Conception and Implementation of a Supermarket Shopping Assistant System

In this paper we present the design framework of a shopping assistant system to be used in supermarkets mainly by elderly or disabled people. The whole system is based on the interaction of three different kinds of electronic devices: a) mobile devices that users carry with them (smart phones or electronic tablets), b) autonomous mobile robots assisting users by displaying information and carrying groceries, and finally, c) the supermarket technological infrastructure (database servers, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth access points, etc.). These components interact through a common technological platform, allowing the user to prepare his/her shopping list, and then using it with the robot as an assistant, during his/her shopping process.