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: 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: Methodologies, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for monitoring object locations on a shelving fixture. An electronic detection device includes a first motor for winding and unwinding a first line and a second motor for winding and unwinding a second line. A controller can control the operation of the first and second motor and the electronic detection device is suspended from the first and second line behind a shelving fixture. When the first and second motor wind and unwind the first and second line, the electronic detection device moves to an expected location of an object on a shelving fixture. The electronic detection device also includes sensors that can determine an identity of the object and the quantity of the object on the shelving fixture.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for sorting mechanisms at a POS terminal. A POS terminal in a secondary mode of operation, receives input of categories. Information of items received by the POS terminal is used to sort the items into the categories.

Abstract: A monitoring system for items in a delivery vehicle is described. Sensors disposed in the delivery vehicle are configured to sense data indicative of a current quality of items stored in the delivery vehicle. A computing device calculates navigation routes for the items in the vehicle and selects among the delivery routes at least partly based on sensor data relating to the monitored quality of the items.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for interacting with an interactive display using a shopping cart. A RFID reader can read RFID tags integrated with a handle portion of a shopping cart. A unique identifier can be encoded in each of the RFID tags. A user of the shopping cart can the RFID reader from reading one or more of the RFID tags in response to a hand of a user obscuring the one or more RFID tags. The RFID reader can detect which of RFID tag(s) are covered. The RFID reader can transmit the identifier(s) of the covered RFID tag(s) to a computing system. The computing system can include an interactive display. The computing system can retrieve a specified action to be performed on the interactive display. The computing system can control, to perform a specified action on the interactive display.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for determining in situ locations of physical objects using mobile devices within a facility. Multiple mobile devices may scan different identifiers of different physical objects disposed in a facility. The mobile devices may transmit the identifiers to a distributed computing system. The distributed computing system may query a database to determine the in situ location of the physical objects associated with the identifiers. In response to not being able to retrieve a in situ location of a physical object, the distributed computing system may determine a path of the mobile device which transmitted the identifier associated with the physical object with the unknown in situ location. The distributed computing system may determine the in situ location of the physical object for which the in situ location was unknown based on the path and the known locations of the other physical objects.

Abstract: Sensor systems, methods and machine readable medium are provided for a cargo vehicle. A plurality of sensors are arranged about an opening associated with a door through which packages are unloaded from a vehicle or trailer. The plurality of sensors are configured to measure an unpacked depth of the vehicle or trailer. A processor is provided in communication with each of the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to receive measured data generated by the plurality of sensors, determine an empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer based on the measured data as packages are being unpacked from the vehicle or trailer, and generate instructions regarding loading packages in a subsequent vehicle or trailer based on the determined empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer.

Abstract: An item monitoring system including a bladder including a body with a hollow interior configured to be filled with a fluid is described. The system includes an energy generation mechanism connected to the bladder and including a tube equipped with a wire core or surrounded by a wire coil in fluid communication with the bladder, and a magnetic item movably disposed within the tube. The system includes a light source electrically connected to the energy generation mechanism. Displacement of the fluid from the bladder into the tube moves the magnetic item within the tube, thereby generating an electrical current to emit a light from the light source.

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: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for interacting with an interactive display using a shopping cart. A user navigate a shopping cart to a computing system including an interactive display and can actuate or press one or more push buttons associated with RFID tags integrated with the handle portion on a shopping cart to interact with the interactive display. A unique identifier can be associated with each RFID tag. A RFID reader disposed with respect to the computing system can detect the unique identifiers associated with the one or more detected RFID tags. The RFID reader can transmit the unique identifiers to the computing system. The computing system can execute the retrieved actions on the interactive display, based on the one or more buttons actuated or pushed and the correlated RFID tags.

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: Methods, systems, and machine readable medium are provided for autonomous item identification in an environment including a mobile computational device and a container. One or more sensors are disposed at the container to sense a selected item being placed in the container. In response to sensing the selected item being placed in the container, a location of the container is determined using a positioning system. One or more physical characteristics of the selected item is sensed via the one or more sensors at the container. A set of stored characteristics is retrieved from a database for available items proximate to the location of the container. An identification code for the selected item is identified based on a comparison of the one or more physical characteristics of the selected item with the stored characteristics retrieved from the database of the available items based on the location of the container.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for determining in situ locations of physical objects using mobile devices within a facility. Multiple mobile devices may scan different identifiers of different physical objects disposed in a facility. The mobile devices may transmit the identifiers to a distributed computing system. The distributed computing system may query a database to determine the in situ location of the physical objects associated with the identifiers. In response to not being able to retrieve a in situ location of a physical object, the distributed computing system may determine a path of the mobile device which transmitted the identifier associated with the physical object with the unknown in situ location. The distributed computing system may determine the in situ location of the physical object for which the in situ location was unknown based on the path and the known locations of the other physical objects.

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: Systems and methods described herein can dynamically display an augmented reality image including information about an object. The systems and methods can extract attributes from an image of, or image related to, the object and can use those attributes to construct a database query for a plurality of data sources. After querying the data sources and receiving a response, systems and methods described herein can generate data based on the response to augment the image of, or image related to, the object. The systems and methods can modify the image of, or image related to, the object based on the generated data to generate an augmented image and can display the augmented image on a display.

Abstract: Sensor systems, methods and machine readable medium are provided for a cargo vehicle. A plurality of sensors are arranged about an opening associated with a door through which packages are unloaded from a vehicle or trailer. The plurality of sensors are configured to measure an unpacked depth of the vehicle or trailer. A processor is provided in communication with each of the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to receive measured data generated by the plurality of sensors, determine an empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer based on the measured data as packages are being unpacked from the vehicle or trailer, and generate instructions regarding loading packages in a subsequent vehicle or trailer based on the determined empty volume over time of the vehicle or trailer.

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: Methods, systems, and machine readable medium are provided for a detection system for identifying unsafe activity occurring at a shelving unit. A plurality of distance sensors are disposed at a top end of the shelving unit and point downwards towards a bottom end of the shelving unit. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect presence of a person near the shelving unit. An initial height of the person is determined, and a change in height of the person is detected. A processor determined whether the change in height indicates unsafe activity at the shelving unit. If unsafe activity is determined, then an alert is generated.

Abstract: A task-indicating shelf that includes a supporting surface for supporting one or more physical objects and one or more visual indicators associated with the shelf and indicative of a task to be performed with respect to the one or more physical objects is described. The task-indicating shelf includes a docking station electrically coupled to the one or more visual indicators and configured to receive a handheld device. Docking the handheld device within the docking station powers an electric circuit between the handheld device and the one or more visual indicators to selectively energize or de-energize the one or more visual indicators.