could change dynamically?”

My research focused on translating this idea into a feasible physical system.

My work included the research, prototyping, and development of the MiLo Store hardware, including:

• Display shelf system design

• Carrier robot design

• Product tray design

• Mechanical design and prototyping

• Electrical system development

• Actuator integration

• Motion and actuator control programming

• System integration

Through repeated prototyping and testing, I worked on transforming an abstract retail concept into a functioning robotic system.

Creating New Shopping Experiences

One of the central ideas behind MiLo Store is that robotics could provide value beyond labor-saving automation.

If this technology is implemented in real-world retail environments, dynamically changing physical product displays could allow stores to adapt their presentation to different times, situations, or customer needs.

Through this research, I have explored how engineering could contribute not only to operational efficiency, but also to creating new experiences for customers in physical retail spaces.

More Information

Detailed technical information will be added following publication of the related research.

Official Project Website

Wada Laboratory - Tokyo Metropolitan University

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