Systems, devices, and methods for monitoring object locations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10664704-B2
Application number	US-201815982783-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2018
Priority date	May 18, 2017
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring object locations on a shelving fixture, the system comprising:
an electronic detection device comprising:
a first motor configured to create a first movement of the electronic detection device by retracting a first line operatively coupled to the first motor into the electronic detection device or extending the first line further out of the electronic device;
a second motor configured to control a second movement of the electronic detection device by retracting a second line operatively coupled to the second motor into the electronic detection device or extending the second line further out of the electronic device;
a controller in communication with the first and second motors disposed within the electronic detection device, and the controller being configured to control an operation of the first motor and the second motor to move and position the electronic detection device proximal to an expected location of an object on the shelving fixture; and
one or more sensors configured to determine an identity of the object, the one or more sensors including a sensor configured to measure a distance between the electronic detection device and the object; and

one or more remote servers communicably coupled to the electronic detection device wherein the one or more servers receive the distance and the identity and determine a quantity of the object to be added to the expected location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic detection device is configured to be suspended from a shelving fixture, the first movement is created by the first motor controlling a winding operation and unwinding operation of the first line and the second movement is created by the second motor controlling a winding operation and unwinding operation of the second line, the first and second line coupled to the shelving fixture.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a docking station configured to receive the electronic detection device and provide an electrical charge to the electronic detection device.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a docking station configured to receive the electronic detection device and provide an electrical connection to transfer information between the electronic detection device and the one or more remote servers.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control an operation of the first motor and the second motor to move the electronic detection device along a predetermined path.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is disposed within the electronic detection device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor configured to measure a distance between the electronic detection device and the object comprises a laser range finder.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a camera configured to capture images or video of the object, or a sensor configured to read a machine-readable code associated with the object.

9. A method for monitoring object locations on shelving fixtures, the method comprising:
controlling a first motor of an electronic detection device, via a controller, to create a first movement of the electronic detection device by retracting a first line operatively coupled to the first motor into the electronic detection device;
controlling a second motor of the electronic detection device, via the controller, to control a second movement of the electronic detection device by retracting a second line operatively coupled to the second motor into the electronic detection device;
moving the electronic detection device along the back wall of the shelving fixture proximal to an expected location of an object disposed on the shelving fixture in response to controlling the first and second motors via the controller;
determining an identity of the object using one or more sensors associated with the electronic detection device, wherein the one or more sensors include a sensor configured to measure a distance between the electronic detection device and the object; and
determining a quantity of the object to be restocked at the expected location based at least in part on the identity and distance.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
suspending the electronic detection device from a shelving fixture,
disposing the electronic detection device alone a back wall of a shelving fixture, wherein the first movement is created by the first motor controlling a winding operation and unwinding operation of the first line and the second movement is created by the second motor controlling a winding operation and unwinding operation of the second line.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving the electronic detection device at a docking station and providing an electrical charge to the electronic detection device via the docking station.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving the electronic detection device at a docking station and providing an electrical connection via the docking station to transfer information between the electronic detection device and one or more remote servers.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling the first motor and the second motor to move the electronic detection device along a predetermined path.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the controller is disposed within the electronic detection device.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor configured to measure a distance between the electronic detection device and the object comprises a laser range finder.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more sensors include a camera configured to capture images or video of the object, or a sensor configured to read a machine-readable code associated with the object.

17. A system for monitoring object locations on a shelving fixture, the system comprising:
an electronic device, wherein the electronic detection device is configured to traverse a back wall of a shelving fixture proximal to an expected location of an object disposed on the shelving fixture;
a controller communicatively coupled to the electronic device;
a first motor coupled to the electronic device and communicatively coupled to the controller;
a second motor coupled to the electronic device and communicatively coupled to the controller;
wherein the first motor is configured to operate in a first mode of operation, via the controller, to unwind a first line on a first spool coupled to the first motor to extend the first line further out of the electronic device and the second motor is configured to operate in a second mode of operation, via the controller to winding a second line on a second spool coupled to the second motor to retract the second line further into the electronic device, wherein the first motor operates in the first mode and the second motor operates in the second mode to move the electronic device along the back wall of the shelving fixture, the movement of the electronic detection device horizontally traversing the shelving fixture;
the first motor is configured to operate in a third mode of operation, via the controller, and the second motor is configured to operate in a third mode of operation, via the controller to move the electronic device along the back wall of the shelving fixture, the movement of the electronic detection device vertically traversing the shelving fixture.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the third mode of operation comprises winding the first line on a first spool coupled to the first motor and winding the second line o

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Jones Nicholaus Adam
• Jones Matthew Allen
• Vasgaard Aaron

Classifications

• B66D3/22

  with variable-speed gearings between driving motor and drum or barrel · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06T7/521

  from laser ranging, e.g. using interferometry; from the projection of structured light · CPC title

• G06K9/00671 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06K2209/19

  Physics · mapped topic