Automatic Product Enrollment via 3D Modeling and Weight Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

E-commerce companies face inefficiencies in manually capturing and enrolling information for millions of products, making it difficult to automate the process for robotic manipulation.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a belt conveyor system with a transparent panel, RGB and depth cameras, scales, and a computing device that captures visual and depth images, constructs 3D models, calculates weight distribution, and determines manipulation parameters to automatically enroll product information into a database, including identification, warehouse information, and robotic manipulation suggestions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual product information capture is used, then information accuracy can be ensured through human verification, but productivity and scalability are severely limited for millions of products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct enrollment speedVSAvoidautomation level
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical information capture with an automated vision-based system. Multiple cameras (RGB and depth) capture product images automatically, and computer vision algorithms construct 3D models and extract information without human intervention. This substitution enables high-speed automated enrollment while maintaining information accuracy through algorithmic processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies of physical products through photogrammetry and 3D modeling. By capturing multiple images from different angles and constructing virtual 3D representations, the system copies product geometry and appearance data automatically. This copying approach enables scalable enrollment of millions of products without requiring physical handling or manual measurement of each item.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple cameras and sensors are deployed to capture comprehensive product data, then measurement precision and completeness improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct property capture accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the measurement task into specialized segments handled by different sensors: RGB cameras capture color and texture information, depth cameras capture geometric data, and scales capture weight information. Each sensor type is optimized for specific measurement purposes, improving overall precision while allowing modular system design that manages complexity through functional specialization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent conveyor belt serves multiple functions: it transports products through the system, provides a reflective surface for accurate bottom-view imaging, and allows passage of light for multi-angle capture. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, managing device complexity while maintaining measurement completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If a transparent panel is used in the conveyor system to enable bottom-view imaging, then measurement completeness improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct visibility from all anglesVSAvoidconveyor system fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The transparent panel integrates multiple functions: product transport conveyor surface, imaging window for bottom-view capture, and light transmission medium for depth camera operation. By combining these functions into a single component, the system achieves complete product visibility without requiring separate transparent windows, mounting structures, or complex alignment mechanisms, thereby simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11055659B2System and method for automatic product enrollment
Publication Date: 2021.07.06 BEIJING JINGDONG SHANGKE INFORMATION TECH CO LTD
  • US11055659B2 patent drawing
  • US11055659B2 patent drawing
  • US11055659B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system for automatic product enrollment, includes: multiple visual sensors configured to capture images of a product; multiple scales configured to measure weight distribution of the product; and a computing device in communication with the visual sensors and the scales. The computing device is configured to: determine identification of the product and construct a 3D model of the product using the captured images; retrieve warehouse information of the product based on the identification; and enroll the warehouse information, the 3D model, and the weight distribution of the product into a product database. An automatic product enrollment method using the system.