A non-contact power supply unit includes connectable units. Each of the connectable units includes a cart wheel guide, a non-contact power supply device configured to perform wireless power charging of a cart, a first connector, and a second connector. The first connector is connectable to the second connector of another connectable unit and the second connector is connectable to the first connector of another connectable unit. The cart wheel guides of the connectable units are aligned with each other when connected.

Techniques for predictive system remediation are disclosed. Based on attributes associated with applications of one or more system-selected remedial actions to one or more problematic system behaviors in a system (e.g., a database system), the system determines a predicted effectiveness of one or more future applications of a remedial action to a particular problematic system behavior, as of one or more future times. The system determines that the predicted effectiveness of the one or more future applications of the remedial action is positive but does not satisfy a performance criterion. Responsive to determining that the predicted effectiveness is positive but does not satisfy the performance criterion, the system generates a notification corresponding to the predicted effectiveness not satisfying the performance criterion. The system applies the remedial action to the particular problematic system behavior, despite already determining that the predicted effectiveness does not satisfy the one or more performance criteria.

A shopping cart with a vertically extended anti-theft pole. The pole is mounted to the cart using a one-way interlock, that allows the pole to be mounted to the cart on premises, but not easily removed without damaging or tampering with the interlock. In this way, the carts may be brought into premises of interest, and equipped with the anti-theft device after delivery/deployment without any tools, skilled labour, or fasteners.

Systems and devices for a shopping cart corral include a movable frame defining an interior space sized to receive one or more shopping carts arranged along a lengthwise direction in the interior space. The movable frame may include a first wall including a first post, a second post, and a first bracket extending between the first post and the second post. The movable frame may include a second wall including a third post, a fourth post, and a second bracket extending between the third post and a fourth post. The movable frame may include a third wall having a third bracket extending between the first post and the third post. The movable frame may include a door extending between the second post and the fourth post. The shopping cart corral may include a plurality of wheels positioned on the each of the posts.

A control device for a wireless power supply system includes a battery configured to supply power to a first device, a power reception coil, a power reception circuit connected to the power reception coil and configured to adjust a voltage generated by the power reception coil to charge the battery, and a switch circuit connected between the battery and the first device and configured to detect the adjusted voltage applied to the battery. The switch circuit is further configured to, when the adjusted voltage is not detected, electrically connect the battery and the first device, and when the adjusted voltage is detected, electrically disconnect the battery and the first device.

A system for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage comprises a wheel assembly that attaches to a shopping cart. In some embodiments the wheel assembly includes a wheel, a brake that can be activated to inhibit rotation of the wheel, a controller that controls the brake, a VLF receiver, and an RF transceiver. The RF transceiver may, for example, operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some implementations, the RF transceiver may be used to detect entry of the shopping cart into a checkout area of the store, and the VLF receiver may be used to detect that the shopping cart is exiting the store. The controller may activate the brake if the shopping cart attempts to exit the store without first passing through a checkout area.

A system for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage comprises a wheel assembly that attaches to a shopping cart. In some embodiments the wheel assembly includes a wheel, a brake that can be activated to inhibit rotation of the wheel, a controller that controls the brake, a VLF receiver, and an RF transceiver. The RF transceiver may, for example, operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some implementations, the RF transceiver may be used to detect entry of the shopping cart into a checkout area of the store, and the VLF receiver may be used to detect that the shopping cart is exiting the store. The controller may activate the brake if the shopping cart attempts to exit the store without first passing through a checkout area.

A motorized cart retriever, which may be a cart pusher or a cart puller, can apply a force to a nest of human-propelled, wheeled carts to facilitate retrieval of the carts. The cart retriever can include a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive cart status information from cart transmitters of the wheeled carts and wirelessly report event data to a control unit. The cart status information may include an identification of the cart transmitter, a location of the cart, a lock or unlock status of a cart wheel, a misuse condition, etc. The event data can include the cart status information, a number of wheeled carts being retrieved, etc. The cart wheel may include a brake. The transceiver may communicate a message to the cart wheel to keep the brake unactuated during retrieval. The control unit may analyze the event data to detect traffic patterns of the carts.

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.

According to an embodiment, a power transmission system includes a power transmission antenna, a first rail and a second rail. The power transmission antenna is disposed facing the power reception antenna installed on the side surface of the cart stored in the storage position. The first rail includes a first groove that guides, among a plurality of wheels for moving the cart to the storage position, a first wheel that is closest to the power transmission antenna while the cart is stored in the storage position, and that causes a distance between the power reception antenna and the power transmission antenna installed on the side surface of the cart to be within a power transmittable range. The second rail includes a second groove that guides, among the plurality of wheels for moving the cart, a second wheel that is different from the first wheel to the storage position.