Alipay Smart AI Scale S1
POS scale with AI intelligent recognition ability
Designed by Alipay, Hangzhou, China
2022 - August
Traditional weighing and cashier systems are characterized by high human error rates, high costs, low efficiency, long customer wait times which contributes to poor shopping experiences. This product combines AI algorithms with weighing capabilities to create a more efficient terminal checkout system, thus improving merchant checkout efficiency while enhancing the customer shopping experience.
Background
We visited many first-line merchants (supermarket chains, food and beverage retail, fruit fresh, farmers' markets, etc.). Faced with the diversity of user groups and the complexity of product categories, we sorted out the cashier process of existing equipment and found that the common problem is that goods need to be entered one by one during settlement, or weighed individually. It will undoubtedly increase customer waiting time. After analyzing the traditional cash register process, we put forward the solution of "multi-category synchronous input" to simplify the steps of cash register.
Through field visits, the interaction between customers and merchants during the settlement process is inconvenient due to the hardware architecture of POS equipment and the layout of checkout desk. At present, the layout of checkout desk, functional zoning, POS equipment architecture and the customer movement line of merchants in offline stores are very complicated and diverse. We boil it down to the following three categories
Therefore, we take the high adaptability and high integration modularity of the scene as the focus of this design:
• The screen can be rotated flexibly to meet the complex offline checkout environment and improve the C-screen interest rate.
• Man-machine operation, reasonable use of moving line, modular improve equipment durability.
• Support a variety of payment methods, improve customer settlement efficiency, and enhance Alipay transaction ratio.
• The screen can be rotated flexibly to meet the complex offline checkout environment and improve the C-screen interest rate.
• Man-machine operation, reasonable use of moving line, modular improve equipment durability.
• Support a variety of payment methods, improve customer settlement efficiency, and enhance Alipay transaction ratio.
Brainstorming
Based on the previous research conclusions, we carried out brain storm co-creation, architecture innovation exploration, creative divergence of product function, architecture, form, and experience, tried different directions, and sought more possibilities.
After many rounds of brain storms and divergent sketches, we selected three relatively reasonable architectures:
A: The main machine and the scale are positioned in the center, the C screen is rotated 90 degrees up and down, and the scale can be switched left and right.
B: The main machine is in the left front of the scale, the scale is near the business side, and the clearance area is above the scale.
C: The B screen and the main engine are integrated design, the scale does not interfere on the right side, and the C screen is below the stacking area.
A: The main machine and the scale are positioned in the center, the C screen is rotated 90 degrees up and down, and the scale can be switched left and right.
B: The main machine is in the left front of the scale, the scale is near the business side, and the clearance area is above the scale.
C: The B screen and the main engine are integrated design, the scale does not interfere on the right side, and the C screen is below the stacking area.
3D design
3D modeling is performed on the selected three architectures to quickly verify the functional stacking and device layout relationships of the hardware architectures. Through 3D printing, we made foam handboards to simulate the approximate physical effect, evaluate the product volume and man-machine operation experience, conduct rapid perception and testing, and explore potential problems.
After several rounds of internal review, we have carried out in-depth detailed design of the 3D scheme of A architecture, the cantilever length meets the rotation of about 180 degrees, the connection installation method of the host and the scale, the rotation Angle of the B&C screen up and down, the design of AI modules, printers and other modules, and the quality details of the surface adjustment.
Through cooperation with algorithms and structural engineers, some hardware limitations and core device selection were defined. The FOV Angle of the face recognition camera was 63 degrees, and the screen rotation was 45 degrees up and down on the architecture design. Through verification, it could meet the coverage of people with a height of 80-100cm and a height of 150-190cm.
After the overall 3D scheme is locked, the CMF design of the whole machine is defined, the physical prototype is made, and the factory follows up, and the prototype landing details are controlled to ensure the design restoration degree.
Product Description
This product is an intelligent weighing terminal with AI recognition capabilities. It combines weighing, cashiering, printing, and goods management into one convenient device. It can automatically recognize the category and weight of goods in as little as 0.4 seconds, thereby increasing the overall checkout efficiency to 5 times its traditional speed, reducing human errors and labour costs, and reducing customer waiting time in queues. Meanwhile, its modular design reduces the need for future equipment maintenance costs. With this device, customer-merchant interaction is more friendly, creating a more relaxed and friendly shopping experience.
AI Module
The AI module is able to differentiate between non-standard items (items without barcodes such as bulk fruit and vegetables) and standard items (items with barcode labels). Simply place the product on the scale and the product will be identified and weighed within 0.4 seconds.The AI module is equipped with a circular color screen to provide feedback on the status of results, enhancing the atmosphere of AI intelligence and cutting-edge technology.
Customer screen
The customer screen can be rotated 180 degrees to meet the requirements of unfriendly and complex offline scenarios, thus ensuring the clear display of the information content of the customer screen payment results while also advertising the brands and promotions.
Convenient Install
Convenient switchover, adaptable to non-ideal working scenarios: to improve the unfriendly and complex offline environment, the merchant can customize the position of the scale and main screen during the initial unpacking and installation. Through a quick plug-in procedure, the AI module is rotated simultaneously, and the mode switchover is completed.
Cable storage
Its hidden cable storage design reduces the exposure of cluttered cables and enhances the aesthetics and neatness of the checkout counter, achieving a sense of visual lightness.
Height adjustment
Height adjustment can be achieved via rotation. This differs from the traditional adjustment knob located on the bottom, as positioning the knob higher makes for more convenient operation.
Payment methods
Face and code scanning: the program provides both face and code scanning payment so that users can choose for their own convenience.
Modular design
The components that are vulnerable to damage in high-frequency use adopt modular design, which can be freely disassembled and replaced. For example, the modules such as printers and AI are designed by independent modules, which can be easily replaced and convenient for subsequent equipment maintenance and management.
Alipay S1 Intelligent AI scale is an innovation-driven design case in many IoT products of Alipay. Using AI algorithm + weighing ability, it creates a new intelligent weighing cashier system in stores through design innovation, improves the cashier environment of merchants, improves the efficiency of cashier and commodity management, and also brings more intelligent technology, convenient and fast consumption experience for ordinary customers.
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