Systems and methods for visual search and autonomous delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customers face difficulties in locating and purchasing products they see outside of online shopping websites, as they need to go through multiple steps to search for the product and find a merchant that carries it, which increases their burden.
Innovation Solution
A delivery control system that uses image recognition processing on images from customers' devices to identify products and instruct robot vehicles to deliver the selected products, allowing customers to easily find and purchase products by transmitting images of the products they want, with the system also suggesting alternative products if exact matches are not available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If customers use traditional online shopping methods to search for products, then they can find products on shopping websites, but they experience difficulty in locating products they see in real world settings and must go through multiple search steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual text-based search operations with automated image recognition technology. The system captures an image of the product using a camera and automatically identifies the product through image processing, eliminating the need for customers to manually search using brand names, product names, or other product specifics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an optical copy (image) of the product as the search query instead of requiring textual descriptions. The customer simply takes a picture of the product, and the system processes this visual copy to identify and locate the product, significantly simplifying the search process.
2Measurement precision
If customers manually search for products using brand names and product names, then they can locate products, but the process requires multiple steps and increases customer burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex multi-step text-based search operations with automated image recognition. The system performs product identification through image processing algorithms that analyze visual features of the product, providing accurate results without requiring customers to know brand names, product names, or other specific product details.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service product identification where the customer simply needs to capture an image of the product. The automated image recognition system then handles the entire identification and search process independently, without requiring customer knowledge of search techniques or product specifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customers need to find merchants that carry specific products, then they can complete purchases, but locating the right merchant adds additional complexity to the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges product identification and merchant location into a single integrated process. The image recognition system not only identifies the product but also automatically searches for and provides information about merchants that carry the identified product, eliminating the need for separate merchant search steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying products and finding carrying merchants before the customer even completes the search process. This preliminary processing of product identification and merchant location reduces the customer's workload and simplifies the overall shopping experience.
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
Streamlines the online shopping process by enabling customers to easily identify, order, and receive products through visual search, reducing the burden of product location and purchase, and ensuring efficient delivery using robot vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
perform an image recognition process on the image to identify at least one product based on the image
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery control system includes a communication device configured to receive an image of a product from a computing device of a customer, at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the delivery control system to perform an image recognition process on the image to identify at least one product based on the image, transmit the identified at least one product to the computing device via the communication device, receive from the computing device a product selected by the customer from among the identified at least one product, and instruct an robot vehicle to deliver the selected product to the customer.