Self-cleaning autonomous store

US11069070B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ACCEL ROBOTICS CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Marius Buibas · San Diego, US
• Michael Brandon Maseda · San Diego, US
• Martin Alan Cseh · San Diego, US
• Samir Singh · San Diego, US
• Matthew Walker · Mountain View, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 14, 2020
• Grant date: Jul 20, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 14, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06V20/36
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An autonomous store that tracks shopper movements and actions, and performs store cleaning actions based on analysis of shopper activity. Cleaning actions may include disinfecting the store or regions within the store using radiation, fogging or spraying, or ventilation. Cleaning actions may be targeted; for example, zones where shoppers linger or congregate may be cleaned more frequently or intensively, or shelves or items that shoppers touch may be cleaned after these interactions. Shopper activity information may be used to limit the number of shoppers in a store at once, for example by denying entry when the store is at capacity. The density of shoppers in regions of the store may be communicated to shoppers so that they can limit their interactions with other shoppers. Shopper activity history may be used for contact tracing by identifying other shoppers that may have been exposed to an individual who was in the store.