Modular smart pickup system with integrated sensors
The present disclosure provides a smart pickup system comprising a smart pickup unit with a base platform configured to support an order, a plurality of sensors integrated with the smart pickup unit and configured to collect data about the order, a microcontroller in communication with the plurality of sensors and configured to analyze the collected data, and a user interface operatively connected to the microcontroller and configured to provide feedback based on the analyzed data. The system may include weight sensors to measure weight and weight distribution of the order, as well as temperature, humidity, or volume sensors. The user interface may comprise a display integrated into the base platform to show order information and status updates. Smart pickup management software may coordinate operation of multiple smart pickup units and interface with external systems such as point-of-sale and kitchen display systems.
1 . A smart pickup system, comprising:
a smart pickup unit configured to independently support an order and further configured to verify accuracy of the order, the smart pickup unit comprising:
a base platform comprising a one or more base coupling connectors configured to mechanically and electrically couple with one or more adjacent base platforms of respective additional smart pickup units to form a customizable modular array of smart pickup units, wherein at least two smart pickup units of the modular array are configured to collectively support a multi-unit order spanning across the at least two smart pickup units and aggregate sensor data from the at least two smart pickup units to verify accuracy of the multi-unit order;
a pad removably mounted on the base platform, wherein the pad is configured to support the order;
a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors collect data about the order placed on the pad;
a microcontroller in communication with the plurality of sensors, wherein the microcontroller determines order accuracy of the supported order by comparing the collected data against one or more predetermined parameters associated with the supported order retrieved from one or more external systems and generates an order accuracy alert in response to the determined order accuracy; and
a user interface operatively connected to the microcontroller, wherein the user interface provides a first visual feedback in response to the order accuracy determination and a second visual feedback in response to the order accuracy alert.
2 . The smart pickup system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises weight sensors configured to measure a weight and weight distribution of the order.
3 . The smart pickup system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises at least one of: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a volume sensor.
4 . The smart pickup system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises a display configured to show order information and status updates.
5 . The smart pickup system of claim 4 , wherein the display is integrated into the base platform of the smart pickup unit.
6 . The smart pickup system of claim 1 , further comprising smart pickup management software in communication with the microcontroller and configured to coordinate operation of multiple smart pickup units.
7 . The smart pickup system of claim 6 , wherein the microcontroller and smart pickup management software are configured to operate concurrently.
8 . The smart pickup system of claim 1 , further comprising a connector configured to selectively establish bidirectional electrical communication between the pad and the base platform.
9 . The smart pickup system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more base coupling connectors are configured to enable power and data transmission between adjacent smart pickup units, such that the smart pickup unit operates as part of a modular, scalable pickup system.
10 . The smart pickup system of claim 9 , wherein the base platform is configured to couple to a power source via a single detachable cord to thereby power the modular, scalable pickup system, wherein the one or more base coupling connectors are configured to enable electrical power and data transmission between adjacent smart pickup units in a daisy-chain configuration, such that each smart pickup unit is electrically linked in series to at least one other smart pickup unit to share power and communication signals.
11 . The smart pickup system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more base coupling connectors are positioned on a periphery of the base platform for coupling to the additional smart pickup units.
12 . The smart pickup system of claim 1 , wherein the pad is removably mounted to the base platform magnetically.
13 . A smart pickup system, comprising:
a plurality of smart pickup units, wherein each smart pickup unit of the plurality of smart pickup units is configured to independently support an order and further configured to verify accuracy of the order, wherein at least two smart pickup units are configured to function as a unified surface to collectively support a spanning order on the at least two smart units and aggregate sensor data from the at least two smart pickup units to verify accuracy of the spanning order, wherein each smart pickup unit comprises a base platform configured to support the order;
a plurality of sensors integrated with a respective smart pickup unit of the plurality of smart pickup units and configured to collect data about the order;
a microcontroller in communication with the plurality of sensors, wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive order information associated with a particular customer order from one or more external systems and determine order accuracy of the supported order by comparing the collected data against predetermined parameters specific to the particular customer order; and
a user interface operatively connected to the microcontroller and configured to provide a first visual feedback when the order accuracy is determined and a second visual feedback in response to the microcontroller generating an order accuracy alert.
14 . The smart pickup system of claim 13 , wherein the first visual feedback comprises a visual indicator confirming order readiness for pickup, and the second visual feedback comprises an alert notification indicating a potential order discrepancy.
15 . The smart pickup system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises weight sensors configured to measure a weight and weight distribution of the order, and wherein the predetermined parameters comprise expected weight ranges.
16 . The smart pickup system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface is configured to display order status information based on the order accuracy determination.
17 . A smart pickup system, comprising:
a plurality of smart pickup units, wherein each smart pickup unit of the plurality of smart pickup units is configured to independently support an order and further configured to verify accuracy of the order, wherein at least two smart pickup units of the plurality of smart pickup units are configured to function as a unified surface to collectively support a multi-unit order and aggregate sensor data from the at least two smart pickup units to verify accuracy of the multi-unit order, wherein each smart pickup unit of the plurality of smart pickup units comprises a base platform configured to support an order;
a plurality of sensors integrated with a respective smart pickup unit of the plurality of smart pickup units and configured to collect data about the order;
a microcontroller in communication with the plurality of sensors and configured to receive order information from one or more external systems and analyze the collected data in real-time to verify order contents by comparing the collected data against expected order parameters, wherein the expected order parameters correspond to an aggregation of individual item parameters for items included in the order; and
a user interface operatively connected to the microcontroller and configured to provide immediate visual feedback indicating an order accuracy determination based on the analyzed data, wherein the user interface is configured to provide a first visual feedback when the collected data matches the expected order parameters and a second visual feedback when the collected data does not match the expected order parameters.
18 . The smart pickup system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises weight sensors configured to measure a weight and weight distribution of the order.
19 . The smart pickup system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of sensors further comprises at least one of: a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a volume sensor.