Product identification systems and methods
A system for identifying a product removed from a cabinet includes detecting visual characteristics of the product removed from the cabinet by a camera within the cabinet. The system may include detecting an identifier on the product removed from the cabinet by an identifier sensor, and comparing the visual characteristics and the identifier to a database of product information. The product removed from the cabinet may be identified based on the comparison of the visual characteristics and the identifier to the database of product information.
1 . A vending system, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a storage area for storing products, and a door movably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door is movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration in which the products are accessible to a consumer;
a first internal camera arranged within the cabinet and a second internal camera arranged within the cabinet, each internal camera configured to detect a first visual characteristic of a product removed from the cabinet when the door is in the open configuration;
an external camera arranged at a location outside of the cabinet and configured to detect a second visual characteristic of the product removed from the cabinet;
an identifier sensor configured to detect an identifier of the product removed from the cabinet, wherein the identifier sensor has a pixel density of at least 1.5 pixels/mm, wherein the identifier is disposed on the product and is different than the first visual characteristic; and
a control unit in communication with the first and second internal cameras, with the external camera, and with the identifier sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an identity of the product removed from the cabinet based on a comparison of the first visual characteristic identified by the first and second internal cameras, the second visual characteristic identified by the external camera, the identifier of the product identified by the sensor, and a database of product information.
2 . The vending system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second internal cameras are configured to determine the dimensions of products within 3 mm of the actual product dimension.
3 . The vending system of claim 1 , wherein the first visual characteristic comprises a shape of the product, a dimension of the product, or a coloring of the product.
4 . The vending system of claim 1 , wherein the identifier sensor is configured to detect an identifier that is a barcode or a QR code.
5 . The vending system of claim 1 , further comprising a weight sensor configured to determine a weight of the product removed from the cabinet.
6 . The vending system of claim 1 , further comprising a payment processing unit configured to receive a payment, wherein the control unit is configured to unlock the door when the payment is received.
7 . The vending system of claim 1 , wherein the database comprises a list of products and corresponding visual characteristics.
8 . The vending system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine the identity of the product using a machine learning algorithm.
9 . The vending system of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the identity of the product removed from the cabinet is assigned a confidence level using artificial intelligence.
10 . A vending system, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a storage area for storing products, and a door movably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door is movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration in which the products are accessible to a consumer;
a first internal camera arranged within the cabinet and a second internal camera arranged within the cabinet, each internal camera configured to detect a visual characteristic of a product being removed from the cabinet;
an identifier sensor configured to detect an identifier of the product removed from the cabinet, wherein the identifier sensor has a pixel density of at least 1.5 pixels/mm, wherein the identifier is disposed on the product and is different than the visual characteristic; and
a control unit in communication with the first and second internal cameras and the identifier sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an identity of the product removed from the cabinet by analyzing a first image and a second image, and wherein the control unit is further configured to confirm the identity of the product removed from the cabinet based on the identifier of the product removed from the cabinet as determined by the identifier sensor,
wherein the control unit is configured to generate a real-time map using data from the first and second internal cameras or the identifier sensor, wherein the real-time map comprises a location and an identity of each of the products within the storage area of the cabinet.
11 . The vending system of claim 10 , further comprising a weight sensor configured to determine a weight of the product removed from the cabinet.
12 . The vending system of claim 10 , further comprising an external camera arranged at a location outside of the cabinet and configured to detect a second visual characteristic of the product removed from the cabinet.
13 . The vending system of claim 10 , further comprising an optical sensor configured to detect data relating to the product removed from the cabinet.
14 . The vending system of claim 13 , wherein the optical sensor comprises an RFID sensor, a LIDAR sensor, or an MRI sensor.
15 . A vending system, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a storage area for storing products;
a first camera arranged within the cabinet and a second camera arranged within the cabinet, the first and second cameras each configured to detect a visual characteristic of the product removed from the cabinet, wherein the first camera and the second camera are configured to determine the dimensions of products within 3 mm of the actual product dimension;
wherein the first and second cameras define a plane that is parallel to the front portion of the cabinet such that items exiting and entering the cabinet pass through the plane; and
a control unit in communication with the first and second cameras, wherein the control unit is configured to generate a real-time map using data from the first and second cameras, wherein the real-time digital map comprises a location and an identity of each of the products within the storage area of the cabinet,
wherein the control unit is configured to determine an identity of the product removed from the cabinet based at least in part on the detected visual characteristic, and wherein the control unit is configured to confirm the identity of the product based on the digital map.
16 . The vending system of claim 15 , further comprising an identifier sensor configured to detect an identifier of the product removed from the cabinet.
17 . The vending system of claim 15 , further comprising an optical sensor configured to detect data relating to the product removed from the cabinet.
18 . The vending system of claim 15 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine the identity of the product removed from the cabinet using a machine learning model.
19 . A vending system, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a storage area for storing products, and a door movably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door is movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration in which the products are accessible to a consumer;
internal cameras arranged within the cabinet at a perimeter of a front portion of the cabinet, each internal camera configured to detect a first visual characteristic of a product removed from the cabinet when the door is in the open configuration;
wherein the internal cameras define a plane that is parallel to the front portion of the cabinet such that items exiting and entering the cabinet pass through the plane;
an external camera arranged at a location outside of the cabinet and configured to detect a second visual characteristic of the product removed from the cabinet;
an identifier sensor configured to detect an identifier of the product removed from the cabinet, wherein the identifier sensor has a pixel density of about 1.5 pixels/mm; and
a control unit in communication with the internal cameras, with the external camera, and with the identifier sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an identity of the product removed from the cabinet based on a comparison of the first visual characteristic identified by the internal cameras, the second visual characteristic identified by the external camera, the identifier of the product identified by the sensor, and a database of product information.
20 . A vending system, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a storage area for storing products, and a door movably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door is movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration in which the products are accessible to a consumer;
internal cameras arranged within the cabinet at a perimeter of a front portion of the cabinet, each internal camera configured to detect a first visual characteristic of a product removed from the cabinet when the door is in the open configuration;
wherein the internal cameras define a plane that is parallel to the front portion of the cabinet such that items exiting and entering the cabinet pass through the plane and the internal cameras are configured to determine the dimensions of products within 3 mm of the actual product dimension;
an external camera arranged at a location outside of the cabinet and configured to detect a second visual characteristic of the product removed from the cabinet;
an identifier sensor configured to detect an identifier of the product removed from the cabinet; and
a control unit in communication with the internal cameras, with the external camera, and with the identifier sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an identity of the product removed from the cabinet based on a comparison of the first visual characteristic identified by the internal cameras, the second visual characteristic identified by the external camera, the identifier of the product identified by the sensor, and a database of product information.
21 . A vending system, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a storage area for storing products, and a door movably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door is movable from a closed configuration to an open configuration in which the products are accessible to a consumer;
a first internal camera arranged within the cabinet and a second internal camera arranged within the cabinet, each internal camera configured to detect a first visual characteristic of a product removed from the cabinet when the door is in the open configuration, wherein the first and second internal cameras are configured to determine the dimensions of products within 3 mm of the actual product dimension;
an external camera arranged at a location outside of the cabinet and configured to detect a second visual characteristic of the product removed from the cabinet;
an identifier sensor configured to detect an identifier of the product removed from the cabinet, wherein the identifier is disposed on the product and is different than the first visual characteristic; and
a control unit in communication with the first and second internal cameras, with the external camera, and with the identifier sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine an identity of the product removed from the cabinet based on a comparison of the first visual characteristic identified by the first and second internal cameras, the second visual characteristic identified by the external camera, the identifier of the product identified by the sensor, and a database of product information.