Automated robotic shopping cart
OwnerRobert Spruillinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The automated robotic shopping cart is a shopping cart with a controller and locomotion subsystem. The controller may provide shopping assistance to the shopper and may play audio/visual programming to entertain a child riding in the cart. The controller may wirelessly pair with a phone carried by the shopper and may use battery powered motors to propel and steer the cart such that the cart follows the shopper through a store. The battery may be recharged from a solar panel when the cart is outdoors. A GPS receiver in the controller may determine the physical location of the cart and may activate a brake if an attempt is made to remove the cart from the retail property. The invention may further comprise a reading light to illuminate products and a distress button to request assistance.
Claims16
A automated robotic shopping cart comprising:
- a locomotion subsystem, a controller, and a cart;
- wherein the automated robotic shopping cart is a shopping cart that is adapted to follow a shopper by tracking a phone that is in the possession of the shopper;
- wherein the automated robotic shopping cart is adapted to provide shopping assistance to the shopper using a display and a touch screen;
- wherein the automated robotic shopping cart is adapted to entertain a child riding in the cart;
- wherein the locomotion subsystem comprises a drive motor, an axle, a pair of rear wheels, a steering motor, a steering linkage, a pair of front wheels, one or more batteries, and a battery enclosure;
- wherein the drive motor causes the cart to move forward or backwards by turning the pair of rear wheels;
- wherein the steering motor steers the cart by changing a steering angle of the pair of front wheels;
- wherein the drive motor is mounted under a frame at the rear of the cart;
- wherein the drive motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy;
- wherein the drive motor causes rotation of the axle and the pair of rear wheels when electrical energy is applied to the drive motor;
- wherein the electrical energy applied to the drive motor is controlled by the controller;
- wherein the drive motor is oriented such that the shaft of the drive motor runs horizontally from left to right;
- wherein the axle is laterally oriented and the ends of the axle are coupled to the pair of rear wheels;
- wherein the axle is an extension of the shaft of the drive motor or is rotationally coupled to the shaft of the drive motor;
- wherein the steering motor is mounted under the frame at the front of the cart;
- wherein the steering motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy;
- wherein the steering motor causes movement of the steering linkage when electrical energy is applied to the steering motor;
- wherein the electrical energy applied to the steering motor is controlled by the controller;
- wherein the steering motor is oriented such that the shaft of the steering motor runs vertically;
- wherein the steering linkage is coupled to the bottom of the shaft of the steering motor;
- wherein the steering linkage extends laterally and the ends of the steering linkage are coupled to the pair of front wheels;
- wherein rotation of the steering motor causes movement of the steering linkage to the right or to the left and causes the pair of front wheels to change their the steering angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.