Usage monitoring of shopping carts or other human-propelled vehicles

摘要: A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types conditions, such as rotation, vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative particular locations. The is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. also include brake mechanism. In one embodiment, wheels are placed on shopping carts used collect monitor cart status location data via wireless network. collected for purposes, locking exiting if customer has paid, estimating numbers queued carts, stopping skid events that occur during mechanized retrieval, store planning, providing location-based messaging customers.