Abstract: Exemplary embodiments describe a system, method and computer-readable medium for providing items for purchase at an automated storage and retrieval system in a facility. Example embodiments include a storage tower configured to store and dispense items, where the storage tower includes storage receptacles, shelves, a receiving opening, a delivery opening, sensors, a user interface, and a transport apparatus for transporting storage receptacles from the shelves to the delivery opening. A computing device, in communication with the sensors and transport apparatus is configured to execute a purchase module to determine items as possible purchase items and transmit instructions to pick the items and place them in a storage receptacle. The storage receptacle is presented to a user via the delivery opening, and the purchase module detects a user removing at least one item from the storage receptacle and identifies the removed item using data sensed by the sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described in detail herein for storage and retrieval of objects. The systems and methods allow for automated object retrieval and storage by a user without the need for intervention of a facility employee. Systems and methods described herein place the crane external to storage towers to allow a central shaft of the tower to be used to store objects. Advantageously, storage towers in systems of the present disclosure can include sections of different sizes that can store large objects and objects of varying sizes on a single storage tower. System and methods described herein provide a transport platform that can enable expanded storage in a single machine by translating or rotating multiple storage towers to bring the requested tower proximate to the crane and dispensing window.

Abstract: A modular locker includes a bottom modular section. The bottom modular section includes a pickup window, a crane car and a crane associated with the crane car, a central computer and associated computer networking components, and a power unit. The locker system also includes at least one middle modular section. The at least one middle modular section is removably stacked atop the bottom modular, and includes a HVAC system, one or more doors, panels, shelves, and crane tracks. The locker system further includes a top modular section. The top modular section is removably stacked atop the at least one middle modular section, and includes a HVAC system, one or more doors, panels, shelves, and crane tracks.

Abstract: A check-in system for an automated tower includes a computing device having an application installed thereon. The computing device is configured to check in a customer to notify the automated tower of a time range during which an order of the customer is picked up. The automated tower is configured to: receive a check-in message from the computing device; receive the location of the computing device; receive a message indicative of the arrival of the customer at the automated tower; retrieve information of the order from an order database stored on a remote server; assemble the order based on the check-in message and the information of the order; and move the assembled order close to a pick-up location of the automated tower to facilitate pick-up of the assembled order.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to automatically order. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for automatically ordering a product item including at least one first sensor, at least one smart-device interface, a remote database, and at least one control circuit configured to: determine whether a signaling data is received; communicatively couple with the at least one smart device; prompt a user to select; determine whether a previously stored data has been stored; delete the previously stored data; copy a plurality of urgency threshold values; access the first sensed data; access the second sensed data; determine a product item; determine whether the at least one of: the first sensed data and the second sensed data has reached an urgency threshold value; and automatically initiate ordering and delivery of the product item when the urgency threshold value has been reached.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for an automated kiosk which responds to natural disasters. Such a system can: receive, at a processor in an automated kiosk, an electronic weather report for weather associated with a geographic location of the automated kiosk; receive, from an exterior sensor mounted on the automated kiosk, exterior sensor data; and receive, from an interior sensor mounted inside the automated kiosk, interior sensor data. The system can then identify, via the processor and based on at least one of the electronic weather report, the exterior sensor data, and the interior sensor data, a likelihood of a natural disaster affecting the automated kiosk. The system can initiate actions to protect the kiosk and/or the products stored in the kiosk from the natural disaster, based on the likelihood and the type of threat encountered.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling onboard power and communication systems at an automated locker are provided. An example method can include: autonomously detecting a status of a primary power supply connected to the locker, a communication status between the locker and a central server, an internal server status, and an onboard battery percentage of an onboard power; when the onboard battery percentage is greater than or equal to the predetermined battery percentage, autonomously switching to the onboard power and requesting the internal server to conduct transactions and store transaction data internally; and when the battery percentage of the onboard power is lower than the predetermined battery percentage, shutting down the locker; and when the primary power supply is detected to be reestablished and the locker is in communication with the central server, autonomously requesting the internal server to upload the transaction data to the central server.

Abstract: An example security system for an automated locker that stores and dispenses customer orders, include the automated locker including a plurality of sensors and a central computer in communication with the plurality sensors. The plurality sensors can include: at least one smoke detector, at least one camera, at least one sniffer, at least one shock sensor, at least one flood sensor, at least one wind sensor, and at least one fire sensor. The security system may also include a remote server configured to receive sensitive data that is encrypted and/or erased from the central computer upon detecting a hack on the central computer.

Abstract: A meal kit and a method of using the meal kit are presented. The meal kit includes a liner for a network-connected cooking apparatus, the liner having multiple segmented areas, each segmented area containing a food product. The liner also includes a machine-readable code disposed on the liner that is utilized to access information relating to cooking temperature and cooking time for each segment. The liner is configured to be placed into a cooking apparatus and align with different individually controllable cooking zones in the cooking apparatus.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus is presented. The cooking apparatus includes multiple independently controlled food preparation zones. The cooking apparatus further includes a network interface and a scanning device integrated into the cooking apparatus and configured to read a machine-readable identifier of a meal kit. The cooking apparatus additionally includes a processor in communication with each of the food preparation zones and that independently controls a temperature and time of food preparation in each of the food preparation zones in accordance with a set of cooking instructions retrieved via the network interface using the machine-readable identifier.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to secure access. In some embodiments, there is provided a system for securing access using decentralized biometric authentication data through a blockchain network including: a user interface product operable on a user device and configured to: receive a first one or more biometric data; receive near real-time location data associated with the first one or more biometric data; receive a token comprising a second one or more biometric data; determine whether the first one or more biometric data matches within a threshold with the second one or more biometric data; determine whether the first one or more biometric data and the second one or more biometric data are associated with the user device; determine whether the near real-time location data is within a threshold distance from a storage and retrieval system (SRS); and provide data associated with unlocking the SRS.

Abstract: Embodiments of a computer-implemented method and system pertaining to drive through grocery pickup are described. In one example, a computer-implemented method receives geographic information about a user. The geographic information indicates that the user is within a predetermined area associated with the physical store. The method also determines whether there is a pending remotely placed order for a user account associated with the user in a database associated with the physical store. In response to a determination that there is the pending remotely placed order for the user account associated with the user in the database, the method transmits order information to a computing device of the physical store. The order information includes one or more items in the pending remotely placed order. The method also determines a current location of the user. The method further causes a delivery of the one or more items to the current location.

Abstract: Described in detail herein is a blockchain license storage system. A computing system can receive instructions to fabricate a three-dimensional physical object from a mobile device. The instructions can include a design of the three-dimensional physical object. The computing system can control a printing device to fabricate the at least one three-dimensional physical object based on the design of the at least one three-dimensional physical object. The computing system can generate a license file for the design of the at least one three-dimensional physical object. The computing system can generate a cryptographically verifiable ledger represented by a sequence of blocks. One of the blocks in the sequence of blocks can store transactional records associated with the generated license.

Abstract: Described in detail herein is a voice activated UAV assistance system. A computing system can receive a request for assistance from a mobile device via one or more wireless access points. The computing system can estimate and track a current location of the mobile device based on an interaction between the mobile device and the one or more wireless access points. A UAV can receive, the request for assistance and the current location of the mobile device from the computing system. The UAV can autonomously navigate to the current location of the mobile device. The UAV can receive a voice input of a user associated with the mobile device via the microphone. The UAV can determine the voice input is associated with a set of physical objects disposed in the facility. The UAV can autonomously guiding the user to an object locations physical objects in the facility.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for a virtual reality based fulfillment system. A virtual reality headset can render a 3D virtual simulation environment on including simulated representations of physical objects. The virtual reality headset receives a selection of the at least one of the simulated representations of the physical objects in response to detection of a user gesture. The virtual reality headset transmits a request to retrieve at least one of the selected physical objects from a facility. A computing system can instruct an autonomous robot device to retrieve the at least one of the physical objects. The autonomous robot device, autonomously retrieves and transports, the at least one of the physical objects to a specified location in the facility at which the user can retrieve the at least one of the physical objects.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for a voice activated assistance system. A user provides voice input to a computing system, including a microphone, and an interactive display. The computing system identifies an object based on the voice input, queries a database for the object to obtain a location of the object. The computing system creates a session including a map to the location of the object. The computing system detects a mobile device within a specified distance of the computing system. The computing system transfers the session including the map to the location of the object to the mobile device within the specified distance of the computing system.

Abstract: Described in detail herein are systems and methods for a virtual show room. A user using an optical scanner can scan a machine-readable element associated with a physical object. The computing system can receive the identifier and can build a 3D virtual simulation environment including the physical object. A virtual reality headset including inertial sensors and a display can render the 3D virtual simulation environment including the physical object on the display. The virtual reality headset can detect a user gesture using at least one of the plurality of inertial sensors. The virtual reality headset can execute an action in the 3D virtual simulation environment based on the user gesture to provide a demonstrable property or function of the physical object. The virtual reality headset can generate sensory feedback using sensory feedback devices based on a set of sensory attributes associated with the physical object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing wait times in a facility using imaging devices are discussed. The methods and systems can analyze images from the imaging devices to determine a waiting customer measurement, a cart fullness value, and a product category for at least one product in a cart, for each computing device in the facility. This information can be combined with personnel data to calculate a wait time for each computing device. Information related to mobile application usage may also be used to calculate wait times for the computing devices. The calculated wait times can be displayed on one or more displays in the facility.

Abstract: Embodiments of a computer-implemented method and system pertaining to drive through grocery pickup are described. In one example, a computer-implemented method receives geographic information about a user. The geographic information indicates that the user is within a predetermined area associated with the physical store. The method also determines whether there is a pending remotely placed order for a user account associated with the user in a database associated with the physical store. In response to a determination that there is the pending remotely placed order for the user account associated with the user in the database, the method transmits order information to a computing device of the physical store. The order information includes one or more items in the pending remotely placed order. The method also determines a current location of the user. The method further causes a delivery of the one or more items to the current location.

Abstract: A modular refrigerated structure 10 includes a modular perimeter 12 which defines a refrigerated space 30, a plurality of display openings 24 about the perimeter 12 and at least one personnel access opening 32 for personnel ingress and egress to the refrigerated space 30. Shelves 40 are positioned at each display opening 24 for displaying products. A plurality of roof modules 56 are supported over the perimeter 12 and include a refrigeration module 67, an air passage 60 positioned above a centrally located storage area 38, an air distribution plenum 68 and air outlets 80 positioned adjacent the perimeter 12.