Some embodiments provide systems and methods to assist product stocking on a sales floor of a retail shopping facility. In some implementations, a system comprises a plurality of motorized transport units that are each configured to perform multiple different types of tasks at a retail shopping facility; and a central computer system configured to coordinate the plurality of motorized transport units in performing the multiple different tasks comprising instruct a motorized transport unit to retrieve a specified stocking cart that is carrying a plurality of products that are to be restocked onto product supports that are positioned on the sales floor where customers travel in shopping for products, and further instruct the motorized transport unit to autonomously transport the stocking cart to a specified stocking location on the sales floor corresponding to at least one of the plurality of products carried by the stocking cart.

A shopping facility assistance system includes a plurality of motorized transport units, a plurality of user interface units, and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the motorized transport units and the user interface units. The central computer system is configured to control movement of the motorized transport units through a shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the user interface units. More particularly, the central computer system controls movement of the motorized transport units such that a given one of the plurality of motorized transport units selectively leads a user to a destination within the shopping facility or follows the user within the shopping facility as determined by the central computer system. By one approach, the motorized transport units move through the shopping facility via a plurality of preferred pre-determined path segments.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

Disclosed herein are a number of example embodiments for product merchandising display systems. Through such example embodiments, products (e.g., smart phones, tablet computers, wearables, digital cameras, etc.) can be securely merchandised to customers in retail store environments.

A product management system includes a product management apparatus, a product wireless tag provided on the product and into which a product identifier indicating the product is written, a tool wireless tag provided on a holding tool for holding the product and into which a tool identifier indicating the holding tool is written, a display zone communication apparatus provided in a display zone in which at least one set of the product and the holding tool is disposed and having a wireless tag reader for reading the product identifier from the product wireless tag and reading the tool identifier from the tool wireless tag. The display zone communication apparatus transmits both the product identifier and the tool identifier read by the wireless tag reader to the product management apparatus. The product management apparatus links the holding tool and the product held by the holding tool with each other.

A carrier includes a carrier body that is removably connectable to a tray that holds food in a cabinet and a transceiver being connected to the carrier body on a first side. The transceiver is configured so that a reader identifies the tray.

A product display belt for a product display assembly may comprise a flexible strip having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end and a back end; a plurality of hinges mounted to the bottom surface of the flexible strip to form a linear array of separated hinges extending from the front end towards the back end of the flexible strip; and a plurality of flaps, each flap having a front facing surface, a back facing surface, and a top surface, each flap mounted to an associated hinge of the plurality of hinges at the back facing surface below the top surface of the flap such that the flap has a free top end and extends downwardly away from the bottom surface of the flexible strip. Other product display belts and product display assemblies comprising the belts are provided.

Some embodiments include a track system comprising: an elevated track system comprising a series of elevated tracks that are positioned elevated above a sales floor and products distributed over at least a portion of the sales floor of a shopping facility, and configured such that multiple motorized transport units travel along the series of elevated tracks in traversing at least portions of the shopping facility.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for restoring shopping space conditions are provided. A system for restoring shopping space conditions comprises a motorized transport unit comprising at least one sensor, and a central computer system comprising a wireless transceiver for communicating with the motorized transport unit. The central computer system being configured to: identify a section of a shopping space having a dropped item, instruct the motorized transport unit to travel to the section of the shopping space and collect information associated with the dropped item using the at least one sensor, determine a characteristic of the dropped item in the section of the shopping space using the at least one sensor of the motorized transport unit, and select a cleaning task from a plurality of cleaning tasks based on the characteristic of the dropped item.

An interactive display case having a first frame, a plurality of storage areas within the first frame, a second frame, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to detect an object passing through the interior of the second frame, identify an area within the interior of the second frame in which the object passes, where the area corresponding to one of the storage areas, and generate interaction data corresponding to the identified area.