Secure smart container assembly, systems, and methods

A bin identification system, comprising:

• a plurality of bin assemblies, wherein each bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies comprises:
• a bin housing adapted to receive bins of varying sizes, the bin housing including a vertical mounting structure;
• an audiovisual device;
• a bin comprising a latching hook and the bin defining a bin volume, wherein the bin is movable relative to the bin housing to permit access to the bin volume in an open position and to prevent access to the bin volume in a closed position, wherein each of the bin assemblies of the plurality of bin assemblies is disposed horizontally adjacent or vertically adjacent to a neighboring bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies;
• an electromechanical latching mechanism configured to engage the latching hook of a respective bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies in a locked position to retain the bin of the respective bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies in the closed position and to disengage the latching hook of the respective bin assembly of the plurality of bin assemblies in a released position;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a wireless control signal indicating a user request to access a respective bin of a respective bin assembly;
• and
• control engagement of the latching hook, based at least in part on the wireless control signal, to permit access to the bin volume;
• output, upon movement of the latching hook, an alert via the audiovisual device to identify the respective bin and respective bin assembly, from other bins and the other bin assemblies of the plurality of bin assemblies, and to identify that access to the respective bin is provided.

A method comprising:

• providing a bin assembly comprising a bin housing and a bin body movable relative to the bin housing, wherein the bin housing is adapted to receive bins of varying sizes;
• receiving a wireless control signal indicating a user request to access a respective bin of a respective bin assembly;
• latching the bin body to the bin housing in a locked position to retain the bin body in a closed position via a latching mechanism based at least in part on the wireless control signal;
• unlatching the bin body from the bin housing in a released position via the latching mechanism based at least in part on the wireless control signal;
• moving the bin body relative to the bin housing to an open position to provide access to a bin volume defined within the bin body;
• outputting, upon unlatching the bin body, an alert via an audiovisual device integrated with the bin housing to identify the respective bin and respective bin assembly, from other bins and the other bin assemblies, and to identify that access to the respective bin is provided.