Shopping Cart Boundary Detection Using Visual Floor Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shopping cart location detection technologies based on wireless communication signals are unreliable due to signal intensity fluctuations from surrounding objects, making it difficult to clearly define the boundaries between permitted and restricted areas.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an imaging unit, such as a camera, into the shopping cart to detect visually defined boundary patterns on the floor or ceiling, and a controller to determine the cart's movement across these boundaries, controlling the cart's mobility accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless communication signals are used for shopping cart location detection, then the cart's position can be monitored, but the detection accuracy deteriorates due to signal intensity fluctuations from surrounding objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the wireless communication-based detection system with an imaging-based detection system. Instead of using radio waves that fluctuate due to environmental factors, the system uses visible light imaging to detect boundary patterns on the floor, providing stable and accurate location information that is not affected by electromagnetic interference or signal attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces boundary patterns as visual intermediaries between the shopping cart and the detection system. These patterns serve as reference markers that the imaging unit can reliably detect and track, enabling precise determination of the cart's position relative to permitted and restricted areas without direct signal interaction with the environment.
2Device complexity
If signal intensity-based location detection is used, then the system structure remains simple, but the boundary definition becomes unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses boundary patterns with distinct visual characteristics (such as color differences or reflective properties) that can be easily distinguished by the imaging unit. These visual markers provide clear demarcation between permitted and restricted areas, making boundary definition unambiguous while maintaining relatively simple system architecture through standard imaging technology.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication devices are installed in shopping carts, then the cart can communicate its location, but the system is vulnerable to signal interference from other objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the wireless communication vulnerability by substituting radio frequency transmission with optical imaging. The imaging unit captures visual information about boundary patterns, and the control unit processes this visual data to determine location, completely avoiding electromagnetic signal interference while maintaining the ability to communicate location information to the external system.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment a shopping cart includes an imaging unit configured to acquire images of a surface at a location of the shopping cart and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a boundary pattern in images acquired by the imaging unit. The boundary pattern is painted or drawn on the surface at a boundary between a first area and a second area. Based on the detected boundary pattern the controller determines whether the shopping cart has been moved from the first area to the second area or from the second area to the first area. The controller then controls mobility of the shopping cart based on whether the shopping cart has been moved from the first area to the second area or from the second area to the first area.