Version Note

Version Number Status Note

v20231015 Released First Release of Innovation Design Challenge

Game Manual for RIC 2024

v20231115 Pending Scheduled update for Rule Refinement

Disclaimer: Any subsequent updates to any details would be published on our website, which
would serve as the most updated and accurate reference for any rule details.

Official Website: https://www.ric-robotics.com/

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Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 4
Theme...............................................................................................................................................5
Challenge Format............................................................................................................................ 6
Blueprint Phase............................................................................................................................6
Exposition Phase......................................................................................................................... 8
Innovation Blueprint...................................................................................................................... 10
Scoring Metrics............................................................................................................................. 11
Blueprint Phase..........................................................................................................................11
Exposition Phase....................................................................................................................... 12
Examples for Inspiration...............................................................................................................14

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Introduction
Part of the Robotic Innovation Challenge (RIC) 2024 series, the Innovation Design Challenge (IDC)
is meticulously crafted to inspire and empower young participants. Its central mission is to
leverage on their grasp on everyday life and seamlessly integrate in with the boundless
possibilities of robotics, nurturing an environment where their imagination can flourish.

Every year, IDC will have a fresh new theme. Participants will be granted the opportunity to devise
a comprehensive solution based on the various exciting themes, and prototyping their
imaginations into innovative robots. Distinct from the RIC Grand Arena (GA) and Technical
Competitions (TC), the IDC is uniquely positioned to ignite the participant’s passion for realizing
innovation opportunities even just within the sphere of their daily routines.

We encourage all robotics enthusiasts - you, to dive deep into the theme and find inspiration from
within your lives. We are excited to look at your best innovation masterpieces in the coming
months!

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Theme
The IDC Theme for this year is “Companion Robots for an Inclusive Society”. The theme
embodies the idea of leveraging robotics innovation to foster a more inclusive and empathetic
society - thus motivating the creation of solutions that promote equality, accessibility and social
cohesion using robots.

Imagine an elderly grandfather that is feeling lonely at home because their children are out, or
your grandmother that is struggling to cross the road carrying her daily load of fresh vegetables
from the market - wouldn’t a companion robot come in handy? Robots can be something that
connects with humans emotionally - providing us with care and love - and providing us with a
helping hand when in need!

You are expected to design a companion robot that would make society a happier and liveable
place for all! The robot can come in various form factors, whether it’s a pet, creature or humanoid.
We will leave it to you to decide on what the robot can do, as long as it contributes to a more
inclusive society!

Note: The robot is required to have at least one mechanical component that is movable and
functional. Purely Mobile App or Software Projects will not be accepted.

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Challenge Format
In this year’s edition of the RIC Innovation Design Challenge (IDC), there will be two rounds -
Blueprint Phase and Exposition Phase.

Please note that all submissions and presentations should be done in the English Language
through the challenge.

Blueprint Phase
The primary emphasis during the Blueprint Phase focuses on the identification of problem
statements, its comprehension and analysis, and the quality of the proposed robotic solution.
Complete prototypes are optional during this stage, but simple models that help to explain your
solutions will be appreciated.

The Blueprint Phase is on an online submission basis. Individual participants or teams will
be required to submit an Innovation Blueprint to present your problem statements, solutions and
implementation plans. An Innovation Blueprint format will be provided in the sections below.
Besides, a short Showcase Video must be produced to highlight key attractions of their projects
- note that prototypes are optional during this stage. Our evaluation team will shortlist the most
exciting and promising projects to the Exposition Phase!

During the Blueprint Phase, it is recommended that you pay special attention to these few
key focuses. However, any additional information that elevates the blueprint is welcomed!

1. Problem Statement and Opportunities:

a. Outline clearly a specific problem or challenge you wish to address that is relevant
to the overarching theme of the IDC.
b. Identify the opportunities and potential benefits that a robotic solution would fit into
the problem or challenge that you identified.
2. Solution Description:
a. Explain the proposed robotic solution based on the identified opportunities above,
including the features that you want to propose.

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 3. Evaluation:
a. Evaluate your proposed robotic solution quantitatively and qualitatively, and how it
fares amongst existing solutions. Explain your rationale behind your evaluation and
its effectiveness in addressing your problem statements.
4. Implementation Plans:
a. Describe how you plan to build your robotic solution, including the detailed
breakdown of the steps you plan to undertake. You are free to highlight any
innovative features throughout the process, i.e., costs, environmental factors,
efficiency etc.

Participants may refer to the examples provided at the end of this manual for inspiration - and
come up with their own breakthroughs!

Please take note of certain rules and regulations pertaining to the Blueprint Phase.

Deliverables Rules and Regulations

Innovation Blueprint 1. The document should follow the template provided in the
“Innovation Blueprint” section.
2. The word limit of the document is 500 words. exclusive of
references or diagrams.
3. The document must be written in English.

Showcase Video 1. The video should only run for a maximum of 3 minutes.
2. The maximum file size of the video is 500MB.
3. The video should only be subtitled, annotated or dubbed in
English.
4. The video file should be in .MP4 format.

The submission instructions will be provided separately on the RIC website.

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Exposition Phase
Shortlisted finalists will receive an official invitation letter from the RIC International Organizing
Committee about two weeks after they submit their entries for the Blueprint Phase.

The Exposition Phase is in an offline face-to-face presentation setting. Individual participants or

teams will be presenting and defending their innovative ideas in front of a panel of judges in
Singapore. Teams will be required to build prototypes of their solutions as described in the
Innovation Blueprint. To facilitate the live presentation, finalists should also prepare a poster and
keynote presentation slides.

Live Presentation

Participants will take turns to present to the panel of judges on stage. During which, they should
conduct live demonstrations of their robotic solutions. Each presentation will have a time limit of
6 minutes, followed by a 4-minute Question and Answer (Q&A) session from the panel of
judges. Presentation schedules will be released closer to the actual challenge date.

Carnival Exhibition

Besides the presentation sessions, participants should also set up their own booths in a carnival
style exhibition, where the poster will come in handy! We encourage participants to share their
amazing ideas to visitors or among other participants. We will give out encouragement awards for
teams that are active in their sharing efforts!

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Please take note of certain rules and regulations pertaining to the Exposition Phase.

Deliverables Rules and Regulations

Hardware Prototype 1. There is no restriction on the use of materials or robotic kits.

Participants can either adopt ready-made kits, customized
components (i.e., 3D-printed parts) or recycled or reused materials
(highly-encouraged)!!

Design 1. The design, construction and programming of the robot should be

the participant’s original work. Plagiarism would be taken
seriously.
2. The proposed robotic solution should be scientifically consistent
with the theme of IDC.
3. The demonstration of the robot should showcase clearly its
intended functionalities and novelty.

Poster 1. Maximum size of 91.4cm x 121.9cm. (Scientific poster standard)

Presentation Slides 1. Maximum of 10 slides.

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Innovation Blueprint
The Innovation Blueprint is the best way for you to share your ideas with us!

RIC Innovation Design Challenge - Innovation Blueprint

Team Name

Project Title

Email

Abstract Describe your project concisely. Summarize the important

points of the sections below. Allow the judges to quickly
understand what you are trying to do and achieve.

Keywords List 3-4 most relevant keywords to your project.

Problem Statement Describe the problem you are trying to tackle that is aligned
& Opportunities with the IDC theme.

User Perspective & Describe who your robotic solution is targeted at, what they
Target Audience benefit from the robot and the reasons why.

Robot Solution Propose your robotic solution here. Write a sufficient amount of
Description details that will succinctly explain your thought processes.

Evaluation Evaluate your proposed robotic solution critically on its

effectiveness and how it fares amongst existing solutions.

Implementation Describe how you plan to build your robotic solution, including
Plans the detailed breakdown of the steps you plan to undertake.

Additional Details Include any other details that will help us better understand
your project!

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Scoring Metrics

Blueprint Phase

Definition and Scope of Project (30%)

Novelty ● Identified project scope is novel in terms of targeted problem,

scenarios, from user’s perspective etc.

Relevance ● Identified project scope should be relevant to this year’s theme

Evaluation of Ideas (40%)

Feasibility ● Proposed idea should be feasible and practical to be

implemented in real life
● Proposed idea should consider the potential limitations in
real-world implementations

Effectiveness ● Proposed idea should be effective in resolving the targeted

problems that need to be resolved

Impact ● Societal impact: Potential positive impact on society,

communities and specific target groups
● Technological advancement: Contribution to the advancement
of robotics technology or related fields
● Long term implications: Lasting impact and sustainability of
the project

Presentation of Ideas (30%)

Quality of Blueprint ● Written in concise and succinct language, easy to understand,

with sufficient amount of details

Creativity ● Originality and uniqueness in the robot’s design and solution

● Creative problem-solving in overcoming challenges and
constraints
● Demonstrated creativity in presentation format or storytelling

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Exposition Phase

Project Execution (30%)

Problem Statement ● Clarity of the problem statement

● Relevance and significance of the problem statement to the
theme and the real world
● Demonstrated understanding of the challenges and constraints
involved in solving the problem.

Scope and Approach ● Clearly defined scope and objectives of the project, and how
the project is approached
● Feasibility of the approach is considered to address the
problem

Robotics Solution & Prototype (40%)

Design Thinking ● Use of structured design thinking processes in ideating the

solution
● Use of user-centered design principles that considers the
user’s needs and preferences
● Creativity and Innovation demonstrated in the robot’s design

Engineering Principles ● Application of sound engineering principles in the robot’s

design and construction
● Creativity in the use of mechanical and electronic components
in achieving targeted functionalities and scalability

Materials & Methods ● Choice of materials and components and their

appropriateness for the project
● Consideration of environmental impacts or manufacturing
methods

Live Presentation (30%)

Communication Skills ● Clarity, organization and delivery of the presentation

● Ability to convey ideas and technical concepts in
easy-to-understand manner
● Effective use of visual aids and supporting materials

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Demonstration ● Robot’s performance in real-time during the presentation
● Consistency of the robot’s performance according to what is
presented and how it aligns to the project’s goals

Creativity ● Originality and uniqueness in the robot’s design and solution

● Creative problem-solving in overcoming challenges and
constraints
● Demonstrated creativity in presentation format or storytelling

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Examples for Inspiration
We provide a few ideas of robots and their functionalities to inspire you to brainstorm your very
own robotic solutions to the IDC theme!

1. Sony ”Aibo” Companion Robot Dog1

The Aibo Robot Dog is designed as a companion robot that provides emotional support and
companionship, especially for older folks that are isolated and living alone - a common scenario
for the rapidly aging society of Japan. Aibo is able to exhibit a wide range of emotions and
expressions just like a normal dog, which helps to connect more naturally with its owners. also
provides comfort and therapeutic values for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, helping
them to navigate around familiar places.

1
https://us.aibo.com/

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 2. Mobility Companion Robot

Mobility Companion Robots are emerging robotic developments that provide support especially
to those with mobility impairments to live independently. They come in many forms, such as
autonomous wheelchairs and exoskeleton suits - with the aim of providing assistance for daily
tasks such as walking or standing. Additionally, these robots can assist workers in challenging
environments, such as construction sites, by making tasks more manageable and reducing safety
risks.

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2
https://arc.nus.edu.sg/project_type/mobile-robotics/
3
https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/02/01/163493/this-40000-robotic-exoskeleton-lets-the-paralyzed-walk/

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