Shopping Cart Add-On Retrieval Robot Using Mobile Product Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotics-based shopping systems lack the capability to efficiently retrieve and deliver add-on products associated with user purchases within a physical store, limiting the shopping experience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A product purchase system that includes a mobile wireless communications device and a product retrieval robot, which uses product identifying data such as images or RFID tags to identify products and determine add-on items, allowing the robot to retrieve and deliver these items to a shopping cart, while also generating digital promotions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robot is used to assist with shopping operations, then productivity and shopping efficiency are improved, but the capability to retrieve and deliver add-on products to shopping carts is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The product purchase server is configured to perform multiple functions: identifying products scanned by mobile devices, determining add-on products based on purchase history and product associations, generating digital promotions, and coordinating robot retrieval operations. This multi-functional approach enables the system to handle both traditional shopping assistance and add-on product delivery through a single integrated platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The product purchase server acts as an intermediary between the mobile device (user interface), the robot (retrieval mechanism), and the product database. It receives scan data from mobile devices, processes product information, determines add-on products, and translates user needs into robot navigation commands, thereby bridging the gap between user intent and robot action.
2Loss of time
If manual shopping cart transport is used, then system complexity is low, but time consumption and labor effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by identifying add-on products and preparing retrieval commands before the user completes their shopping. When a user scans a product, the system proactively determines associated add-on products and initiates robot retrieval operations in advance, so that add-on items are already available when the user returns to the shopping cart.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (user physically transporting shopping cart to collect items) with an automated robotic system. The robot autonomously navigates to product locations, retrieves items, and delivers them to the shopping cart, substituting human physical effort with automated mechanical systems controlled by digital coordination.
3Ease of operation
If traditional checkout processes are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but shopping experience and personalization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where the product purchase server continuously monitors products scanned by mobile devices, analyzes purchase patterns, and dynamically generates personalized digital promotions for add-on products. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt promotions based on real-time shopping behavior while maintaining seamless integration with the checkout process.
Data Source
AI summary
A product purchase system may include a product retrieval robot for a physical store and a mobile wireless communications device associated with a given user and configured to obtain product identifying data for a given product for purchase in the physical store. The given product for purchase may be placed by the given user into a physical shopping cart. The system may also include a server configured to identify the given product for purchase based upon the product identifying data, and determine an add-on product associated with the given product for purchase and located in the physical store. The product retrieval robot may be configured to cooperate with the server to retrieve the add-on product from the physical store and deliver the add-on product to the physical shopping cart.