Shopping Robot Cart Sensing for Automatic Item Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shopping cart systems require users to manually collect and scan products at checkout, which is inconvenient for customers with mobility issues or carrying items, affecting their shopping experience and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A robot system that detects articles being put into or taken out of a storage container, updates an information list, and automatically guides users to products, facilitates payment, and ensures all items are retrieved by detecting remaining items through sensors and sending notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users manually collect and scan products at checkout, then product information can be recorded, but users' hands are occupied and shopping efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting when products are placed in or removed from the shopping cart using sensors, and autonomously updating the information list without requiring user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system serve itself rather than requiring users to manually scan products
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical action of scanning products with an automated sensing system. Sensors detect product placement and trigger automatic information list updates, substituting the mechanical scanning process with an automated detection and control system that improves both efficiency and convenience
2Productivity
If a robot system automatically detects and tracks articles, then shopping efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is designed with multi-functionality, integrating article detection, information list management, navigation, and customer service capabilities into a single platform. The sensor system and control device serve multiple purposes: detecting articles, tracking their locations, updating information lists, and enabling automated checkout, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing complexity
3Productivity
If the robot navigates to guide users to products, then shopping efficiency improves, but navigation and path planning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary navigation component that acts as a mediator between the control device and the robot's movement. This navigation module handles path planning and guidance functions, translating high-level destination requests into actionable movement commands, thereby managing navigation complexity while maintaining improved shopping efficiency
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
This system frees users' hands, improves shopping efficiency, and enhances the shopping experience by automating product information collection and payment, while preventing items from being left behind.
Implementation Method 1
a put-into and take-out sensor configured to detect whether there is an article being put into or taken out from a storage container
Implementation Method 2
an electronic tag identifier configured to extract relevant information about an article being put into or taken out from the storage container
Implementation Method 3
detecting a current space size of the storage container; and comparing the current space size with a predetermined space size to determine whether there is still any article in the storage container
Implementation Method 4
detecting a current weight of the storage container; and comparing the current weight with a predetermined weight to determine whether there is still any article in the storage container
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for controlling a robot, and a robot. The device detects whether there is an article being put into or taken out from a storage container of a robot, and if it is detected that an article is put into or taken out from the storage container, an information list is updated according to the article being put into or taken out, the information list recording relevant information about articles in the storage container.