Abstract: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for containing fluid from an overflowing toilet. An annular fluid containment basin is located near the base of a toilet and is configured to encircle the base of the toilet and collect fluid flowing down the exterior surface of the toilet. A moisture sensor is located within the annular fluid containment basin and configured to sense a spill. A drain is also located within the annular fluid containment basin to direct fluid to bypass an S-bend or trap connected to the toilet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide access to secured containers in a facility. The systems and methods unlock a lock securing the container in response to receiving identifying information for an individual seeking access to the secured container. If objects are removed from the secured container by the individual, the systems and methods can determine whether an authorization was received for the removed objects within a time period. If the authorization is not received, the systems and methods can issue an alert including the identifying information using an alert system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for evaluating shopping cart wheels using a sensor module or one or more microphones engaged with the shopping cart. The microphones can be used to detect sounds generated by the wheels of the shopping cart. A sound signature can be determined from the detected sound and compared to sound signatures in a database. If the detected sound indicates that a wheel of the shopping cart is failing, an alert can be generated using an associate alert system.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for operating a mobile device, comprising: establishing by a locking mechanism at the mobile device that the mobile device is owned or controlled by a retail establishment at which an operator of the mobile device is an agent; searching, by a mobile device, for a signal from a network; authorizing the mobile device to operate in a vicinity of the network when the signal is detected from the network; and inactivating the mobile device or displaying information where the mobile device can operate in response to a failure by the mobile device to detect the signal.

Abstract: A shopping cart deflection measurement system and associated methods are described. The shopping cart deflection measurement system includes a shopping cart, a sensor, and a processing device equipped with a processor. The shopping cart includes a frame, a basket portion pivotably mounted to the frame so as to enable deflection of at least one edge of the basket portion downward in the direction of gravity following a weight being placed in the basket portion, and a lower rack portion mounted to the frame and disposed below the basket portion. The processing device can be configured to execute instructions to measure deflection of the basket portion relative to the lower rack portion of the shopping cart using data acquired by the sensor. The measured deflection can be indicative of a fullness of the basket portion with one or more products.

Abstract: An example cart inventory system and associated methods are described. The example cart inventory system includes a cart and a detection system. The cart includes a frame, and a shelf movably mounted to the frame and configured to be positioned between an extended position and a folded position. A top surface and a rear surface of the shelf include first and second identifiers, respectively. The detection system is configured to detect the first identifier when the shelf is in the extended position and detect the second identifier when the shelf is positioned in the folded position. In the extended position, the top surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal and the rear surface is disposed against the frame. In the folded position, the rear surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for interacting with an interactive display using a shopping cart. A biometric device integrated with the handle portion on a shopping cart can detect and discriminate between user attributes. At least one RFID tags can store the captured biometric information associated with the user attributes. A RFID reader and a computing system can be disposed within a predetermined distance of the shopping cart. The RFID reader can communicate with the at least one RFID tag in response to the at least one RFID tag being with a range of the at least one RFID reader to transfer the biometric information stored in the RFID tag to the RFID reader. The RFID reader can transmit the biometric information to the computing system. The computing system can authenticate the user based on the biometric information received via the at least one RFID reader.

Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking associate interaction with a customer are described. A method may include receiving, at an associate-customer interaction server, associate action data from an electronic sensor. The method may further include determining, at the associate-customer interaction server and from the associate action data received from the electronic sensor, whether an interaction between an associate and a customer has been initiated. The method may also include, in response to determining that the interaction between the associate and the customer has been initiated, determining, at the associate-customer interaction server, whether the associate acted in accordance with an electronically defined associate-customer interaction policy during the interaction based on the associate action data.

Abstract: Sensor systems, methods and machine readable medium are provided for a sensor system for analyzing the ripeness of produce items.

Abstract: An example item carousel system is described. The system includes a terminal including a processor and a scanner. The system includes a carousel rotatably mounted to the terminal, the carousel including two or more bagging sections configured to receive bags. The system includes a motorized actuator configured to actuate rotation of the carousel relative to the terminal. The terminal is configured to read data from a machine readable identifier associated with an item using the scanner, and retrieve, using a retrieval module, item characteristics associated with the item from an item database. The terminal is configured to identify one bagging section of the two or more bagging sections of the carousel capable of receiving the item with the item characteristics, and mechanically rotate the carousel relative to the terminal with the motorized actuator such that the identified one bagging section is oriented toward a bagging area of the terminal.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system for measuring the capacity of a container. The system includes a variable scale disposed near or within the interior wall of the container with elongated body formed by an adjustable shaft including a number of visual indicators. The visual indicators are representative of a capacity of the container, and sliding the adjustable shaft adjusts an amount of space between each of the visual indicators. The system also includes a measuring arm extending from one end of the adjustable shaft and configured to rotate around an axis of rotation from a locked position, in which adjustment of the adjustable shaft is prevented, to a movable position, in which adjustment of the adjustable shaft is permitted. The measuring arm can be used to expand or compress the adjustable shaft, along with the spaces between the visual indicators.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for detecting missing or miss positioned labels. The system can include a portable scanning device to scan machine-readable elements included on labels at a first and second location. The portable scanning device can detect the acceleration and the cumulative change between the first and second location. The portable scanning device or a computing system can determine the distance between the first and second location based on the acceleration data. The computing system can place a data point on a map of an estimated location of the location of the first scan and the location of the second scan.

Abstract: A technique for forming a product with an embedded RFID element is disclosed. An extruder can extrude a first material and a second material onto a print bed. The first material has multiple RFID chips dispersed throughout the first material, and the second material has metallic particles dispersed throughout the second material to achieve a specified concentration of metallic particles. A computing system controls the extruder to print a three dimensional product on the print bed using the first extrusion material and the second extrusion material. The computing system also controls the rate at which the first material and the second material is extruded in order to electrically couple at least one of the RFID chips to at least some of the metallic particles in the three dimensional product to form an RFID tag embedded in the three dimensional product that is readable by an RFID reader.

Abstract: Item movement is determined via wireless tracking using RFID data from at least one RFID reader. The RFID data associates RFID tag information with each antenna of the RFID reader that receives the tag information. At least one processer is configured to identify a first appearance of unique tag information in the RFID data. Items may be grouped when their first appearance in RFID data and their antenna association indicates that they first appear in a location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by RFID data, and/or when they have all moved from a previous location within a predetermined amount of time, as indicated by different RFID data. A group designation comprises the relevant unique tag information, which may be stored in memory along with a time stamp.

Abstract: An example cart inventory system and associated methods are described. The example cart inventory system includes a cart and a detection system. The cart includes a frame, and a shelf movably mounted to the frame and configured to be positioned between an extended position and a folded position. A top surface and a rear surface of the shelf include first and second identifiers, respectively. The detection system is configured to detect the first identifier when the shelf is in the extended position and detect the second identifier when the shelf is positioned in the folded position. In the extended position, the top surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal and the rear surface is disposed against the frame. In the folded position, the rear surface is oriented upwards relative to horizontal.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are methods and systems for identifying actions performed by a forklift based on detected sounds in a facility. An array of microphones can be disposed in a facility. The microphones can detect various sounds and encode the sounds in an electrical signal and transmit the sounds to a computing system. The computing system can determine the sound signature of each sound and based on the sound signature the chronological order of the sounds and the time interval in between the sounds the computing system can determine the action being performed by the forklift which is causing the sounds.

Abstract: Provided is a wearable navigation device, comprising a band portion positioned at a portion of a human body; a location device that receives navigation data regarding a destination location for an item and determines a distance and orientation with respect to a current position of the wearable navigation device to the destination location; and a plurality of tactile feedback emitters that provide tactile feedback to the portion of the human body in a predetermined sequential order to direct a wearer of the band portion to the destination location having a point of intersection of a length, width, and height.

Abstract: Systems and methods for powering sensors on a shelf and using the sensors to detect attributes associated with physical objects are discussed. A handheld device can be coupled to a docking station which can be mounted on a supporting surface on of a shelf for supporting one or more physical objects. Sensors can be disposed on, in or about the supporting surface of the shelf. An electric circuit between the handheld device and the sensors can be powered to selectively energize or de-energize the sensors in response to the docking station coupling with the handheld device.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for interacting with an interactive display using a shopping cart. A biometric device integrated with the handle portion on a shopping cart can detect and discriminate between user attributes. At least one RFID tags can store the captured biometric information associated with the user attributes. A RFID reader and a computing system can be disposed within a predetermined distance of the shopping cart. The RFID reader can communicate with the at least one RFID tag in response to the at least one RFID tag being with a range of the at least one RFID reader to transfer the biometric information stored in the RFID tag to the RFID reader. The RFID reader can transmit the biometric information to the computing system. The computing system can authenticate the user based on the biometric information received via the at least one RFID reader.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems, methods for storing a physical object in a temperature-controlled storage unit disposed on a shopping cart. One or more physical objects can be stored and held within the interior volume via an interior volume of the storage unit operatively coupled to the shopping cart. The temperature of the interior volume of the storage unit can be controlled via a temperature controlling device operatively coupled to the storage unit. Sensors disposed within the interior volume of the storage unit can detect a the temperature of the interior volume. The sensors can encode the temperature into electrical signals and transmit the electrical signals from the plurality of sensors to a computing system. The computing system can determine whether the temperature is within a specified threshold and control the temperature-controlling device to adjust the first temperature to a third temperature.