AUTOMATED IN STORE SHOPPING SYSTEM

• US 20160364785A1
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wankhede, Vinod Kumar L.
• Application Number:
  US14/734,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364785A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/14 Systems including one or more distant stations co-operating with a central processing unit data transmission in general H04L; telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station H04Q9/00

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, computer program product, and system for automated shopping. The method includes generating a route to items within a location and directing a robotic cart to collect the items according to the generated route. A list of items to be collected is received from a user located at a remote location. A purchase items list is generated of the collected items. As each item on the list of items is collected, it is added to the purchase items list. The method may also include remote payment by a user for the items listed on the purchase items list.

Claims

1. A method for automated shopping, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by one or more computer processors, a list of items at a location;

generating, by one or more computer processors, a route to said list of items at the location;

directing, by one or more computer processors, a cart to follow said generated route and to retrieve said list of items;

generating, by one or more computer processors, a second list comprising retrieved items;

requesting, by one or more computer processors, payment for the retrieved items; and

receiving, by one or more computer processors, an indication of payment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying, by one or more computer processors, that said list of items is present at the location; and

notifying, by one or more computer processors, a user of items that do not exist at said location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining that an item is not present at said location, removing said item from said list of items.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a route to said list of items comprises:

locating, by one or more computer processors, a position of said items within the location; and

calculating, by one or more computer processors, a path to collect said list of items, said path having the shortest distance to collect said list of items.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

notifying, by one or more computer processors, a remote user of an estimated shopping time for said path to collect said list of items.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting, by a gripper assembly, an item on said list of items;

scanning, by a barcode scanner, said item; and

adding, by one or more computer processors, said item to the second list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein collecting an item on said list of items comprises:

identifying an item from said list of items;

picking up an item located on a rack; and

placing said item in said robotic cart.

8. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a list of items at a location;

program instructions to generate a route to said list of items at the location;

program instructions to direct a cart to follow said generated route and to retrieve said list of items;

program instructions to generate a second list comprising retrieved items;

program instructions to request payment for the retrieved items; and

program instructions to receive an indication of payment.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

program instructions to verify that said list of items is present at the location; and

program instructions to notify a user of items that do not exist at said location.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

program instructions to, responsive to determining that an item is not present at said location, remove said item from said list of items.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to generate a route to said list of items comprises:

program instructions to locate a position of said items within the location; and

program instructions to calculate a path to collect said list of items, said path having the shortest distance to collect said list of items.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

program instructions to notify a remote user of an estimated shopping time for said path to collect said list of items.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

program instructions to collect, by a gripper assembly, an item on said list of items;

program instructions to scan, by a barcode scanner, said item; and

program instructions to add said item to the second list.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the program instructions to collect an item on said list of items comprises:

program instructions to identify an item from said list of items;

program instructions to pick up an item located on a rack; and

program instructions to place said item in said robotic cart.

15. A robotic cart system comprising:

a chassis, the chassis having a robotic arm, wherein the robotic arm is coupled to the chassis;

a gripper assembly, wherein the gripper assembly is coupled to said robotic arm;

a control unit;

at least one moving device coupled to said chassis, the at least one moving device being operatively connected to the control unit to move the chassis around a location according to instructions received from the control unit;

at least one direction device coupled to said chassis, the at least one direction device being operatively connected to the control unit to direct the chassis to move around a location according to instructions received from the control unit;

a navigation system, wherein said navigation system is configured to locate a list of items in a location and generate a route to collect the list of items;

at least one obstacle sensor;

a barcode scanner; and

a power source.

16. The robotic cart system of claim 15, wherein said chassis is configured to follow the generated route to collect the list of items.

17. The robotic cart system of claim 15, wherein said chassis is configured to receive payment information from a user, and wherein said user is at another location.

18. The robotic cart system of claim 15, wherein said chassis is configured to receive a list of items from a user, wherein said user is at another location.

19. The robotic cart system of claim 15, wherein the at least one obstacle sensor is configured to:

identify an obstacle; and

direct said chassis to move around the obstacle.

20. The robotic cart system of claim 15, wherein said gripper assembly comprises an impactive end effector having a plurality of fingers.