Smart Shopping Cart Barcode Scanner and Weight Scale Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shopping carts in supermarkets lead to slow settlement processes due to limited checkout terminals, lack of real-time consumption information, and potential safety hazards from crowd congestion, with issues like commodity replacement and unauthorized removal.
Innovation Solution
A smart shopping cart equipped with a scanner for barcode scanning, scales for weight measurement, and a controller for generating settlement information, which ensures accurate and autonomous settlement by verifying commodities and displaying crowd flow information, reducing queue times and enhancing user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional settlement terminals are used at supermarket gates, then settlement can be performed, but the limited number of terminals causes slow settlement speed and long queue times
Solution Approach 1:
The shopping cart autonomously performs settlement functions by itself without requiring external settlement terminals. The cart includes a scanner to read commodity barcodes, a scale to measure weights, and a controller to calculate totals and generate settlement information, enabling the cart to serve as a mobile self-service checkout system that eliminates queues at traditional settlement gates
Solution Approach 2:
The shopping cart is transformed from a simple loading device into a multi-functional system that combines shopping, scanning, weighing, calculating, and settlement capabilities. This universal design allows the cart to perform both its traditional function of holding items and the additional function of autonomous settlement, eliminating the need for separate settlement terminals
2Productivity
If commodities are scanned and added to the settlement list, then settlement information is recorded, but commodity replacement or unauthorized removal can occur without detection
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the shopping cart's weight through a scale and compares it with the expected weight based on scanned commodities. When weight changes are detected, the system provides feedback by alerting the customer and automatically adjusting the settlement list to remove corresponding items, creating a closed-loop verification system that prevents unauthorized removal or replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual verification of commodities with an automated weight-based detection system. Instead of requiring staff to physically check items, the electronic scale continuously measures weight and the controller uses this data to verify commodity presence, substituting mechanical inspection with automated sensor-based monitoring
3Ease of operation
If staff members are deployed to manage commodity areas, then customer service is provided, but crowd congestion and personnel collision occur in high-traffic areas
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous settlement system enables customers to perform settlement operations independently using the shopping cart's built-in scanner and display, eliminating the need for staff to be present at settlement points. This self-service capability allows customers to settle at any location in the supermarket, distributing foot traffic and eliminating congestion at traditional checkout gates
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a smart shopping cart, comprising a shopping basket provided with a cover plate which may be tilted toward the interior of the shopping basket to form an entrance; and the shopping cart further comprises a scanner configured to scan a barcode of a commodity placed on the cover plate to acquire an identity and/or a price of the commodity; a first scale configured to measure a weight of the commodity; a controller configured to generate settlement information of the commodity based on at least one of the identity, the price, and the weight of the commodity, and add the settlement information to a settlement list to update the settlement list; and a display comprising a first display area on which the settlement list is able to be displayed. The present disclosure further discloses a smart shopping system including the shopping cart described above.