3D Refrigerated Counter Control for Shopper Tracking and Restocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerated counters in supermarkets lack data on sales performance, customer behavior, and product preferences, leading to empirical management and missed opportunities for optimizing sales and consumer interaction.
Innovation Solution
A smart refrigerated counter system using 3D cameras with coded light and time-of-flight functionality to capture real-time data on customer interactions, product access, and environmental conditions, processing this information to provide insights for timely restocking, energy management, and promotional strategies, while adjusting operations based on customer traffic and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional refrigerated counters are used, then the structure is simple and cost is low, but no sales data or customer behavior information is collected
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerated counter system integrates multiple functions: it serves as both a traditional refrigeration unit and a data collection platform. The 3D camera system, weight sensors, and temperature sensors are incorporated into the existing counter structure, allowing it to simultaneously perform product storage, customer behavior monitoring, sales tracking, and environmental monitoring without requiring separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a PC and software application as intermediaries that bridge the physical refrigerated counter and the data processing functions. These intermediaries collect data from various sensors and cameras, process the information, and generate useful insights, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple hardware structure and complex data processing requirements.
2Measurement precision
If 3D cameras with coded light and time-of-flight functionality are added, then real-time customer interaction data is captured, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or manual monitoring methods with optical-based 3D camera systems using coded light and time-of-flight technology. This substitution enables precise, contactless, and automated measurement of customer interactions, product access patterns, and attention metrics without requiring physical intervention or complex mechanical sensing mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If the system processes and analyzes all collected data in real time, then comprehensive insights are provided, but energy consumption and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements selective data processing by prioritizing analysis of key parameters such as product pickup events, customer attention duration, and sales transactions. Rather than processing all captured data uniformly, the system focuses computational resources on the most commercially valuable information, thereby reducing overall processing load and energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive business insights.
4Reliability
If the refrigerated counter operates continuously at full capacity, then product availability is maintained, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic operation of the refrigerated counter by using real-time data from weight sensors, temperature sensors, and customer interaction data to adjust cooling intensity. The system transitions from static full-capacity operation to dynamic adjustment, maintaining product availability through intelligent control that reduces energy consumption during periods of low demand or when products are stable in temperature.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances sales performance by enabling data-driven management, improving product availability, customer engagement, and energy efficiency, providing retailers with valuable statistics and enabling targeted promotions.
Implementation Method 1
3D cameras with coded light and time of flight (TOF) function, the system can process in real time the 3D images of the scene that includes the refrigerated counter and the area in front of the refrigerated counter
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerated counter system includes a refrigerated counter, 3D filming means arranged in such manner to take 3D images of the products contained in the refrigerated counter and of an area in front of the refrigerated counter, a PC connected to the 3D filming means to process statistic data according to the 3D images taken by the 3D filming means, and a CPU connected to the PC to control the operating parts of the refrigerated counter according to the statistic data processed by the PC.