Unmanned Store Checkout With Barcode, Image, and Weight Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing product checkout process in stores requires human intervention for barcode scanning, leading to increased time and costs due to staff hiring, customer waiting, and store congestion.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned store product checkout device utilizing a conveying unit, product recognition, scanning, weight measurement, and sorting units, along with artificial intelligence learning data to quickly and accurately identify products, sort them into user and administrator zones, and calculate total prices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human staff perform barcode scanning for product checkout, then product identification accuracy is maintained, but checkout time increases and store congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the checkout process into multiple parallel scanning channels (first scanning unit, second scanning unit, third scanning unit) that simultaneously scan different products. This segmentation allows multiple products to be processed concurrently, reducing total checkout time while maintaining identification accuracy through distributed scanning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual barcode scanning by human staff with automated scanning units that use optical sensors and image processing. The mechanical action of manual scanning is substituted with automated optical scanning systems coupled with AI-based product identification, eliminating human intervention while maintaining or improving identification accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If human staff are hired for product checkout, then checkout operations can be performed, but operation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service checkout system where customers place products on the conveying unit and the system automatically scans, identifies, and calculates prices without human staff intervention. The checkout process serves itself through automated product recognition, weight verification, and price calculation, eliminating the need for hired staff and reducing operation management costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the human labor system with an automated system comprising conveying units, scanning units, weight sensors, and processors. This substitution eliminates the need for hiring staff while maintaining full checkout operation capability through integrated automated components that work together to complete the checkout process.
3Productivity
If automated scanning is implemented, then checkout speed increases, but product recognition accuracy may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple verification methods into a unified product identification system. It combines barcode scanning results with image recognition and weight verification, cross-referencing all three data sources to confirm product identity. This merging of multiple detection mechanisms maintains high recognition accuracy while enabling rapid automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback verification where the system cross-checks barcode scan results against image recognition data and weight sensor measurements. If discrepancies are detected, the system can request re-scanning or administrator verification. This feedback loop ensures accuracy is maintained even as processing speed increases through automation.
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 solution enables rapid and accurate product checkout, reduces personnel requirements, and lowers store operation management costs by automating the process.
Implementation Method 1
a weight sensor provided on a lower side of the conveying unit to measure weights for verifying the scanned products
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned store product checkout device according to one embodiment may include a conveying unit that conveys products, a product recognition unit that recognizes that the products have been placed on the conveying unit, a scanning unit that scans barcodes and images of the products conveyed by the conveying unit, a weight sensor that measures weights of the scanned products, a processor that identifies the products, a product sorting unit that sorts the products into a first zone or a second zone based on a result of identifying the products, and a checkout unit that calculates a total price by adding up a first price, which is a sum of prices of the products sorted into the first zone, and a second price, which is a sum of prices of the products sorted into the second zone and checked by an administrator.