Control method of vending machine and vending system

Abstract

The invention provides a control method of an automatic vending machine and an automatic vending system. The control method mainly comprises the steps that the vending position where the automatic vending machine is located is obtained; monitoring and analyzing people flow information around each selling position; calculating a selling value of each selling position according to the people flow information; when the selling value of the selling position where the vending machine is located is within a preset selling value, the selling position of the vending machine is not changed, and when the selling value of the selling position where the vending machine is located is outside the preset selling value, the vending machine is moved to the selling position within the preset selling value; the vending position of the vending machine can be dynamically adjusted, and the selling efficiency and the commodity mobility are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of vending machines, and more specifically, to a control method for a vending machine and an automatic vending system. Background Art

[0002] As a convenient retail terminal device, vending machines have been widely used in public places such as shopping malls, subway stations, and office areas. Traditional vending machines are usually fixedly installed at fixed positions, and their site selection depends on manual experience judgment or static data analysis, lacking the ability to respond in real time to the dynamic market environment.

[0003] Currently, there are the following technical bottlenecks in the position optimization of vending machines in the industry:

[0004] Defects in static deployment: Fixed vending machines cannot adapt to the ebb and flow of people (such as the passenger flow deviation during morning and evening rush hours and holidays), resulting in idle resources or shortages during some periods;

[0005] High cost of manual intervention: Existing mobile vending machines rely on manual handling and site selection decisions, with slow response speed and a sharp increase in operating costs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application aims to at least partially solve the above technical problems and provides a control method for a vending machine and an automatic vending system.

[0007] An embodiment of this application provides a control method for a vending machine. The control method includes:

[0008] Obtain the selling location where the vending machine is located;

[0009] Monitor and analyze the pedestrian flow information around each selling location;

[0010] Calculate the selling value of each selling location according to the pedestrian flow information;

[0011] When the selling value of the selling location where the vending machine is located is within the preset selling value, the selling location of the vending machine remains unchanged. When the selling value of the selling location where the vending machine is located is outside the preset selling value, the vending machine is moved to a selling location within the preset selling value.

[0012] Further, generate a moving path, and the vending machine moves along the moving path to a selling location within the preset selling value.

[0013] Further, obtain the replacement time of the selling location of the vending machine, and the vending machine evaluates the selling value of the vending machine at each selling location according to the replacement time.

[0014] Further, the replacement time of the vending position of the vending machine is at least one hour.

[0015] Further, when the vending machine moves to the vending position within the preset vending value, the timing of a new round of replacement time starts.

[0016] The embodiment of the present application also provides an automatic vending system, including the above-mentioned control method. The automatic vending system includes:

[0017] A communication module for the communication connection between the vending machine and the cloud server;

[0018] A navigation module to obtain the vending position where the vending machine is located and to plan the moving path for the vending machine to move to the vending position;

[0019] A calculation module for calculating the vending value of each vending position according to the crowd flow information;

[0020] A driving module for driving the vending machine to move to the vending position;

[0021] A collection module for monitoring and analyzing the crowd flow information around each vending position,

[0022] Further, the automatic vending system further includes a lidar for monitoring obstacles. When the vending machine encounters an obstacle, the navigation module replans the moving path for the vending machine to move to the vending position.

[0023] The present application provides a control method for a vending machine. By obtaining the vending position where the vending machine is located; monitoring and analyzing the crowd flow information around each vending position; calculating the vending value of each vending position according to the crowd flow information; when the vending value of the vending position where the vending machine is located is within the preset vending value, the vending position of the vending machine remains unchanged, and when the vending value of the vending position where the vending machine is located is outside the preset vending value, the vending machine is moved to the vending position within the preset vending value; it can dynamically adjust the vending position of the vending machine, significantly improving the sales efficiency and the commodity liquidity. Description of the Drawings

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only the embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained according to the provided drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 It is a flowchart of the control method of this embodiment. Detailed implementation manners

[0026] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0027] As Figure 1 shown, an embodiment of the present application provides a control method for a vending machine. The control method includes:

[0028] Obtain the selling location where the vending machine is located;

[0029] Monitor and analyze the flow information around each selling location;

[0030] Calculate the selling value of each selling location according to the flow information;

[0031] When the selling value of the selling location where the vending machine is located is within the preset selling value, the selling location of the vending machine remains unchanged. When the selling value of the selling location where the vending machine is located is outside the preset selling value, the vending machine is moved to a selling location within the preset selling value.

[0032] In this embodiment, a moving path is generated, and the vending machine moves along the moving path to a selling location within the preset selling value.

[0033] In this embodiment, obtain the replacement time of the selling location of the vending machine, and the vending machine evaluates the selling value of the vending machine at each selling location according to the replacement time.

[0034] In this embodiment, the replacement time of the selling location of the vending machine is at least one hour.

[0035] In this embodiment, when the vending machine moves to a selling location within the preset selling value, a new round of replacement time is timed.

[0036] According to another vending system provided by the embodiment of the present application, including the control method described above, the vending system includes:

[0037] A communication module for the communication connection between the vending machine and the cloud server;

[0038] A navigation module that obtains the selling location where the vending machine is located and is used to plan the moving path for the vending machine to move to the selling location;

[0039] A calculation module, configured to calculate the sales value of each sales location according to the pedestrian flow information;

[0040] A driving module, configured to drive the vending machine to move to the sales location;

[0041] A collection module, configured to monitor and analyze the pedestrian flow information around each sales location.

[0042] In this embodiment, the vending system further includes a lidar for monitoring obstacles. When the vending machine encounters an obstacle, the navigation module re-plans the moving path for the vending machine to move to the sales location.

[0043] Specifically, when implementing, it is executed according to the following scheme:

[0044] Among them, obtain the sales location information:

[0045] The vending machine obtains the current geographical coordinates through a built-in navigation module (such as GPS, Beidou positioning system), and marks it as the initial sales location P0.

[0046] Optionally, the sales location is a plurality of predefined candidate points (such as area A on the mall floor, point B at the subway station exit, etc.), and the coordinate information is stored in the cloud server.

[0047] Among them, monitor and analyze the pedestrian flow information:

[0048] The collection module monitors the surrounding environment of each sales location in real time in the following manner: the camera captures the video stream, and uses computer vision algorithms to count the pedestrian flow density (unit: people per square meter) and the stay duration; the infrared sensor or Wi-Fi probe detects the mobile terminal signal to estimate the real-time passenger flow; the above data is uploaded to the cloud server, and a pedestrian flow heat map is generated in combination with the historical sales data.

[0049] Subsequently, calculate the sales value of the sales location:

[0050] The calculation module dynamically calculates the sales value S of each candidate location according to the following formula:

[0051] S = α·D + β·T + γ·H

[0052] In this formula: D is the current pedestrian flow density, T is the average stay duration (unit: minutes), and H is the weight of historical sales.

[0053] α, β, γ are preset coefficients (such as α = 0.5, β = 0.3, γ = 0.2), and can be optimized and adjusted through a machine learning model.

[0054] The preset sales value range is S_min ≤ S ≤ S_max (for example, S_min = 60, S_max = 100), and if it exceeds the range, position adjustment is triggered.

[0055] Among them, decision-making and movement control:

[0056] If the sales value S0 at the current position P0 ∈ [S_min, S_max], maintain the original position and continue to monitor.

[0057] If S0 < S_min or S0 > S_max, perform the following operations:

[0058] a. The navigation module filters out the position P that satisfies S ∈ [S_min, S_max] from the set of candidate positions and generates a movement path from P0 to P1 (such as planning the shortest obstacle-free path by the A* algorithm);

[0059] b. The drive module controls the electric rollers of the vending machine to move along the path, and the moving speed ≤ 1m / s to ensure safety;

[0060] c. The lidar scans the 5-meter range ahead in real time to detect obstacles (such as pedestrians, fixed objects). If the distance to the obstacle < 2 meters, pause the movement and send an alarm to the server through the communication module, and at the same time re-plan the path.

[0061] Among them, replacement time and timing rules:

[0062] The replacement time for each sales position is set to at least 1 hour (configurable) to ensure position stability.

[0063] When the vending machine moves to the new position P1, immediately start the timer, and then perform the next round of sales value evaluation until the replacement time is reached.

[0064] Among them, module composition and connection relationship:

[0065] Communication module: Establish a long connection with the cloud server using a 4G / 5G module to transmit passenger flow data and control instructions;

[0066] Navigation module: Integrate the SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm to support seamless indoor and outdoor positioning;

[0067] Drive module: Consist of a motor controller, a reduction gear set, and a high-torque brushless motor to drive the four-wheel chassis;

[0068] Lidar: Adopt a 16-line TOF radar, with a scanning frequency ≥ 10Hz and a detection angle of 360°.

[0069] Among them, data flow and collaborative control:

[0070] The acquisition module → cloud server → calculation module → navigation module → drive module form a closed-loop control chain;

[0071] The cloud server regularly updates the candidate location weights and dynamically adjusts the parameters of the selling value formula according to external factors such as weather and holidays.

[0072] Among them, the exception handling mechanism:

[0073] If the battery level is lower than 20% during the movement, the vending machine navigates to the nearest charging pile and suspends service;

[0074] If the path planning fails more than 3 times, trigger the manual intervention mode and report to the operation and maintenance personnel through the communication module.

[0075] Taking the shopping mall scenario as an example, the vending machine is initially located in Area A (the low-traffic period S = 50), and the system performs the following operations:

[0076] Detect that the lunchtime pedestrian flow density D in Area B (the dining area) = 0.8 person / m 2 , the stay duration T = 15 minutes, and calculate S_B = 85;

[0077] Generate the optimal path from Area A to Area B (avoiding the elevator congestion area);

[0078] After moving to Area B, start a 1-hour timer. During this period, S_B remains stable between 80 and 90, and re-evaluate after the timer ends.

[0079] It should be noted that in this article, relational terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. It should also be noted that the term "comprising", "including" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, commodity or device comprising a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, commodity or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the statement "comprising an..." does not exclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, commodity or device comprising the element.

[0080] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a related manner. The same or similar parts between each embodiment can be referred to each other, and the differences between each embodiment and other embodiments are emphasized. In particular, for the device embodiment, since it is based on a method embodiment and is similar, the description is relatively simple, and the related parts can be referred to the description of the method embodiment.

[0081] The above are only embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, various changes and modifications can be made to the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included within the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A control method for a vending machine, characterized in that: The control method comprises: Obtaining the vending position of the vending machine; Monitor and analyze the flow of people around each sales location; Calculating the selling value of each selling location according to the crowd flow information; When the selling value of the vending machine's vending position is within the preset selling value, the vending machine's vending position remains unchanged; when the selling value of the vending machine's vending position is outside the preset selling value, the vending machine is moved to a vending position within the preset selling value.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: A moving path is generated, and the automatic vending machine moves along the moving path to a vending position within the preset vending value.

3. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The replacement time of the vending position of the automatic vending machine is obtained, and the automatic vending machine evaluates the vending value of the automatic vending machine at each vending position according to the replacement time.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The replacement time of the vending position of the vending machine is at least one hour.

5. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that: When the automatic vending machine moves to a selling position within the preset selling value, a new round of replacement time starts to be counted.

6. An automatic vending system, comprising the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The automatic vending system comprises: A communication module, used for communication connection between the vending machine and the cloud server; A navigation module, for acquiring the vending position of the vending machine and for planning a moving path for the vending machine to move to the vending position; A calculation module, used for calculating the selling value of each selling location according to the crowd flow information; A driving module, used for driving the automatic vending machine to move to the vending position; The collection module is used to monitor and analyze the flow of people around each sales location.

7. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic vending machine system further includes a laser radar for monitoring obstacles. When the automatic vending machine encounters an obstacle, the navigation module replans a moving path of the automatic vending machine to move to a vending position.

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