In-Vehicle Vending System with Sensor-Based Automatic Payment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ride hailing and ride pooling services face challenges in providing an efficient and safe method for passengers to purchase consumer goods within vehicles, as drivers are burdened with handling transactions, potentially compromising safety and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for vending consumer goods in vehicles, utilizing a sensor system and computer network to detect the removal of items and automatically charge the passenger's service payment account, allowing for seamless and driver-independent transactions through sensors like cameras, weight sensors, and barcode readers, with optional user identification via mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver handles transactions for consumer goods, then the transaction process is simple and direct, but the driver's workload increases and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The transaction handling function is extracted from the driver's tasks and assigned to an automated vending system. The sensor system detects item removal, the computer system processes the transaction, and the service payment account is automatically charged, completely removing the driver from the transaction process while maintaining simplicity for the passenger.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service transactions where the passenger simply removes the desired item from the container, and the system automatically detects this action and processes the payment without requiring the passenger to interact with a driver or manual payment interface.
2Reliability
If a vending system is implemented in the vehicle, then driver involvement is reduced and safety improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform: the container serves as both storage and dispensing mechanism, the sensor system performs both detection and identification, the computer system handles both transaction processing and payment management, creating a multi-functional vending system that reduces overall complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer system acts as an intermediary between the sensor system and the payment processing, while the service payment account serves as an intermediary for financial transactions. This mediation simplifies the architecture by creating clear separation of concerns and standardized interfaces between components.
3Ease of operation
If automatic detection and charging is implemented, then transaction convenience is improved and driver workload is reduced, but the automation extent and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides complete self-service functionality where the passenger's action of removing an item automatically triggers detection, identification, pricing lookup, and payment processing without any manual intervention. The service payment account is automatically charged, making the entire transaction process convenient and fully automated.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system provides immediate feedback when an item is removed from the container, triggering the computer system to retrieve pricing information and process the charge to the service payment account. This feedback loop ensures accurate tracking of consumable units and corresponding financial transactions.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for vending consumer goods in a vehicle includes a container for storing consumable units of at least one sort of consumer goods, a sensor system including at least one first sensor configured to detect removal of a consumable unit from the container by a consumer, and a computer system connected to the sensor system via a data network. The computer system includes a user database storing a user account assigned to the consumer and a service database storing a price for each consumable unit. Each user account comprises a service payment account listing services and a corresponding amount of money due for each service. The computer system is configured to retrieve from the service database a price for the removed consumable unit and to charge the service payment account of the consumer with an amount of money corresponding to the price of the removed consumable unit.