Self-checkout vehicle systems and methods comprising a self-checkout vehicle having a camera(s), a weight sensor(s), and a processor configured to: (i) identify via computer vision a merchandise item selected by a shopper based on an identifier affixed to the selected item, and (ii) calculate a price of the merchandise item based on the identification and weight of the selected item. Computer vision systems and methods for identifying merchandise selected by a shopper comprising a processor configured to: (i) identify an identifier affixed to the selected merchandise and an item category of the selected merchandise, and (ii) compare the identifier and item category identified in each respective image to determine the most likely identification of the merchandise.

Illustrated views of an exemplary shopping cart handle protector for preventing disease, virus, grime and other pollutants contained on a handle of a shopping cart is presented. The shopping cart handle protector is useful for providing protection for hands of a person pushing a shopping cart from disease, virus, grime, etc. residing on the handle of the shopping cart. Furthermore, the shopping cart handle protector protects a child riding in the shopping cart from those pollutants when touching or placing their mouth on the handle of the shopping cart. The shopping cart handle protector is further washable, portable and cost efficient.

A cart with powered folding and unfolding capability is provided. The cart has a cradle for holding a load, a frame supporting said cradle, said frame including a U-shaped leg member defining a pair of free ends connected to said cradle and a cross-bar end connected to a pair of wheels for ground engagement to enable said cart to roll along the ground, at least one leg pivot motor coupled to said leg member to enable powered folding of said leg member with respect to said cradle. The cart has a battery disposed on said cradle to power said leg pivot motor to enable powered folding and unfolding of said leg member. The cart also has an actuator disposed on said frame to initiate powered folding or unfolding of said leg member. Such a cart may also include a pair of auxiliary legs which are capable of powered folding.

A cart has a wheeled base unit with a first frame portion on one side and a second frame portion on another. The frame portions are coupled by a frontend part. A handle unit connects the frame portions at a backside of the cart and also connects the base unit to a basket. An inner frame portion is between the frame portions and extends to the frontend part of the base unit. The inner frame portion includes a front contact portion and a stopper portion. A spacer portion is attached to the inner frame portion closer to the backside of the base unit than the stopper portion. The spacer portion is positioned to contact a front contact portion of another cart when carts are nested. A coupling portion is sandwiched between the inner frame portion and a frontend part of another cart when carts are nested.

A method and system for assisting in shopping at a physical store (104) is described. The method includes receiving image data of the inside of a shopping cart (108) and processing the image data to detect one or more events. An event is the addition of an item (114) to the shopping cart (108) or the removal of an item (114) from the shopping cart (108). Responsive to detecting an event, the method processes the image data to identify an item associated with the event, and generates cart information based on the identified item. The cart information includes a record of items currently in the shopping cart (108). The method also communicates the cart information with respect to the identified item to a customer device (118).

A method and system for assisting in shopping at a physical store (104) is described. The method includes receiving image data of the inside of a shopping cart (108) and processing the image data to detect one or more events. An event is the addition of an item (114) to the shopping cart (108) or the removal of an item (114) from the shopping cart (108). Responsive to detecting an event, the method processes the image data to identify an item associated with the event, and generates cart information based on the identified item. The cart information includes a record of items currently in the shopping cart (108). The method also communicates the cart information with respect to the identified item to a customer device (118).

An autonomously traveling cart system includes a mover, a memory, a position detector, and a processor. The mover moves a cart main body. The memory stores map data indicating an autonomously traveling cart storage space installed in an area where the cart main body is movable. The position detector detects a position of the cart main body. The processor designs a moving route from the position of the cart main body which the position detector detects toward the autonomously traveling cart storage space indicated by the map data, and allows the cart main body to move toward the autonomously traveling cart storage space by the mover.

An autonomously traveling cart system includes a mover, a memory, a position detector, and a processor. The mover moves a cart main body. The memory stores map data indicating an autonomously traveling cart storage space installed in an area where the cart main body is movable. The position detector detects a position of the cart main body. The processor designs a moving route from the position of the cart main body which the position detector detects toward the autonomously traveling cart storage space indicated by the map data, and allows the cart main body to move toward the autonomously traveling cart storage space by the mover.

A child seat includes a base and a seatback movable relative thereto between a retracted position, in which the seatback preferably is flush with a top of the base, and an extended position, in which a sitting area of the child seat is exposed for sitting and in which the seatback serves to support a child's back. The seatback of the child seat preferably includes a seat belt for restraint of a child when seated in the sitting area. A shopping cart includes the child seat. The seatback includes a gate movable between a retracted position, in which the gate preferably is flush with the seatback, and an extended position, in which the gate extends in a generally upright manner and partially blocks leg openings of the basket to keep items from falling there through when the seatback is in the retracted position.

This disclosure is directed to item-identifying carts that may be utilized by users to automatically identify items that the users place in their carts. In addition, these carts may automatically determine the outcome of respective events that occur with respect to these identified items. For example, the carts may be configured to identify one or more items that are placed into or removed from the cart, and thereafter determine one or more actions taken with respect to the identified items and a quantity of the items involved. For example, after identifying a first item and a second item either placed into or removed from the cart, the cart may determine that the user added two instances of the first item and removed one instance of the second item. In response to making this determination, the cart may update a virtual cart of a user operating the physical cart.