# Rule-Enforcing Retail Robots Robovie Reminds Shoppers of In-Store COVID Regulations By Ell Smith | Published 2020-11-20 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robovie1 References: [insideretail.asia](https://insideretail.asia/2020/11/18/video-japanese-store-employs-robot-robovie-to-enforce-mask-wearing/) Robovie has been employed by a Japanese [grocery store](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cantaloupe-smart-aisle) to help enforce COVID-19 regulations. With hundreds of shoppers passing through its doors each day, it's nearly impossible for workers to preform their duties while ensuring the safety and compliance of each individual in a store. Robovie has been introduced as a solution to this, as it [rolls through the store](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/namuhx-a1) using technology to ensure shoppers are aware and abiding by the rules. Using 3D laser beam technology, Robovie is able to detect if a shopper is [wearing a mask](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/predictive-safety-engine), and if they're failing to stand six feet away from others. Once a broken rule is detected, Robovie has the ability to gently remind the consumer to wear a mask, or take a few steps back. Image Credit: Reuters ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 71% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Robotic COVID Compliance:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced robots that can enforce COVID-19 regulations in various retail and public settings. - **Automated Safety Monitoring:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create technology-driven systems that can monitor and enforce safety regulations in crowded spaces, such as stores and public venues. - **AI-powered Customer Assistance:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build intelligent robots that can assist customers in navigating stores, answering questions, and providing personalized recommendations. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Retail:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transform the retail industry by integrating robotic systems to enhance safety and compliance measures, improve customer experience, and optimize store operations. - **Robotics:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Drive advancements in robotics technology to address the growing need for automated solutions in various industries, including retail, healthcare, and manufacturing. - **Artificial Intelligence:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Harness the power of AI to develop intelligent systems that can interact with customers, analyze data, and automate decision-making processes across industries. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI Retail Cobots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/badger-technologies-digital-teammate.md) - [Shelf-Mounted Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deming.md) - [Smart Cashierless Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cashierless-shop.md) - [Next-Gen Autonomous Retail Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/autonomous-retail-robot.md) - [Contactless Self-Checkout Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holographic-consoles.md) - [Roving Security Surveillance Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rbwatcher.md) - [Artificial Intelligence Retail Kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-human.md) - [Inventory-Scanning Retail Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sams-club-1.md) - [Two-In-One Retail Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tennant-inventory-scan.md)