AUTOMATED-SERVICE RETAIL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20180134492A1
• Filed: 11/17/2017
• Published: 05/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alert Innovation Inc. (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Lert, JR., John G.
• Granted Patent: US 11,142,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/0492 with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1373 for fulfilling orders in warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/063 Automatically guided
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41815 characterised by the cooperation between machine tools, manipulators and conveyor or other workpiece supply system, workcell
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

Abstract

A combination automated-service and self-service store for implementation at brick-and-mortar retail locations is provided. The store and corresponding method of implementation is an automated-service model in which robots, deployed at the brick-and-mortar location, fill orders for fungible goods placed by customers either online or in-store. The store also includes a shopping section where customers can select/order items and/or personally select non-fungible goods. The store includes a shopping section for non-fungible goods that customers prefer to pick out by hand and a back end automated order fulfillment section for other goods (e.g., fungible goods, dry goods, etc.). The two sets of goods are merged to a delivery bundle and delivered together for pickup by the customer. The combination automated-service and self-service store combines the convenience of online shopping and self-service shopping using an unconventional approach that reduces costs for the retailer and simultaneously increases customer satisfaction.

Claims

1. An automated store, comprising:

a marketplace configured to present one or more non-fungible goods to a customer for selection;

an automated fulfillment section comprising;

an automated fulfillment system configured to receive an order of one or more fungible goods selected by the customer, the automated fulfillment system comprising;

a storage structure comprising a plurality of rack structures separated by aisles and having a plurality of storage levels, the storage structure configured to store a plurality of totes; and

at least one mobile robot capable of storing and retrieving totes from the storage structure;

wherein the automated fulfillment system picks the one or more fungible goods and places the one or more fungible goods into one or more order containers for delivery to the customer; and

a delivery section configured to deliver the one or more order containers from the automated fulfillment section to the customer or a delivery proxy.

2. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the automated fulfillment system stores containers containing non-fungible goods picked by the customer or a proxy picker from the marketplace.

3. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the delivery section is further configured to combine the one or more fungible goods from the automated fulfillment section with one or more selected non-fungible goods into a delivery bundle for delivery to the customer or the delivery proxy.

4. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the marketplace further comprises a virtual display with images of the one or more fungible goods that are selectable images.

5. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the marketplace further comprises a physical display of the one or more fungible goods that include scannable codes.

6. The automated store of claim 1, further comprising picking stations including pickers that custom-pick non-fungible goods based on instruction from the customer, wherein the pickers are human or wherein the pickers are robotic.

7. The automated store of claim 1, further comprising drop-off stations configured to receive totes containing the one or more non-fungible goods.

8. The automated store of claim 7, wherein:

the drop-off stations comprise assessment tools configured to identify the one or more non-fungible goods;

the assessment tools comprise a scale for determining weight; and

the assessment tools comprise an optical scanner for reading images, labels or codes.

9. The automated store of claim 7, wherein the one or more non-fungible goods are placed in the totes.

10. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the delivery bundle comprises one or more shopping bags containing the one or more fungible goods, the one or more non-fungible goods, or both.

11. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the marketplace is on a ground level of the automated store and the automated fulfillment section is above the marketplace.

12. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the automated fulfillment section is on a ground level of the automated store and the marketplace is above the automated fulfillment section.

13. The automated store of claim 1, further comprising a storage system, wherein the automated fulfillment section includes an inventory of fungible goods in the storage system configured for automated picking by the at least one mobile robot.

14. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the one or more fungible goods are disposed in totes stored in the plurality of rack modules of the automated fulfillment system.

15. The automated store of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile robot propels itself horizontally and vertically throughout the storage structure, placing totes into the storage structure, removing totes from the storage structure, and transporting totes.

16. A method for automated order fulfillment at an automated store, the method comprising:

receiving at least one order for one or more goods from a customer or a proxy for the customer;

dispatching one or more robots to pull a product container containing the one or more goods from inventory and to deliver the product container to a workstation;

transferring the one or more goods at the workstation from the product container to an order container associated with the at least one order; and

delivering the order container to the customer or a delivery proxy.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one order is at least one of an online order originating from a remote location and an in-person order originating from the automated store.

18. A system for implementing an automated store service model, the system comprising:

an order processing tool configured to receive at least one order from at least one customer or a proxy for the customer;

a non-fungible goods fulfillment tool configured to tally one or more non-fungible goods hand-picked by the at least one customer or a proxy picker;

an automated service fulfillment tool configured to instruct automated robots to pick one or more fungible goods included within the at least one order.

19. A method of shopping at an automated store, the method comprising:

placing an order for one or more fungible goods for automated fulfillment utilizing a shopping terminal;

collecting and tallying the one or more non-fungible goods in a non-fungible goods fulfillment section; and

receiving the order of one or more fungible goods.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of collecting and tallying one or more non-fungible goods comprises the steps of:

capturing a first identifier associated with a non-fungible good of the one or more non-fungible goods;

capturing a second identifier associated with a scale for weighing the non-fungible good;

weighing the non-fungible good on the scale;

associating the first identifier of the non-fungible good with the second identifier of the scale weighing the non-fungible good; and

determining a price of the non-fungible good based on the first identifier, the second identifier and the association of the first and second identifier.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of associating the first and second identifiers comprises the step detecting the capture of the second identifier with an input device immediately following the capture of the first identifier with the same input device.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of verifying the one or more fungible goods and the one or more non-fungible goods.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of receiving payment for the one or more fungible goods and the one or more non-fungible goods.

26. The automated store of claim 23, wherein the input devices comprise one or more of a scannable product packaging, a scannable product image, or virtual electronically displayed and selectable product user interface.

27. The automated store of claim 23, further comprising a payment system configured to enable the customers to render payment for the one or more fungible goods and the one or more non-fungible goods.

24. An automated store, comprising:

a shopping section comprising;

one or more shopping terminals configured to enable customers to browse and select one or more fungible goods for fulfillment by an automated fulfillment system;

a non-fungible goods fulfillment section configured to enable the customers to browse and select one or more non-fungible goods;

a fulfillment section, comprising;

the automated fulfillment system that picks the one or more fungible goods for delivery to the customers; and

a delivery fulfillment section where the one or more fungible goods are delivered by the automated fulfillment system to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers.

25. An automated store, comprising:

a shopping section comprising;

input devices configured to enable customers to browse and select one or more fungible goods for fulfillment by an automated fulfillment system;

a non-fungible goods fulfillment section configured to enable the customers to browse and select one or more non-fungible goods;

a fulfillment section, comprising;

the automated fulfillment system that picks the selected one or more fungible goods for delivery to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers; and

a delivery fulfillment section where the one or more fungible goods are delivered to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers.

28. The automated store of claim 25, wherein the payment system comprises one or more interactive kiosks.

29. The automated store of claim 25, wherein the payment system comprises a virtual payment system accessed by customer devices to execute payment.

31. The automated store of claim 28, wherein the shopping section further comprises product selection mechanisms configured to enable customers to browse and select one or more fungible goods for fulfillment by the automated fulfillment system.

32. The automated store of claim 28, wherein the shopping section further comprises a non-fungible goods fulfillment section configured to enable the customers to browse and select one or more non-fungible goods for purchase.

33. The automated store of claim 28, wherein the automated store further comprises a payment system configured to enable the customers to render payment for the one or more fungible goods and the one or more non-fungible goods.

34. The automated store of claim 28, wherein the automated store further comprises a delivery fulfillment section where the one or more fungible and/or non-fungible goods are delivered by the automated fulfillment system to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers.

30. An automated store, comprising:

a shopping section comprising a customer shopping area in which customers or a proxy picker select one or more goods for purchase; and

a fulfillment section comprising an automated fulfillment system configured to pick at least some of the selected one or more goods for delivery to the customers or a delivery proxy for the customers at the automated store.

35. An automated store, comprising:

a first identifier associated with a non-fungible good;

a scale for weighing the non-fungible good;

a second identifier associated with the scale;

an input device for capturing the first and second identifiers; and

a processor configured to;

associate the first and second identifiers;

determine a price of the non-fungible good from the first identifier, the second identifier and the association of the first and second identifiers.

36. An automated store as recited in claim 35, wherein the input device is a barcode reader.

37. An automated store as recited in claim 35, wherein the input device is a RFID scanner.