Abstract:
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining item availability are provided. A computer implemented method for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising: receiving a request for an item for purchase, instructing a motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item for the purchase, determining whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit, and in an event that the item for purchase is not available in the display space: determining an item unavailable response to present to the customer.
Abstract:
Various examples of the invention conduct a purchase transaction with a first sensor that senses removal or return of a first item from a first region; a computer vision sensor that senses removal or return of a second item from the first region; a transaction detector that determines an accuracy that the sensed removal or return of the first item by the first sensor and the sensed removal or return of the second item by the computer vision sensor correspond to a single event of removal or return of an item by a consumer and that forwards, to a machine learning tool, information associated with the sensed removal or return of the first item by the first sensor and information associated with the sensed removal or return of the second item by the computer vision sensor when the accuracy is less than an accuracy threshold; the machine learning tool that verifies or corrects the information associated with the sensed removal or return of the first item or the information associated with the sensed removal or return of the second item and provides verified or corrected information to the transaction detector; and an automated billing processor, coupled to the transaction detector, that applies a purchase price of the item against an account of the consumer for the item based on the verified or corrected information, thereby completing the purchase transaction.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide a visual indication of a weight of products stocked on a display assembly, such as a shelf of a shelving unit. The visual indication is provided by virtue of the display assembly having a product support member with a curved configuration that sequentially flattens as additional weight is added thereto. A laser device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and oriented to determine a distance to the product support member and a control circuit can be configured to receive the distance and analyze the distance to determine a deflection of the product support member to determine a current stock level.
Abstract:
Some embodiments include apparatuses to fulfill customer orders comprising a motorized transport unit; a product pick unit (PPU) that cooperate with the motorized transport unit; a wireless communication network; and a central computer system configured to communicate with the multiple motorized transport units and the plurality of product pick units, and comprises a control circuit and memory storing instructions executed to cause the control circuit to: communicate an instruction to the motorized transport unit and direct the motorized transport unit to transport the product pick unit to a determined first location within the shopping facility proximate to where a first product having been ordered is located; and communicate an instruction to the product pick unit cooperated with the motorized transport unit and direct the product pick unit to retrieve the first product.
Abstract:
A central computer system is configured to simultaneously task various ones of a plurality of motorized transport units to temporarily attach to a corresponding mobile item container and to move the temporarily-attached mobile item container in a retail shopping facility in correspondence to the movement of an authorized consumer while also receiving and analyzing video input provided by video cameras that are included with at least some of the motorized transport units to identify security and safety anomalies in the retail shopping facility. By one approach, the central computer system identifies security and safety anomalies in the retail shopping center by characterizing contents of images as being either expected or unexpected and as being either potentially harmful or not potentially harmful. So configured the central computer system is able to not only identify anomalies but assess a degree of threat posed by a given anomaly.
Abstract:
A smart hook system for a store display including a hook configured to hang smart items having a resistor and a capacitor for display in a store. The hook at least one resistive electrical contact configured to come into electrical circuit contact with the resistor of the smart items hanging on the hook, and at least one capacitive electrical contact configured to come into electrical contact with the capacitor of the smart items that are hanging on hook. The smart hook also includes a processor configured to measure the resistance and capacitance of the smart items that are hanging on hook, and determine a quantity of the smart items hanging on the hook and identity of the smart items hanging on the hook based on the measured resistance and capacitance.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided herein for front-facing merchandise in a shopping facility. A system for front-facing products includes a product display surface having a customer-facing portion, wherein a plurality of products are positioned on the product display surface, a control unit, and a product movement unit coupled to and under control of the control unit, wherein the product movement unit is configured to provide a force sufficient to induce movement of at least one product relative to the product display surface, the product display surface being substantially stationary during the movement, wherein the movement is in a direction toward the customer-facing position, and wherein the control unit is configured to receive a signal instructing activation of the product movement unit and output an activation signal to the product movement unit.
Abstract:
Some embodiments provide apparatuses and methods useful to providing control over movement of motorized transport units. In some embodiments, an apparatus providing control over movement of motorized transport units at a shopping facility comprises: a central computer system comprising: a transceiver; a control circuit; a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of: obtain, from one or more of the communications received from the motorized transport unit, route condition information comprising information corresponding to an intended route of travel; obtain additional route condition information detected by one or more detectors external to the motorized transport unit; detect an object affecting the intended route of travel; identify an action to be taken by the motorized transport unit with respect to the detected object; and communicate one or more instructions.
Abstract:
In some embodiments, various systems, apparatuses and methods are described herein includes back end stocking shelving units that are configured to extend along sides of adjacent shopping aisles in a back-to-back configuration with a secure central aisle running between the shelving units to provide back end stocking access to both shelving units. The secure central aisle can have a restricted access point on one or both ends thereof.
Abstract:
A central computer system directs a motorized transport unit through a retail shopping facility to a particular mobile item container having at least one item disposed therein, that item being designated for return to a particular department within the retail shopping facility such that this item can then again be presented for sale. After causing that motorized transport unit to physically attach to this mobile item container, the central computer system then directs that motorized transport unit through the retail shopping facility with the attached particular mobile item container to the one or more departments to which the item or items are to be so returned.