SELF-CHARGING SHOPPING CART SYSTEM WITH POWER ASSIST
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for shopping cart power assist. A system comprises a pressure sensor device on a handle portion of a shopping cart, a power generator configured to generate power with a rotation of a wheel system of the shopping cart, a power storage device configured to be charged by the power generator, a motor configured to drive the wheel system, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to detect for pressure on the handle portion of the shopping cart based on the pressure sensor device, in an event that a forward pressure on the handle portion is below a threshold, cause the power generator to charge the power storage device, and in an event that the forward pressure on the handle portion exceeds the threshold, cause the motor to drive the wheel system to generate forward propulsion for the shopping cart.
1 . A system for providing shopping cart power assist comprising:
a pressure sensor device on a handle portion of a shopping cart;
a power generator configured to generate power with a rotation of a wheel system of the shopping cart;
a power storage device configured to be charged by the power generator;
a motor configured to drive the wheel system of the shopping cart with power from the power storage device; and
a control circuit coupled to the pressure sensor device and the motor, the control circuit being configured to:
detect for pressure on the handle portion of the shopping cart based on the pressure sensor device;
in an event that a forward pressure on the handle portion is below a threshold, cause the power generator to charge the power storage device; and
in an event that the forward pressure on the handle portion exceeds the threshold, cause the motor to drive the wheel system to generate forward propulsion for the shopping cart.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the pressure sensor device comprises a right pressure sensor and a left pressure sensor spaced apart from each other on the handle portion of the shopping cart.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the wheel system comprises a powered right wheel and a powered left wheel; and
the control circuit is configured to drive the powered right wheel based on a first pressure detected at the right pressure sensor and drive the powered left wheel based on a second pressure detected at the left pressure sensor.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein: in an event that a backward pressure or no pressure is detected at the pressure sensor device, the control circuit is configured to bring the shopping cart to a stop.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the power generator to charge the power storage device while bringing the shopping cart to a stop.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to record an amount of energy associated with bringing the shopping cart a stop.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, in an event that the forward pressure on the handle portion falls below the threshold while the motor is driving the wheel system, the control circuit is configured to turn off the motor and charge the power storage device with the power generator coupled to the wheel system.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power storage device comprises one or more of a battery and a capacitor.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power generator and the motor comprise a combined motor and generator device.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel system of the shopping cart comprises one or more powered and unpowered wheels.
11 . A method for providing shopping cart power assist comprising:
detecting for pressure on with a pressure sensor device on a handle portion of a shopping cart;
in an event that a forward pressure on the handle portion is below a threshold, causing, with a control circuit, a power generator configured to generate power with a rotation of a wheel system of the shopping cart to charge a power storage device; and
in an event that the forward pressure on the handle portion exceeds the threshold, causing, with the control circuit, a motor to drive the wheel system to generate forward propulsion for the shopping cart with power from the power storage device.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the pressure sensor device comprises a right pressure sensor and a left pressure sensor spaced apart from each other on the handle portion of the shopping cart.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the wheel system comprises a powered right wheel and a powered left wheel; and
causing the motor to drive the wheel system comprises driving the powered right wheel based on a first pressure detected at the right pressure sensor and driving the powered left wheel based on a second pressure detected at the left pressure sensor.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
in an event that a backward pressure or no pressure is detected at the pressure sensor device, bringing the shopping cart to a stop.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
causing the power generator to charge the power storage device while bringing the shopping cart to a stop.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
recording an amount of energy associated with bringing the shopping cart a stop.
17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
in an event that the forward pressure on the handle portion falls below the threshold while the motor is driving the wheel system, turning off the motor and charging the power storage device with the power generator coupled to the wheel system.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the power storage device comprises one or more of a battery and a capacitor.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the power generator and the motor comprise a combined motor and generator device.
20 . A shopping cart apparatus comprising:
a container portion configured to hold a plurality of items;
a handle portion comprising a pressure sensor device;
a power storage device;
a wheel system coupled to a power generator configured to generate power with a rotation of the wheel system and a motor configured to drive the wheel system; and
a frame portion coupled to the container portion, the handle portion, the power storage device, and the wheel system;
wherein when a forward pressure detected by the pressure sensor device is below a threshold, the power generator charges the power storage device; and
wherein when the forward pressure detected by the pressure sensor device exceeds the threshold, the motor drives the wheel system to generate forward propulsion.