In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are described herein including a shelf assembly that utilizes the accumulated weight of products stocked thereon to compress a compression member disposed within the assembly. An electronic imaging device can be mounted proximate to the assembly and can be oriented to capture an image of the compression member to determine whether a particular shelf needs to be restocked and avoid having to manipulate or remove products from a shelf to determine a current stock level.

A smart bookrack includes a number of book cabinets. Each book cabinet accommodates one book and carries a sensor and a determining device. Each book includes an electronic tag to identify the book. The smart bookrack further includes a RF unit, a controller, and a display device. The determining device detects whether a book being in each book cabinet. The RF unit scans identification information of each book and transmits the identification information to the controller. The controller determines a status of each book according to actual location of the book and identification information of each book. The display device displays the status of each book by using different signals. A book management system and method using the smart bookrack are also provided.

Disclosed is a sensor shield for use in a multi-shelf merchandise display unit including a plurality of sensors mounted on a wall of the unit and opposite a source of illumination, in which each sensor corresponds to a single shelf and in which the shelves are at least semi-porous to the illumination. The shield comprises i) a plate having a length that is sufficient substantially to reduce or prevent incident illumination from the shelf above reaching the sensor; and ii) means to attach the plate to casing of or around the sensor or the wall of the unit. The plate is opaque to the illumination detected by the sensor. Also disclosed is a method to reduce the interference of light in a multi-shelf merchandise display unit from shelves above a shelf on which stock levels are being measured and a method for monitoring stock levels in a retail display cabinet by measuring light entering the retail display cabinet.

Described is an RFID-enabled medical item storage, organization, and/or tracking device, such as a cabinet or shelf, that includes a limited-range wireless network communication capability, such as low-energy Bluetooth or Zigbee, to communicate with nearby cabinets, shelves or mobile devices, any of which may serve as a communication aggregator to coordinate the communication of multiple cabinets, shelves and other devices with an inventory management system or other back-end computer system or other device via back haul wireless or wired networks (e.g., the Internet).

Systems and techniques are provided for determining an improved camera coverage plan including a number, a placement, and a pose of cameras that are arranged to track puts and takes of items by subjects in a three-dimensional real space. The method includes receiving an initial camera coverage plan including a three-dimensional map of a real space, an initial number and initial pose of a plurality of cameras and a camera model including characteristics of the cameras. The method can iteratively apply a machine learning process to an objective function of number and poses of cameras, and subject to a set of constraints, obtain an improved camera coverage plan. The improved camera coverage plan is provided to an installer to arrange cameras to track puts and takes of items by subjects in the three-dimensional real space.

Provided is a sensor device including: a sensor device including: a sensor unit that emits light and receives light reflected by an object; and a reflection mirror unit that reflects light emitted from the sensor unit. A reflection surface of a reflection mirror included in the reflection mirror unit includes a first part and a second part having lower reflectance than the first part.

A retail merchandise pusher is configured for sliding along a pusher assembly track. The pusher assembly is mountable to a retail merchandise shelf. The pusher includes a housing, a spring drum rotatably mounted within the housing, and a coil spring mounted to the spring drum. The coil spring is coilable and uncoilable upon rotation of the spring drum. A controller is coupled to a sensor arrangement within the housing. The sensor arrangement has a spring drum sensor for detecting rotation of the spring drum. A direction sensor detects a direction of rotation of the spring drum. An incremental distance sensor detects incremental movement of the pusher. The controller is configured to calculate, based on data from the sensor arrangement, a total distance and direction of travel by the pusher, and to generate an alarm when the pusher travels more than a threshold distance within a predetermined period of time.

The present disclosure is directed toward a storage compartment vehicle (“SCV”) for use in the transport of items for delivery to one or more customers and/or retrieval of items from one or more customers. The SCV may include a plurality of storage compartments that are individually accessible, each of which can contain one or more items. The SCV may navigate to a delivery location and customers may retrieve ordered items from the storage compartments of the SCV. Likewise, customers may return items into storage compartments of the SCV.

A method including authorizing a user to access a dispensing unit upon receipt of a medication request, is provided. The dispensing unit comprises a storage location with one or more door enclosure storing at least one container. The method also includes providing a visual indicator to the user for a selected container in the storage location with one or more door enclosure, the selected container comprising a medication associated with the medication request, and unlocking the selected container for the user by wirelessly actuating a latch for a lid in the selected container from a mat that is communicatively coupled with the dispensing unit. The method also includes locking the selected container when the user verifies a transaction comprising the medication request, and updating a record and a medication inventory in a remote server based on the transaction. A storage location with one or more door enclosure and a container used in the above method are also provided.

Items may be stored on a fixture of a facility using one or more accessories, such as trays or bins. Weighing modules that include one or more load cells may be mounted to a crossbar of the fixture. The accessories of the fixture may then be mounted to the crossbar via the weighing modules. The load cells within each weighing module can collect weight data associated with items stowed in the accessories that are coupled to the weighing module. When a weight change is detected at the fixture, a particular load cell is identified as the source of the weight change. Once a load cell is identified, the accessory coupled to the load cell is identified, as well as the types of items stowed therein. Interaction data can then be determined to indicate a type of item that was added to or removed from the accessory of the fixture.