Mobile ATM Pre-Staging Robot for Queue Time Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customer satisfaction is hindered by long queues at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) due to insufficient ATM availability, and existing solutions that use mobile devices to pre-set transactions require user time and technical proficiency, which may not be feasible in fast-paced environments.
Innovation Solution
A mobile robot system equipped with an ambulatory system, machine vision, and communication capabilities that can recognize customers, process banking cards and documents, and pre-stage ATM transactions for multiple users simultaneously, reducing wait times by pre-processing transactions before customers arrive at the ATM.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If additional ATMs are deployed to reduce customer queues, then customer satisfaction improves, but infrastructure cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robot performs preliminary actions by approaching customers in queue and pre-processing their transactions (reading cards, capturing PINs, scanning documents, pre-authorizing transactions) before they reach the ATM. This advance preparation eliminates the need for customers to spend time at the ATM, effectively increasing transaction throughput without adding more ATM machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot acts as an intermediary between customers and the ATM system. It collects transaction data, performs preliminary processing, and communicates with the ATM backend systems to pre-stage transactions. This intermediary role allows the system to handle multiple customers simultaneously without requiring proportional increases in ATM infrastructure.
2Loss of time
If mobile devices are used to pre-set transactions, then user time at ATM is reduced, but the solution requires users to own and operate mobile devices with sufficient technical proficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The robot provides self-service capability to customers who may not have mobile devices or technical proficiency. The robot autonomously approaches customers, collects their banking cards, and processes transactions without requiring customers to interact with complex mobile applications. The system serves itself by automating the entire pre-processing workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic/mobile device-based pre-setting system with a physical robot-based system. Instead of requiring customers to use smartphone apps, the robot physically collects banking cards, reads magnetic strips or chips, captures PINs via keypad, and processes transactions through direct hardware interaction, eliminating the need for customer technical proficiency.
3Productivity
If a mobile robot is deployed to pre-process transactions, then customer wait time is reduced, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform various banking transactions (cash withdrawals, deposits, transfers, bill payments) and handle different document types (checks, deposit slips, identification). This universality justifies the initial complexity by enabling a single robot to replace multiple specialized systems and handle diverse customer needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions (card reading, document scanning, PIN capture, wireless communication, customer interaction) into a single mobile robot platform. By merging these functions, the system achieves economies of scale where one complex device performs the work of multiple simpler systems, ultimately improving overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The current disclosure may include a mobile robot having an ambulatory system capable of moving the robot at speeds of at least two miles per hour, a machine vision system, a communication system including a speaker that produces human-audible sounds and also configured to conduct wireless communication using a wireless communications link. Such communication may be conducted with a remote server. The robot may include a banking card receiving slot for receiving a banking card and a keypad for receiving a PIN. Some embodiments may include a document scanning and processing system in electronic communication with the communication system. In addition, the robot may use the document scanning and processing system to receive documents from the customer, scan and process the documents from the customer, and transmit information derived from the processing, to the remote server. Such information may serve to facilitate an interaction between the customer and an ATM.