Intelligent accompanying shopping cart for elderly people

Abstract

An intelligent accompanying shopping cart for elderly people. The intelligent accompanying shopping cart comprises a shopping cart (9), a high-definition camera (1), an upper computer (2), a lower computer (3), a power supply (4) and an electric motor (8). The shopping cart uses a computer vision technique, a Bluetooth positioning technique and an artificial intelligence algorithm. The shopping cart not only has the functions of conventional shopping carts, but can also automatically accompany elderly people during walks and automatically avoid obstacles, and eliminates the need for pushing or pulling by elderly people. The shopping cart also functions as a guide to lead the way, has safety and anti-theft functions, and also has auxiliary functions such as rechargeability, foldability, and the capabilities of switching to manual pushing or pulling and serving as a resting seat, thereby providing a convenient, safe and comfortable outing and shopping experience for the elderly people.

Description

A smart shopping cart for elderly people Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of artificial intelligence robot technology, and more specifically, to a smart shopping cart for elderly people. Background Technology

[0002] Population aging is a major challenge facing human society in the 21st century. my country entered the aging society at the beginning of the 21st century, and by 2023, the degree of population aging in my country has continued to deepen.

[0003] Grocery shopping is a daily routine, and due to declining physical functions, most elderly people currently prefer shopping carts for carrying groceries. Common shopping carts for the elderly include pull-along carts with canvas shopping bags and push-along box-shaped carts. Both types can solve the problem of carrying heavy items to varying degrees. However, existing shopping carts on the market only consider general needs such as load-bearing capacity, ease of handling, and folding, without specifically addressing the needs of the increasingly physically and mentally declining elderly population, thus failing to fully meet their needs. Existing shopping carts require the elderly to push or pull, which they often cannot control due to insufficient strength. The carts also cannot hold very heavy items, and the elderly need to grip the handles tightly to control them, leaving them unable to free their hands for other tasks, making them inconvenient to use. Furthermore, getting lost is a serious problem for the elderly, potentially leading to disappearances, injuries, and other dangerous situations. In addition, traditional shopping carts or items inside are vulnerable to theft, resulting in property loss. To solve these problems, there is an urgent need to improve existing shopping carts with intelligent features. In today's increasingly aging population, the design of intelligent companion shopping carts will bring benefits to the elderly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by proposing an intelligent shopping cart for the elderly, aiming to solve at least one of the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] This invention provides an intelligent shopping cart for elderly people, comprising: a shopping cart, the shopping cart being foldable, a retractable pull rod provided on one side of the shopping cart, a power switch and a function switching button provided on the top of the pull rod, wheels provided at the bottom of the shopping cart, a cover hinged to the top of the shopping cart, and a motor provided at the bottom of the shopping cart, the motor being electrically connected to the wheels;

[0006] The shopping cart is equipped with five high-definition cameras, which are respectively located on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the cart and on the top of the cart cover.

[0007] The host computer is located on one side of the shopping cart and is electrically connected to five high-definition cameras. The high-definition cameras on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the shopping cart are used to identify obstacles around the shopping cart, and the high-definition camera on the top of the cart cover is used to verify the user's facial features when the cart cover is opened.

[0008] The lower-level machine is located on one side of the shopping cart and is electrically connected to the upper-level machine;

[0009] The power supply is located inside the shopping cart and is electrically connected to the host computer, high-definition camera, slave computer, motor, power switch, and function switch.

[0010] In some embodiments, the host computer is connected to the shopping cart user's mobile phone via Bluetooth.

[0011] In some embodiments, the host computer obtains the user's location information via Bluetooth positioning to determine the movement of the shopping cart. The movement determination of the host computer includes three modes: leading the way, walking side by side, and following behind.

[0012] In some embodiments, the lower-level computer controls the motor to drive the wheels.

[0013] In some embodiments, in the forward guidance mode, the distance between the user and the shopping cart is limited to 1m, and the angle between the shopping cart and the user is a first angle, the absolute value of which is between 60° and 120°.

[0014] In some embodiments, in the side-by-side walking mode, the distance between the shopping cart and the user is limited to 0.3m. When the shopping cart is walking side-by-side to the right of the user, the second angle between the shopping cart and the user is 180°, and the error of the second angle is ±10°. When the shopping cart is walking side-by-side to the left of the user, the third angle between the shopping cart and the user is 0°, and the error of the third angle is ±10°.

[0015] In some embodiments, in the following mode, the distance between the user and the shopping cart is limited to 1m, and the angle between the shopping cart and the user is a fourth angle, the fourth angle being between -30° and -150°.

[0016] In some embodiments, the host computer locates the user's location information via Bluetooth RSSI, identifies obstacles in the images captured by the high-definition camera based on the YOLOv5 artificial intelligence algorithm, and locates the positions of the obstacles. The host computer aggregates the location information of the user and obstacles through the ROS2 robot operating system and transmits the location information to the slave computer, which then controls the wheels to move accordingly.

[0017] In some embodiments, the power source is a lithium battery.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The intelligent companion shopping cart for the elderly provided by this invention improves upon existing shopping carts (pull-type or push-type) into an intelligent companion shopping cart for the elderly. This shopping cart can automatically accompany the elderly while walking, automatically avoid obstacles, and does not require the elderly to push or pull it. It also has a guide function to lead lost elderly people home, and possesses anti-theft security features to prevent the theft of the shopping cart or its contents. Furthermore, it has auxiliary functions such as being rechargeable, handheld, usable for resting, and foldable, providing the elderly with a convenient, safe, and comfortable shopping experience, making it highly suitable for seniors. This invention is an innovative product for assisting the elderly with technology, possessing high practical value and social significance.

[0019] The above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0020] Other features and aspects of this disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the intelligent shopping cart for the elderly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the folded intelligent shopping cart for the elderly provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 is a front view of the intelligent shopping cart for the elderly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 is a side view of the intelligent shopping cart for the elderly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 is a top view of the intelligent shopping cart for the elderly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the follow-behind function of the intelligent shopping cart for the elderly provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The components include: 1. High-definition camera; 2. Host computer; 3. Sub-computer; 4. Power supply; 5. Car cover; 6. Power switch; 7. Function switch button; 8. Motor; 9. Shopping cart; 10. Pull rod; 11. Wheels. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0030] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0031] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0032] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] Referring to Figures 1-6, an intelligent shopping cart for elderly people according to an embodiment of this application includes:

[0034] Shopping cart 9 is foldable. A retractable pull rod 10 is provided on one side of the shopping cart 9. A power switch 6 and a function switch 7 are provided on the top of the pull rod 10. Wheels 11 are provided at the bottom of the shopping cart 9. A cover 5 is hinged to the top of the shopping cart 9. A motor 8 is provided at the bottom of the shopping cart 9. The motor 8 is electrically connected to the wheels 11.

[0035] High-definition camera 1, which is set in five parts, is respectively set on the front side, rear side, left side, right side and top of the cart cover 5 of the shopping cart 9.

[0036] The host computer 2 is located on one side of the shopping cart 9. The host computer 2 is electrically connected to five high-definition cameras 1. The high-definition cameras 1 on the front, rear, left and right sides of the shopping cart 9 are used to identify obstacles around the shopping cart 9. The high-definition camera 1 on the top of the cart cover 5 is used to verify the user's facial features when the cart cover 5 is opened.

[0037] Lower-level machine 3 is located on one side of shopping cart 9 and is electrically connected to upper-level machine 2;

[0038] Power supply 4 is located inside shopping cart 9. Power supply 4 is electrically connected to host computer 2, high-definition camera 1, slave computer 3, motor 8, power switch 6, and function switch 7.

[0039] In some specific embodiments, the host computer 2 connects to the user's mobile phone via Bluetooth to the shopping cart 9.

[0040] In some specific embodiments, the host computer 2 obtains the user's location information through Bluetooth positioning to determine the movement of the shopping cart. The movement determination of the host computer 2 includes three modes: leading the way, walking side by side, and following behind.

[0041] In some specific embodiments, the lower-level machine 3 controls the motor 8 to drive the wheel 11 to move.

[0042] In some specific embodiments, in the forward guidance mode, the distance between the user and the shopping cart 9 is limited to 1m, and the angle between the shopping cart 9 and the user is the first angle, the absolute value of the first angle being between 60° and 120°.

[0043] In some specific embodiments, in the side-by-side walking mode, the distance between the shopping cart 9 and the user is limited to 0.3m. When the shopping cart 9 is walking side-by-side to the right of the user, the second angle between the shopping cart 9 and the user is 180°, and the error of the second angle is ±10°. When the shopping cart 9 is walking side-by-side to the left of the user, the third angle between the shopping cart 9 and the user is 0°, and the error of the third angle is ±10°.

[0044] In some specific embodiments, in the follow-behind mode, the distance between the user and the shopping cart 9 is limited to 1m, and the angle between the shopping cart 9 and the user is the fourth angle, which ranges from -30° to -150°.

[0045] It should be understood that in the forward guidance mode, the distance between the elderly person using shopping cart 9 and shopping cart 9 is 1m; the first included angle is the angle between the positional relationship between the elderly person and shopping cart 9 projected onto the OXY rectangular coordinate system and the OX axis (the elderly person is the zero point O, and the direction of the elderly person's forward movement is the positive half axis of the Y axis). The absolute value range of the first included angle is between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, where counterclockwise rotation is a positive value and clockwise rotation is a negative value.

[0046] In the side-by-side walking mode, the distance between the elderly person using shopping cart 9 and shopping cart 9 is 0.3m; the second included angle is the angle between the positional relationship between the elderly person and shopping cart 9 projected onto the OXY rectangular coordinate system and the OX axis. When shopping cart 9 is walking side-by-side with the elderly person on the right, the second included angle is 180 degrees with an error of ±10 degrees; when shopping cart 9 is walking side-by-side with the elderly person on the left, the third included angle is 0 degrees with an error of ±10 degrees.

[0047] In the following mode, the distance refers to the distance between the elderly person using the shopping cart 9 and the shopping cart 9, which is 1m; the fourth angle is the angle between the elderly person and the shopping cart 9 projected onto the OXY rectangular coordinate system and the OX axis, and the fourth angle ranges from -30 degrees to -150 degrees.

[0048] In some specific embodiments, the host computer 2 locates the user's location information via Bluetooth RSS1. The host computer 2 identifies obstacles in the image captured by the high-definition camera 1 based on the YOLOv5 artificial intelligence algorithm and locates the position of the obstacles. The host computer 2 summarizes the position information of the user and obstacles through the ROS2 robot operating system and transmits the position information to the slave computer 3. The slave computer 3 controls the wheels 11 to move accordingly.

[0049] It should be understood that the working principles of the three modes—leading from the front, walking side by side, and following from behind—are similar. Taking the following from behind mode as an example, its specific implementation method is as follows:

[0050] Step 1: Using the Bluetooth function on the elderly person's mobile phone, the host computer 2 uses Bluetooth RSS I positioning technology to locate the elderly person's position (distance and angle).

[0051] Step 2: Based on the images captured by the high-definition camera 1, the host computer 2 uses an artificial intelligence algorithm based on YOLOv5 to identify surrounding obstacles and locate their positions (distance and angle).

[0052] Step 3: The host computer 2 uses the ROS2 robot operating system to collect the location information of the elderly and obstacles.

[0053] Step 4: The host computer 2 uses SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) to transmit information from the host computer 2 to the slave computer 3.

[0054] Step 5: After acquiring the information, the lower-level machine 3 performs motion judgment to realize the functions of tracking the elderly and automatic obstacle avoidance.

[0055] When tracking an elderly person, if the person is directly in front, the cart continues in the current direction; otherwise, it turns left or right to stay close. Based on the distance information and the established direction, a PID control algorithm adjusts the cart's speed to maintain a constant distance and angle from the elderly person. When an obstacle is detected, if the cart is more than 0.5 meters away from it, it turns left or right to automatically avoid the obstacle; otherwise, it brakes. Finally, the tracking and obstacle avoidance information is aggregated, and PWM control technology is used to calculate the PWM value and send commands to motor 4 on the undercarriage to control the cart.

[0056] The shopping cart moves automatically, accompanying the elderly without requiring them to push or pull it, greatly freeing their hands and making shopping easier. At the same time, the shopping cart can automatically avoid obstacles, achieving a smooth and stable companion function.

[0057] In the guide function, shopping cart 9 can act as a guide, driving ahead of the elderly and leading them to their destination smoothly along the best path. The specific implementation method is as follows:

[0058] When an elderly person needs someone to guide them, the guide function of shopping cart 9 can be activated; the mobile phone navigation software can be opened, the destination can be entered, and the mobile phone navigation will automatically plan the best route and send the planned route information to shopping cart 9 via Bluetooth; the host computer 2 controls the slave computer 3 and wheels 11, adopting the front-leading mode, and the elderly person can follow behind, so that the elderly person can reach the destination smoothly by following the best route.

[0059] In terms of security and anti-theft functions, if the shopping cart 9 gets too far away from the elderly person while traveling (e.g., reaching 2 meters), it will sound an alarm. When the shopping cart 9 moves out of the safe range (e.g., 3 meters), it will issue a voice call saying "Help me, owner!" If the cart lid 5 is forcibly opened, a voice alarm will sound to prevent the shopping cart 9 from being lost or items inside from being stolen. The specific implementation method is as follows:

[0060] Before initial use, the elderly person's facial image information is recorded via a high-definition camera 1. When the shopping cart 9 is started and before the cart cover 5 is opened, facial recognition is performed on the current user; if the detected facial image features do not match the facial feature template in the system, it is determined that the identity verification has failed, and the shopping cart 9 motor 8 and cart cover 5 are locked, and the voice module is activated to sound an alarm.

[0061] The shopping cart 9 in this embodiment also has several auxiliary functions to save users time and effort. First, the shopping cart 9 is powered by a lithium battery, which is rechargeable. Each time it is turned on, the system automatically calculates the remaining driving range based on the distance traveled and the remaining battery power, and reminds the elderly to charge it in time via voice. Second, when the elderly need to use escalators or stairs, or when the shopping cart 9 runs out of power, it can be switched to handheld mode and pulled. Third, the cart cover 5 can be closed to serve as a rest seat, allowing the elderly to sit down and rest when they get tired. In addition, the cart body is made of galvanized steel frame and high-polymer engineering plastic, ensuring rigidity while providing a lightweight feel. The following describes the use of the elderly shopping cart of this embodiment in several specific scenarios.

[0062] Scenario 1: Shopping at a supermarket.

[0063] Upon arriving at the supermarket entrance, the elderly person turns on the power switch 6 of shopping cart 9 and verifies their identity via facial recognition. Shopping cart 9 then prepares to begin shopping. The elderly person then begins shopping, with shopping cart 9 following closely behind. As the elderly person moves, shopping cart 9 moves straight, turns, or stops, accelerating or decelerating according to their walking speed to maintain a distance of approximately 1 meter and an angle between -30 and -150 degrees. When the elderly person reaches the checkout, they remove the items from shopping cart 9, scan the code to pay, and the supermarket shopping process is complete.

[0064] Scenario 2: On the way home after shopping.

[0065] An elderly man was heading home, followed closely by a shopping cart (9) already full of items. As he walked, the shopping cart (9) followed, sometimes going straight, sometimes turning, sometimes stopping, adjusting its speed according to the man's pace to maintain a distance of about 1 meter and an angle between -30 and -150 degrees. At this moment, a thief noticed the items in the shopping cart (9) and tried to steal them. However, just as he approached the cart (9) and was about to open the lid (5), the cart (9) immediately sounded an alarm, "Please stay away! Please stay away!" The thief quickly fled. Later, the elderly man got tired and stopped, sitting on the lid (5) of the shopping cart (9) to rest. After resting, he continued walking home, with the shopping cart (9) continuing to follow closely, ensuring a safe journey home together.

[0066] Scene 3: Getting lost.

[0067] One morning, Old Man Two went out for a walk in the nearby park as usual. Somehow, he ended up in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Looking around, he found no one and didn't know which way to go. He activated the navigation function on his shopping cart (item 8), then opened his phone's navigation app, entered "home" as his destination, planned the route, and sent the instructions to his shopping cart (item 9) via Bluetooth. The shopping cart (item 9) moved forward, with Old Man Two following behind. Finally, the lost Old Man Two made it home safely.

[0068] In some specific embodiments, the power source 4 is a lithium battery.

[0069] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this invention and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A smart shopping cart for elderly people, characterized in that, include: The shopping cart is foldable, with a retractable handle on one side, a power switch and a function switch on the top of the handle, wheels at the bottom, a cover hinged to the top, and a motor at the bottom, which is electrically connected to the wheels. The shopping cart is equipped with five high-definition cameras, which are respectively located on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the cart and on the top of the cart cover. The host computer is located on one side of the shopping cart and is electrically connected to five high-definition cameras. The high-definition cameras on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the shopping cart are used to identify obstacles around the shopping cart, and the high-definition camera on the top of the cart cover is used to verify the user's facial features when the cart cover is opened. The lower-level machine is located on one side of the shopping cart and is electrically connected to the upper-level machine; The power supply is located inside the shopping cart and is electrically connected to the host computer, high-definition camera, slave computer, motor, power switch, and function switch.

2. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The host computer connects to the user's mobile phone via Bluetooth.

3. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The host computer obtains the user's location information via Bluetooth positioning to determine the movement of the shopping cart. The movement determination of the host computer includes three modes: leading the way, walking side by side, and following behind.

4. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lower-level computer controls the motor to drive the wheels.

5. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 4, characterized in that, In the forward guidance mode, the distance between the user and the shopping cart is limited to 1m, and the angle between the shopping cart and the user is the first angle, the absolute value of which is between 60° and 120°.

6. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 5, characterized in that, In the side-by-side walking mode, the distance between the shopping cart and the user is limited to 0.3m. When the shopping cart is walking side-by-side to the right of the user, the second angle between the shopping cart and the user is 180°, and the error of the second angle is ±10°. When the shopping cart is walking side-by-side to the left of the user, the third angle between the shopping cart and the user is 0°, and the error of the third angle is ±10°.

7. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 6, characterized in that, In the following mode, the distance between the user and the shopping cart is limited to 1m, and the angle between the shopping cart and the user is the fourth angle, which is between -30° and -150°.

8. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The host computer locates the user's position information via Bluetooth RSSI. Based on the YOLOv5 artificial intelligence algorithm, the host computer identifies obstacles in the images captured by the high-definition camera and locates the positions of the obstacles. The host computer aggregates the position information of the user and obstacles through the ROS2 robot operating system and transmits the position information to the slave computer. The slave computer controls the wheels to move accordingly.

9. The intelligent shopping cart for the elderly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power source is a lithium battery.

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