System and method for drive through order processing

A system for automating a drive-thru, comprising:

• at least one camera positioned at a drive-thru, the drive-thru being on a course defined by an entry point and a departure point;
• and
• a processor system configured to (1) receive image information from the at least one camera, (2) identify at least one vehicle attribute of a vehicle from the image information, and (3) link the at least one vehicle attribute with a food and/or beverage order,
• the processor system being configured to
• (i) initiate timing of an encounter when the vehicle is detected by the at least one camera to enter the course at the entry point;
• (ii) update a virtual environment of the processor system to reflect the presence of the vehicle and provide a visualization of the detected vehicle on a user interface in response to detecting the entry of the vehicle at the entry point;
• (iii) update the virtual environment based on information relating to one or more order tasks and based on a change in a vehicle location in the course;
• and
• (iv) terminate timing and terminate the visualization of the vehicle in the user interface when the vehicle is detected by the at least one camera to exit the course at the departure point.

A method comprising:

• detecting, by a first detector, a vehicle on a course;
• identifying at least one attribute of the vehicle;
• transmitting the at least one attribute and timing information corresponding to a time when the vehicle is detected to a processor;
• displaying, by the processor, information on a user interface including a depiction of the detected vehicle having the at least one attribute and the timing information;
• associating a vehicle identifier relating to the at least one attribute with an order identifier relating to an order for food and/or beverage, and depicting a representation of both of the vehicle identifier and the order identifier in the user interface;
• updating the user interface in response to at least a change in an order status for the order for food and/or beverage associated with the vehicle, and
• displaying, via the user interface, a benchmark relating to servicing of the order for food and/or beverage and providing, by the user interface, a notification when an elapsed time for an activity associated with the order exceeds the benchmark.