A method of monitoring of transportation network company vehicles within a geofence associated with an airport according to one embodiment includes receiving a user selection of a past time interval and an event type within the geofence to be monitored, querying a database for event data that matches the user selection of the past time interval and the event type, generating a JSON object that includes spatial data for each event identified as a result of querying the database, and animating a visual representation of the spatial data for each event in a map view over a timeline associated with the past time interval (e.g., as a video replay).
G08G 1/13 - Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles to a central station the indicator being in the form of a map
A system for monitoring shopping carts uses cameras to generate images of the carts moving in a store. In some implementations, cameras may additionally or alternatively be mounted to the shopping carts and configured to image cart contents. The system may use the collected image data, and/or other types of sensor data (such as the store location at which an item was added to the basket), to classify items detected in the shopping carts. For example, a trained machine learning model may classify item in a cart as "non-merchandise," "high theft risk merchandise," "electronics merchandise," etc. When a shopping cart approaches a store exit without any indication of an associated payment transaction, the system may use the associated item classification data, optionally in combination with other data such as cart path data, to determine whether to execute an anti-theft action, such as locking a cart wheel or activating an alarm.
G08B 13/196 - Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
G06V 10/764 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using classification, e.g. of video objects
G06V 20/52 - Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-leveling caster assembly includes a caster frame and a castor fork which is configured to pivot relative to the caster frame. A spring or other biasing mechanism biases the caster fork away from the caster frame, to maintain contact between the ground and a wheel supported by the caster fork along a travel range of the wheel. Even if a frame supporting the self-leveling caster assembly is bent, pulling the wheel away from the ground, the biased caster fork will maintain contact between the ground and the wheel, allowing continued use of a shopping cart or other wheeled apparatus including the self- leveling caster assembly. Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-22
Examples of systems and methods for calibrating or operating a magnetic sensor for sensor temperature or operating conditions are provided. The magnetic sensor can comprise a dual magnetometer sensor that comprises a first, low-power-consumption magnetometer (e.g., a magneto-inductive magnetometer) and a second higher-power-consumption magnetometer (e.g., a magneto-resistive magnetometer). The second magnetometer can have a lower unit-to-unit variation in temperature calibration parameters and can be used to temperature-correct readings from the first magnetometer. The magnetic sensor can dynamically switch between usage of the first magnetometer and the second magnetometer in order to provide a dynamic sample rate that can depend on conditions within the sensor or external to the sensor.
Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Various techniques utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Navigation techniques can include navigation history and backtracking, motion direction detection for dual swivel casters, use of gyroscopes, determining cart weight, multi-level navigation, multi-level magnetic measurements, use of lighting signatures, use of multiple navigation systems, or hard/soft iron compensation for different cart configurations.
G01H 11/06 - Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by detecting changes in electric or magnetic properties by electric means
G08B 13/14 - Mechanical actuation by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles
6.
DIRECTION CROSSING DETECTOR FOR CONTAINMENT BOUNDARY
A containment area can be defined by a single cable carrying an asymmetric electromagnetic signal that generates a magnetic field comprising an asymmetric waveform. A single inductor circuit configured to detect a single axis of the magnetic field can detect the asymmetric waveform and determine which direction the inductor is traveling relative to the cable. A human-propelled cart can have a wheel that includes the single inductor circuit and detect whether the cart is being pushed from inside-to-outside the containment area (which may reflect the cart is being stolen or improperly used) or from outside-to-inside (which may reflect the cart is being returned). The cart can include an anti-theft system (e.g., a locking or braking wheel), which can be triggered if the cart is being moved from inside to outside the containment area. The single cable, single inductor system can be less expensive and more efficient than multi-cable, multi-inductor systems.
Examples of systems and methods for locating movable objects such as carts (e.g., shopping carts) are disclosed. Such systems and methods can use dead reckoning techniques to estimate the current position of the movable object. Various techniques for improving accuracy of position estimates are disclosed, including compensation for various error sources involving the use of magnetometer and accelerometer, and using vibration analysis to derive wheel rotation rates. Also disclosed are various techniques to utilize characteristics of the operating environment in conjunction with or in lieu of dead reckoning techniques, including characteristic of environment such as ground texture, availability of signals from radio frequency (RF) transmitters including precision fix sources. Such systems and methods can be applied in both indoor and outdoor settings and in retail or warehouse settings.
Low-energy consumption techniques for locating a movable object using a global satellite navigation system ( ) are provided. A mobile station attached to or included in a movable object can communicate bidirectionally with a fixed base station to determine a location of the movable object. The mobile station may communicate an estimated position to the base station and receive from the base station a set of GNSS satellites that are visible to the mobile station. The mobile station can acquire satellite timing information from GNSS signals from the set of satellites and communicate minimally-processed satellite timing information to the base station. The base station can determine the position of the mobile station and communicate the position back to the mobile station. By offloading much of the processing to the base station, energy consumption of the mobile station is reduced.
G01S 19/26 - Acquisition or tracking of signals transmitted by the system involving a sensor measurement for aiding acquisition or tracking
G01S 19/06 - Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers providing aiding data employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
G01S 19/11 - Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers providing dedicated supplementary positioning signals wherein the cooperating elements are pseudolites or satellite radio beacon positioning system signal repeaters
G01C 22/00 - Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers or using pedometers
9.
SYSTEMS WITH BURIED ANTENNAS FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH WHEELED VEHICLES
Various systems for monitoring wheeled vehicles (such as shopping carts) are disclosed. The system can include an RF antenna unit that is buried and is configured for bi-directional communication with the electronics on the cart. In some embodiments, the antenna comprises a plurality of transmitters, which can emit synchronized signals. In some embodiments, the antenna comprises a radiating cable, which can emit a signal along some, substantially all, or all of its length.
G01S 13/74 - Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
B62B 3/14 - Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor characterised by provisions for nesting or stacking, e.g. shopping trolleys
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
B60L 53/65 - Monitoring or controlling charging stations involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
B60L 58/12 - Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles for monitoring or controlling batteries responding to state of charge [SoC]
B60L 15/40 - Adaptation of control equipment on vehicle for remote actuation from a stationary place
Examples of systems and methods for controlling or monitoring a fleet of human- propelled, wheeled carts and cart retrievers are described. The carts can be shopping carts at a retail facility, and the cart retrievers can be used to collect and return the shopping carts from a parking lot near the facility to a cart collection area. The carts or cart retrievers can monitor various status or usage parameters (such as retriever battery charge, cart collection trip speed, cart collection path or duration, etc.) and transmit the parameters to a central control unit. The central control unit can analyze and process the status or usage parameters. The system can provide a user interface for access to the status or usage parameters of the cart and cart retriever fleet.
A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.
A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.
A system for controlling movement of a personal mobility vehicle near a restricted region is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a detector that is configured to be disposed on the personal mobility vehicle and that is configured to receive an electromagnetic signal transmitted to the restricted region. The system also includes a control unit configured to communicate with the detector. The control unit is further configured to determine proximity of the detector to the restricted region using information related to the signal received by the detector. The control unit is also configured to provide a command to inhibit movement of the personal mobility vehicle in response to the determined proximity of the vehicle to the restricted region.
B60T 7/16 - Brake-action initiating means for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
15.
NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WHEELED OBJECTS
A navigation system uses a dead reckoning method to estimate an object's present position relative to one or more prior positions. In some embodiments, the dead reckoning method determines a change in position from the object's heading and speed during an elapsed time interval. In embodiments suitable for use with wheeled objects, the dead reckoning method determines the change in position by measuring the heading and the amount of wheel rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the heading is determined with reference to the Earth's magnetic field by disposing magnetic sensors in or on the object. Error correction and position reset procedures may be implemented to reduce accumulated navigational error. In preferred embodiments, some or all of the navigation system is disposed within a wheel of the object. In certain embodiments, the navigation system determines whether the object has exited a confinement area and activates an anti-theft system such as an alarm or a wheel locking mechanism. The navigation system can be configured to communicate with external markers and/or RF transmitters. In some embodiments, the markers comprise magnetic elements arranged to produce a magnetic signal indicating a direction or other suitable information.
An anti-theft system for an object having a wheel including a navigation system comprising a processor, the navigation system configured to receive a start navigation signal from an exit marker and a stop navigation signal from an entrance marker. The navigation system is operable to determine a relative position of the object with respect to a confinement boundary. The anti-theft system includes a brake system operable to provide a braking force to the wheel and responsive to a braking signal from the navigation system. The navigation system is operable to provide the braking signal to the brake system if the relative position satisfies a first predetermined condition, wherein the first predetermined condition occurs after the navigation system has received the start navigation signal.
B60R 25/33 - Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
B60R 25/09 - Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens by restraining wheel rotation, e.g. wheel clamps
A47F 10/04 - Furniture or installations specially adapted to particular types of service systems, not otherwise provided for for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
B60T 7/16 - Brake-action initiating means for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
G01C 22/00 - Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers or using pedometers
G06K 7/08 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
17.
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR TRACKING LOCATIONS AND STATUSES OF WHEELED VEHICLES
A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel (32) containing sensor circuitry (88, 90, 92, 94, 96) capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver (82), which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel (32) may also include a brake mechanism (100). In one embodiment, the wheels (32) are placed on shopping carts (30) and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers.
A system for controlling shopping cart usage in the vicinity of a parking lot. The system includes a device that repeatedly transmits a lock command from a directional antenna, the directional antenna mounted above ground and angled downward to create a lock zone in which shopping cart use is restricted, the lock zone encompassing an exit area associated with the parking lot and a plurality of shopping carts, each shopping cart comprising a brake mechanism, and comprising a radio frequency (RF) communication circuit that is responsive to the lock command by activating the brake mechanism.
A system for retrieving shopping carts. The system includes a plurality of shopping carts, each of which includes radio frequency (RF) communication circuitry coupled to a braking mechanism, the RF communication circuitry being capable of receiving RF transmissions of commands. The system further includes a mechanized cart retrieval unit that pushes or pulls a group of nested carts to facilitate retrieval, the mechanized cart retrieval unit configured to communicate with the RF communication circuitry of the nested carts to cause the braking mechanisms of the nested carts to remain unlocked during mechanized cart retrieval. The shopping carts are ordinarily responsive to detection of a lock zone created via a transmitter by locking their respective braking mechanisms, and the mechanized cart retrieval unit is capable, via communication with the RF communication circuitry of the nested carts, of causing the nested carts to disregard the lock zone transmission signal.
A method of monitoring shopping cart usage. The method involves generating shopping cart event data via two-way radio frequency (RF) communications with each of a plurality of shopping carts associated with a store, the event data including information reflective of zone entry events detected by particular shopping carts, each zone entry event representing entry of a particular shopping cart into a particular zone of a plurality of zones associated with the store, the zone entry events detected by the corresponding shopping carts based on transmissions received by the shopping carts from corresponding antennas mounted in a monitoring area associated with the store, the shopping cart event data additionally including battery level data reported by the shopping carts, the battery level data reflective of battery levels of batteries included in wheel assemblies of the shopping carts. The method further involves aggregating the shopping cart event data associated with the plurality of shopping carts in a data repository, and programmatically analyzing the aggregated shopping cart event data to generate statistical information regarding the shopping carts. The method involves, via circuitry included in the wheel assemblies of the shopping carts, generating received signal strength measurements based on the transmissions, and using the received signal strength measurements to detect the zone entry events.
A system for use on a shopping cart to enable movement of the shopping cart to be monitored and controlled. The system includes a shopping cart wheel, a braking mechanism configured to inhibit movement of the shopping cart, and electronic circuitry coupled to the braking mechanism, the electronic circuitry configured to detect signals that reflect a current location of the shopping cart wheel, and to transmit status messages via a wireless radio frequency (RF) link, including status messages reflective of the signals detected by the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry includes a Very Low Frequency (VLF) receiver configured to detect VLF signals transmitted by a VLF transmitter, and an RF transceiver configured to communicate bi-directionally over the wireless RF link in a frequency band that falls substantially higher than a VLF frequency band. The electronic circuitry further includes a controller coupled to the VLF receiver, the RF transceiver, and the braking mechanism, the controller configured to control the braking mechanism. The electronic circuitry is configured to determine, based at least in part on messages received over the RF link with the RF transceiver, whether to respond to detection of a VLF signal by the VLF receiver by activating the braking mechanism.
B60T 7/12 - Brake-action initiating means for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger
A47F 10/04 - Furniture or installations specially adapted to particular types of service systems, not otherwise provided for for self-service type systems, e.g. supermarkets for storing or handling self-service hand-carts or baskets
B62B 5/00 - Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
B62B 5/04 - Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement
H04B 7/26 - Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field for communication between two or more posts at least one of which is mobile
G08G 1/127 - Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles to a central station
patents
