Apparatus and method of obtaining location information of a motorized transport unit

An apparatus providing control over movement of a motorized transport unit within a shopping facility, comprising:

• a self-propelled motorized transport unit within a shopping facility, wherein the motorized transport unit comprises:
• a light receiver unit configured to detect light from one or more external light sources within a shopping facility and extract at least one unique light source identifier from the detected light;
• a distance measurement unit comprising a light emitter and a light detector,
• wherein the distance measurement unit is configured to determine, as a function of light detected from the light emitter, a relative distance from the light emitter to one or more remote objects;
• a control circuit;
• and
• a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to control movement of the motorized transport unit as a function of a location of the motorized transport unit determined relative to a mapping of the shopping facility and based on the at least one light source identifier and the relative distance.

A method of controlling movement of a motorized transport unit within a shopping facility, comprising:

• receiving, at a location controller separate and distinct from a self-propelled motorized transport unit located within a shopping facility, communications from the motorized transport unit;
• obtaining from the communications a unique light source identifier of a light source within the shopping facility detected by the motorized transport unit from light emitted by the light source, and relative distance information determined by the motorized transport unit through an optical measurement corresponding to a distance between the motorized transport unit and an external object;
• processing the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information relative to a mapping of the shopping facility;
• and
• determining, in response to the processing, a location of the motorized transport unit within the shopping facility as a function of the at least one unique light source identifier and the relative distance information.