Cart wheel failure detection systems and methods
AssigneeWalmart Apollo, LLC
InventorsNicholaus A. Jones, Matthew Biermann, Steven Lewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments relate to systems in which one or more infrared cameras or sensors are used to measure heat related to the wheels of carts, such as shopping carts. Wheels with bad bearings, that wobble, or that have other issues preventing normal operation tend to generate more heat than wheels that are in good working order, such that an infrared camera or sensor directed at wheel height (e.g., about 2-3 inches off the floor) can detect wheel issues by detecting heat emitted by the wheels.
Claims24
A cart wheel failure detection system comprising:
- at least one sensor arranged physically apart from a cart so as to detect heat emanating from each of a plurality of wheels of the cart, the at least one sensor configured to detect a unique cart identifier disposed proximate at least one of the plurality of wheels, the unique cart identifier comprising a machine-readable marking exclusive to the cart from among a plurality of carts;
- a communication system configured to receive the unique cart identifier and sensor data of detected heat emanating from each of the plurality of wheels of the cart from the at least one sensor;
- and
- a microprocessor configured to receive the unique cart identifier and the sensor data of detected heat emanating from each of the plurality of wheels of the cart from the communication system, to compare the sensor data for each of the plurality of wheels to a predefined alert rule defining one or more threshold parameters indicative of pre-failure or failure of a cart wheel, and to transmit a wheel failure alert comprising the unique cart identifier if the sensor data for any one of the plurality of wheels satisfies the predefined alert rule.
A method of detecting pre-failure or failure of a cart wheel comprising:
- arranging at least one sensor physically apart from a cart;
- detecting heat emanating from each of a plurality of wheels of the cart by the at least one sensor;
- detecting a unique cart identifier disposed proximate at least one of the plurality of wheels by the at least one sensor, the unique cart identifier comprising a machine-readable marking exclusive to the cart from among a plurality of carts;
- comparing data for each of the plurality of wheels from the at least one sensor to a predefined alert rule defining one or more threshold parameters indicative of pre-failure or failure of a cart wheel, each of the one or more threshold parameters is selected from the group consisting of:
- a maximum temperature, a maximum rate of temperature increase, and a maximum similarity of the sensed data to a known heat distribution pattern;
- and
- providing a wheel failure alert comprising the unique cart identifier if the data for any one of the plurality of wheels satisfies the alert rule in the comparing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.