Shelf Inventory Management Using Mass Sensors for Expiration Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shelf inventory management systems fail to accurately identify and notify users about consumables approaching their expiration dates, making it difficult to locate and consume them before they expire, leading to waste.
Innovation Solution
A shelf inventory management system equipped with mass sensors to detect changes in storage boxes, a management unit to track inventory and expiration dates, and a terminal to notify users with reminder information including storage box location, reducing the need for individual sensors in each box and enhancing user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a refrigerator with inventory management function displays expiration date warnings, then users can be notified of approaching expiration dates, but the specific storage box location cannot be identified, requiring users to search through multiple boxes
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the inventory management by dividing the refrigerator into multiple storage boxes, each equipped with its own mass sensor. This allows the system to identify which specific storage box contains an article with an approaching expiration date, rather than just providing a general warning. The segmentation enables precise location information to be provided to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring mass changes in each storage box and cross-referencing this data with inventory information including expiration dates. When an article's expiration date approaches, the system provides feedback to the user through a display showing both the expiration warning and the specific storage box location, enabling easy retrieval.
2Measurement precision
If mass sensors are installed in each storage box to detect mass changes, then inventory management precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each storage box is designed to be multi-functional: it serves as both storage container and sensor mounting platform. The mass sensor mounted on each storage box serves multiple purposes - detecting both the presence of articles and monitoring mass changes over time. This universal design reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate sensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage boxes are designed to be self-identifying through their unique identification information. When a mass change is detected, the system automatically identifies which storage box it belongs to using the stored identification data, eliminating the need for additional location-detection sensors or complex tracking mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the system provides only expiration date warnings without location information, then the notification function is simple, but users cannot easily locate and retrieve the articles before expiration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing identification information for each storage box and pre-calculating which box contains articles with approaching expiration dates. When the expiration threshold is reached, the system immediately provides the specific location information, allowing users to retrieve articles without time-consuming searches through multiple boxes.
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
Enables users to easily identify and retrieve consumables with approaching expiration dates, reducing food waste by providing precise location information and reminders, thus improving the quality of life and reducing unnecessary consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a mass sensor that detects a mass change of the storage boxes
Data Source
AI summary
A shelf inventory management system includes: a shelf including storage boxes that is each identified; a first sensor that detects a mass change of the storage boxes; a management unit that manages an inventory of an article stored in each storage box, based on a detection result of the first sensor; and a terminal for notifying a user of information related to the article stored in each storage box. The management unit stores the article stored in each storage box and an expiration date related to consumption of the article in association with each other, and outputs to the terminal reminder information for notifying that the expiration date of the article is approaching, when a period until the expiration date of the article not detected by the first sensor falls below a predetermined standard.