A method apparatus are directed to identify items disposed on the bottom shelf of a shopping cart bottom of basket (BoB). Certain aspects envision a distance measurement sensor and computing system connected to the shopping cart. A first set of distance measurements of the bottom shelf when empty is obtained via the distance measurement sensor. Next, at a checkout stand, a second set of distance measurements of the shelf are taken, which can be used to compare with the first set of distance measurements to identify if there is an object on the BoB. An alert can be provided to a checkout attendant if there is an object on the BoB.

An interactive shopping system, or smart cart. The system allows a user to select items in a store and complete a purchase without having to wait in lines or interact with store personnel. The system can have a container for holding products selected by at least one user, a user interface, a scanner in communication with the user interface, a processor in communication with the user interface, and a data storage comprising computer instructions executable by the processor. A user can select products, place them within the container, scan the products, and initiate a payment transaction to complete a purchase.

Mobile battery powered workstation carts for order fulfillment are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a battery powered workstation cart may comprise a wheeled cart having a frame, a rechargeable lithium battery, a computer, a barcode reader/scanner, a RFID reader/scanner, a printer, an artificial intelligence hub, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and/or GPS. The frame may also comprise two side bracket arms and/or shelves, which may be modular to receive various different sized baskets, bins, or totes therein to expedite retail order fulfillment.

A retail checkout system includes a mobile point-of-sale (POS) apparatus, one or more fixed POS stations, and a server. The mobile POS apparatus includes a wireless communication interface and a processor configured to perform a registration operation. The registration operation includes controlling the wireless communication interface to transmit a product code and transmit instructions. The server is configured to generate a transaction data record, cause the transaction data record to be transmitted to a fixed POS station upon receiving a checkout instruction, determine, after receiving an end instruction, whether the checkout processing has been completed, and cause the mobile POS apparatus to end the registration operation if checkout processing has been completed.

The invention relates to cleaning cart, comprising a frame having a frame lower part, a frame upper part and support parts which connect the frame lower part to the frame upper part and are spaced apart from one another, rollers at the frame lower part for moving on a ground surface, storage devices for receiving therein and/or supporting thereon cleaning accessories, retaining elements for holding the storage devices, and receiving elements arranged at the support parts in a predefined position, wherein the retaining elements are selectively fixable to the receiving elements for having the storage devices assume different relative positions with respect to the support parts.

A checkout system comprises a commodity data registration apparatus for executing a commodity sales registration processing; a table for temporarily placing a registered basket including a registered commodity after the commodity sales registration processing; a first checkout apparatus arranged next to the table and configured to execute a checkout processing based on data relating to the commodity sales registration processing selectively sent from the commodity data registration apparatus; a second checkout apparatus arranged next to the first checkout apparatus and configured to execute a checkout processing based on data relating to the commodity sales registration processing selectively sent from the commodity data registration apparatus; and a recognition module for recognizing that the registered basket is positioned for the first checkout apparatus or the second checkout apparatus which is a transmission destination of the data.

Various embodiments of a system for tracking and/or controlling wheeled vehicles (such as shopping carts), are described. In some embodiments, the system includes an RFID tag on the cart and an RFID reader device external to the cart. The tag can receive an interrogation signal from the reader and reply with a response signal. In various embodiments, the reader or a central control unit can perform various calculations based on the response signal, such as generating a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value. In some embodiments, based on the RSSI value or otherwise, the reader can send a command signal to the tag to take an action, such as to engage a brake mechanism.

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.

A commodity container includes a main body with a container space and a radio frequency reader with a communication range that covers an opening of the container space. The radio frequency reader outputs tag information based on a radio frequency signal from a wireless tag and outputs time variation information indicating a time variation of the radio frequency signal. A registration device is attached to the main body and includes a communication interface to receive the tag and time variation information, and a processor configured to determine a time variation in a positional relationship of the wireless tag and the radio frequency reader based on the time variation information and update a commodity registration list based on the determined time variation of the positional relationship.

Example shopping cart corral systems and associated systems and methods are described. The example shopping cart corral system includes a corral structure, a radio-frequency transmitter, a radio-frequency receiver, and a controller coupled to the radio-frequency transmitter and the radio-frequency receiver. The controller estimates a quantity of shopping carts disposed in the shopping cart corral based on at least one property of the reflected radio-frequency signal. An example shopping cart counter system includes an elongated structure, first and second electrical contacts, a power source and a processing device. The power source applies a voltage or an electrical current to the first electrical contact and the shopping carts complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts. The processing device estimates the quantity of shopping carts disposed in the elongated structure based on an electrical resistance associated with the shopping carts.