WO2019016649A1

WO2019016649A1 - Mat

Info

Publication number: WO2019016649A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/055146
Authority: WO
Inventors: Saverio Ermanno LORÈ
Original assignee: Hooro Srl
Current assignee: Hooro Srl
Priority date: 2017-07-21
Filing date: 2018-07-12
Publication date: 2019-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-21
Also published as: IT201700083527A1

Abstract

A mat (30) designed for positioning on a shelf (20) and accommodating at least one object (O), whereby the mat (30) has an electric circuit (40) configured to generate a constant current and a multi-layer structure that includes: - a pair of conducting layers (31) electrically powered by the electric circuit (40), and - a resistive layer (32) placed between two conducting layers (31) and configured to vary its electrical resistance in relation to a change in compression exerted on the resistive layer in the stacking direction of the multi-layer structure.

Description

MAT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a mat, i.e. a piece of material used for coating or covering a surface, designed for positioning on a shelf to receive one or more objects resting on it and a system formed from the shelf and from the mat.

More specifically, the invention concerns a sensitive mat that is adapted for counting and determining the number of objects rested on it as well as the position relative to the shelf and/or the picking up/putting down operations thereof on the shelf.

PRIOR ART

As known, there is an ever-greater need to monitor, especially in the field of large retailers, the purchase of products from the display shelves or racks, the arrangement of the products on the same shelves, the presence of sufficient stocks of products on the shelves and the need to fill the shelves themselves with new products where they are about to or already have run out.

Monitoring the capacity of the shelves meets the needs of the large retailers that, through them, can optimise the phases of shelf-stocking, recognition thereof and even prediction of users' needs, as well as detecting certain anomalies.

Another big requirement is that of monitoring the picking up and repositioning of the objects on the shelves and stocking them.

A purpose of the present invention is to satisfy such requirements of the prior art, in a simple, rational, completely automated and low-cost solution.

Such purposes are accomplished by the characteristics of the invention given in the independent claim. The dependent claims outline preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention, particularly, provides a mat designed for positioning on a shelf for receiving at least one object resting on it, wherein the mat comprises an electric circuit configured to generate a constant current and a multi-layer structure that includes: - a pair of conducting layers electrically fed by the electric circuit, and

- a resistive layer placed between two conducting layers and configured to vary its electrical resistance in relation to a change in compression exerted on the resistive layer in the stacking direction of the multi-layer structure.

Thanks to such a solution, the detection of the weight of the object and, therefore of the number of objects present on the mat, can be detected in an efficient, cost-effective and safe manner.

Preferably, the resistive layer is made of a pressure-sensitive material.

Advantageously, the pressure-sensitive material can be a composite material that comprises a polymer matrix and a reinforcement made of electrically conducting material.

An aspect of the invention foresees that the multi-layer structure can comprise a pair of insulating layers that each cover a free face of a conducting layer facing the opposite direction with respect to the resistive layer.

Thanks to such a solution, the objects can rest on a substantially inert layer and be electrically insulated from the shelf on which the mat is placed.

For the same purposes illustrated above, a further aspect of the invention provides an object storage system that comprises:

- a shelf equipped with a support surface for objects; and

- a mat, as described above, resting on the support surface of the shelf, that can be compressed in the stacking direction of the multi-layer structure between one or a plurality of objects and the support surface.

Advantageously, the system comprises:

- an electronic control unit operatively connected to the mat and configured to determine a value of a parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat (i.e. the number of objects placed on the mat) as a function of a variation in electrical resistance of the mat's resistive layer.

Preferably, the electronic control unit can be further configured to:

- capture the value of a difference in electric voltage between the two conducting layers, and - determine a value of the parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat on the basis of the difference in electric voltage measured.

Thanks to such a solution, it is possible to know precisely the number of products present at the given moment on the mat, i.e. the number of products stored on the shelf.

Preferably, in order to determine the parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat it is possible to:

- compare the measured value of the difference of electrical voltage with a reference value thereof; and

- determine the value of the parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat based on a difference between the measured value of the difference of electrical voltage and the reference value.

Alternatively, in order to determine the parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat it is possible to:

- obtain the value of the parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat as the output of a pre-calibrated map that receives as input the measured value of the voltage difference.

Additionally, the electronic control unit can be configured to:

- compare the number of objects calculated with a certain threshold value and

- generate an alert if the number of objects calculated is less than or equal to the threshold value.

Thanks to such a solution it is possible to monitor the degree of filling of the shelf (remotely) and take care of the timely filling if necessary.

Advantageously, the storage system can comprise an electrical power supply, for example a battery, connected to at least one among the integrated circuit and the electronic control unit.

In this way, the electrical power supply of the mat 30 is preferably autonomous. The system can also comprise:

- a memory unit operatively connected to the electronic control unit and configured to store the parameter representing the number of objects determined and/or

- a data transmission/receiver module operatively connected to the electronic control unit.

Advantageously, the system can comprise a plurality of mats electrically connected to one another and placed on the same support surface of the shelf. Thanks to such a solution it is possible to increase the support area of the objects and/or identify the position of the objects on the shelf.

In this case, the system can comprise a multiplexer operatively connected to the plurality of mats and to the electronic control unit.

Thanks to such a solution it is possible to have a cost-effective and functional system with improved capacity.

Advantageously, moreover, the electronic control unit can be configured to determine a parameter indicative of the position of the object on the shelf.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method for controlling the storage of objects that comprises the phases of:

- arranging a mat, as described above, on a support surface of a shelf, so that the mat can be compressed in the stacking direction of the multilayer structure between at least one object and the support surface; and

- determining a value of a parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat as a function of a variation in electrical resistance of the mat's resistive layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from reading the following description provided as a non-limiting example, with the help of the figures illustrated in the attached tables.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a storage system according to the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic exploded view of a mat according to the invention. Figure 3 is a scheme of a first embodiment of a mat and relative control circuit. Figure 4 is a scheme of a second embodiment of the mat and relative control circuit.

Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a first control cycle according to the invention. Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a second control cycle according to the invention. BEST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With particular reference to such figures, a storage system for example for a shop or a shelf of a logistical space, or similar has been globally indicated with 10.

The storage system 10 comprises one or more shelves 20 each equipped with an upper surface 21 , preferably planar, for example substantially horizontal. Each shelf 20 is designed to support one or more objects O resting on its upper surface 21 , for example organised in rows and columns or in any case resting so as to occupy part of or the entire upper surface 21 of the shelf 20.

The storage system 10 particularly comprises a mat 30.

The mat 30 is configured to rest on the upper surface 21 of a shelf 20, for example engaging a portion of the upper surface 21 or the entire upper surface 21 .

The mat 30 comprises a multi-layer or sandwich structure, for example substantially monolithic.

The multi-layer structure is substantially planar (plate-like) and, for example, flexible.

The multi-layer structure includes a pair of conducting layers 31 for example each made from a (thin) sheet of conductive material, preferably metal.

The conducting layers 31 are arranged substantially juxtaposed along a stacking direction (of the layers) of the multi-layer structure (i.e. a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane on which the conducting layers themselves lie), parallel to one another and separate.

The conducting layers 31 each have an electric contact 310, for example exposed or emerging or projecting from the multi-layer structure or in any case contactable from outside of the multi-layer structure.

The multi-layer structure also comprises a resistive layer 32, which is arranged between the two conducting layers 31 in contact with them.

In practice, the resistive layer 32 comprises a pair of opposite faces and each face of the resistive layer 32 is in contact (in a homogeneous manner and without solution of continuity, for example in direct contact or through interposition of an adhesive layer, for example conductive) with a face of a conducting layer 31 facing towards the resistive layer itself.

The resistive layer 32 can be made from a sheet of resistive material, for example a pressure-sensitive material, i.e. a material that changes its electrical resistance in relation to a change of the compression to which it is subjected along the stacking direction of the multi-layer structure.

The resistive layer 32 can engage the entire surface of the multi-layer structure (i.e. of the conducting layers 31 ), i.e. be substantially the same size and/or shape as the conducting layers 31 , or can engage a single portion (smaller with respect to the entire surface) of the conducting layers 31 .

Moreover, the resistive layer 32 could be made from a plurality of (thin) sheets adjacent to one another and/or partially juxtaposed and/or interwoven.

The resistive layer 32 in an embodiment is made from a composite material that comprises a polymer matrix, for example a polyolefin, and a reinforcement made of electrically conducting material, like for example carbon black.

This does not rule out the possibility that the resistive layer 32 can be made of different materials having analogous pressure-sensitive response to compressive stress.

The multi-layer structure of the mat 30 also comprises a pair of insulating layers 33, in which each insulating layer 33 coats (i.e. is fixed and in contact with) a free face of a respective conducting layer 31 facing the opposite direction with respect to the resistive layer 32.

Each insulating layer 33 is made from a (thin) sheet of insulating material, for example rubber or another (flexible) insulating material.

In practice, one of the insulating layers 33 defines the (lower) support surface of the mat 30 intended to rest on the upper surface 21 of the shelf 20 and the other of the insulating layers 33 defines the (upper) support surface on which the objects O are intended to rest.

The mat 30 can be cut as needed to give it the desired shape, for example in relation to the shape of the shelf 20 or another requirement.

The storage system 10 also comprises an electric circuit 40, for example an integrated circuit, configured to generate a current I of constant and, for example, continuous intensity. Such an electric circuit 40 is connected to the electrical contacts 310 of each conducting layer 31 of the mat 30, so as to feed them with a continuous and constant current I.

The electric circuit 40 is fed by an electric power supply 45 connected to the electric circuit 40, for example wired to it.

The electric power supply 45 is preferably a battery.

In practice, the current I fed by the electric circuit 40 passes from one of the conducting layers 31 of the mat 30 to the other conducting layer 31 crossing the resistive layer 32, which at rest (i.e. in non-compressed configuration) will have a certain initial electrical resistance Ro defining an initial value of the difference of electrical voltage ΔΝ/ο at the electrical contacts 310 of the conducting layers 31 .

When the resistive layer 32 is compressed by a pressure exerted in a direction substantially parallel to the stacking direction, the electrical resistance R offered by the resistive layer 32 changes, for example as the compression increases the electrical resistance R offered by the resistive layer 32 decreases, and therefore, since the current I is fed by the electric circuit 40 is constant, at the electrical contacts 310 of the conducting layers 31 there is a corresponding change of the difference of electrical voltage AV, according to Ohm's Law, i.e. AV = I x R.

The storage system 10 also comprises a datalogger 50 operatively connected to the electric circuit 40.

The datalogger 50 is, in practice, a digital electronic device that, equipped with a microprocessor and a memory unit 51 , logs data deriving from the mat 30 in the memory unit 51 , in particular it is configured to cyclically (in an asynchronous manner or at regular time intervals) store a value of the difference of electrical voltage AV existing between the electrical contacts 310 of the conducting layers 31 , possibly after it has been sampled by an analogue/digital converter.

The datalogger 50 is, for example, fed electrically by the electric power supply 45.

The datalogger 50 is preferably physically connected to the electric circuit 40 and, therefore, to the mat 30.

The storage system 10 also comprises an electronic control unit 60 which is operatively connected to the mat 30.

In particular, the electronic control unit 60 is operatively connected with the memory unit 51 of the datalogger 50.

The electronic control unit 60 is a processor (or microprocessor).

The electronic control unit 60 can be arranged in direct connection with the mat 30, i.e. be "on board" it (wired) or be arranged in remote position and communicate with the mat 30 wirelessly.

The electronic control unit 60 is configured to determine a value of a parameter representing the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 as a function of a variation in electrical resistance R of the resistive layer 32 of the mat 30. For example, the parameter representing the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 is the number N of objects O arranged (resting) on the mat 30. In particular, knowing the unitary weight Wi of the objects O intended to rest on the mat 30 placed on the shelf 20 and stored in a database operatively connected to the electronic control unit 60 (or in the memory unit 51 ), the electronic control unit 60 is configured to:

acquire the size of the value of the difference of electrical voltage AV between the two conducting layers 32 (at a given moment), for example recalling it from the memory unit 51 of the datalogger 50, and

determining the number N of objects placed on the mat 30 on the basis of the difference in electric voltage measured.

For example, the electronic control unit 60, based on the measured difference of electrical voltage AV, determines the compression acting on the mat 30, i.e. the total weight W of the objects O that are resting on the mat 30 (at that given moment).

In an embodiment, the phase of determining the number N of objects O arranged on the mat 30 could provide for:

comparing the value of the difference of electrical voltage AV with a reference value thereof, i.e. the initial value of the difference of electrical voltage AV0; and determining, through calculation, the number N of objects placed on the mat 30 based on a difference AV- AVo between the value of the difference of electrical voltage AV and the initial value of the difference of electrical voltage AVo.

Alternatively, the phase of determining the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 could provide for:

obtaining, through an estimation, the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 as the output of a pre-calibrated map stored in the database accessible by the electronic control unit 60, which receives as input the value of the difference of electrical voltage AV (at the given moment).

The number N of objects is then stored in a suitable memory, for example in the memory unit 51 of the datalogger 50.

Based on the number N (calculated or estimated) of objects O placed on the mat 30, the electronic control unit 60 can also calculate a value AN of a change of the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30.

In particular, the electronic control unit 60 is configured to cyclically check the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 and calculate the value AN of a change of the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 as the difference between the number Ni of objects O placed on the mat 30 at the i-th control cycle and the number Ni+i of objects O placed on the mat 30 at the i+1 -th control cycle.

For example, if the value AN = Ni - Ni+i = 0, then between the i-th control cycle and thei+1 -th control cycle the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 has not changed, if the value AN = Ni - NM = a positive integer, then between the i-th control cycle and the i+1 -th control cycle the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 is decreased by an integer equal to the value AN; if the value AN = Ni - NM = a negative integer, then between the i-th control cycle and the i+1 -th control cycle the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 is increased by an integer equal to the value AN.

Alternatively, the value AN could be obtained by the electronic control unit directly from a change of the potential difference between the i-th control cycle and the i+1 -th control cycle, i.e. based on the change AVi- AVi+i . The storage system 10 can comprise a plurality of mats 30, for example one for every shelf 20.

Furthermore, the storage system 10 can comprise a plurality of mats 30 (see figure 4) placed on the same shelf 20, i.e. resting on the same upper surface 21 of the shelf 20.

In this case the mats 30 can be independent from one another.

In an advantageous embodiment, the mats 30 can be electrically connected to one another, for example in parallel or in series, through suitable electrical bridges.

Such mats 30 can be adjacent or interwoven with one another, to define a matrix of mats 30.

In a possible embodiment, moreover, the mat 30, i.e. its multi-layer structure, could be formed from a plurality of pairs of conducting layers 31 joined to a (respective) plurality of resistive layers 32 (for example adjacent or interwoven with one another), as described above, which define various active portions of mat 30 and which are joined together by a single pair of insulating layers 33. The electrical contacts 310 of each mat 30 (or active portion of mat 30) are connected to a respective electric circuit 40.

Each electric circuit 40 is also connected to a multiplexer 70 that receives the data (ΔΝ/) deriving from each electric circuit 40 and forwards them on each occasion through a single output line to the datalogger 50, which stores them in the memory unit 51 linking them unequivocally to the respective mat 30 (or active portion of mat 30).

The electronic control unit 60, in this case, can also be configured to determine a parameter indicative of the position of the objects O placed on the shelf or taken from the shelf, based on the information of which mats 30 or which active portions of the mat 30 are with objects positioned on them or placed onto or taken from them.

The storage system 10 also comprises a data transmission/receiver module 80 operatively connected to the electronic control unit 60.

The transmission/receiver module (TX/RX) 80 is for example physically connected to the datalogger 50 (for example wired to it). The transmission/receiver module 80 comprises a wireless module 81 (Wi-Fi) and, for example, a Bluetooth module 82.

The storage system 10 also comprises a server 85, for example remote, for example the shop server, which is connected through the wireless module 81 to the mat 30.

The storage system 10 also interfaces with a plurality of mobile devices 86, used by a respective plurality of users, suitably equipped with an interfacing software, which are singularly connected through the Bluetooth module 82 to the mat 30.

The storage system 10 can also comprise an optical system 90, like a video camera, which is installed close to the shelf 20 and is operatively connected to the electronic control unit 60.

The storage system 10, i.e. the number N or the value ΔΝ relative to the objects O present on the mat 30 that are determined by it, can be used to control the assortment, the picking up, the repositioning, the restocking and the positioning of the objects O on the shelf 20 and/or in the shop and/or in the logistical space.

In particular, a first control cycle, illustrated in the flow diagram of figure 5, is relative to the control of the assortment of the shelf.

In particular, in this mode the user or the server 85 can remotely interrogate the mat 30 to have information on the number N of objects O rested on it. In this case, the server is informed, for example through the wireless module 81 , of the number N of products currently placed on the particular mat 30 interrogated.

Moreover, the mat 30 through the electronic control unit 60 can communicate with the server 85 to indicate the number N of products is insufficient.

In particular, the electronic control unit 60 is configured to:

compare (block S1 ) the number N of objects O present on the mat 30 (determined as described above) with a certain threshold value N^* thereof, for example stored in the memory unit 51 or another memory from which it can be recalled by the electronic control unit 60.

The electronic control unit is also configured to: generate (block S2) an alert (able to be perceived by a user), to be sent to the server 85 through the wireless module 81 , if the number N of objects determined is less than or equal to the threshold value N^*.

The threshold value N^* can be an integer greater than zero, for example representative of a settable critical number of objects O, and/or can be equal to zero. The alert can be differentiated if the threshold value is an integer greater than zero or equal to zero.

A second control cycle, illustrated in the flow diagram of figure 6, is relative to the monitoring of the object O picked up or put down on the shelf 20.

In this case the electronic control unit 60 can verify (block S10) whether the value ΔΝ of the change of the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 is different from zero.

If the value ΔΝ of the change of the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 is different from 0 and is greater than 0 (block S1 1 ), then the electronic control unit 60 activates the Bluetooth module 82 and it is associated with the Bluetooth modules of the mobile devices 86 able to be reached by it (i.e. that are within the range of the Bluetooth module 82).

The electronic control unit 60 is also configured to calculate the distance between each of the mobile devices 86 and the Bluetooth module 82 (i.e. the mat 30 from which one or more objects O has been taken) and determine (block

512) the mobile device 86 closest to the Bluetooth module 82.

The electronic control unit 60 is thus configured to generate and send (block

513) (via Bluetooth) a signal able to be perceived by the user to the closest mobile device 86. The signal is for example a pick-up notification of an object O with confirmation request.

The electronic control unit 60 is also configured to verify (block S14) whether the user confirms the picking up of the object O, and in the affirmative case the electronic control unit 60 is configured to generate and send (block S15) (via Bluetooth) a further signal able to be perceived by the user to the mobile device 86. The signal is for example the addition of the virtual object O in a virtual trolley in the user interface of the mobile device 86.

In the case in which the closest device does not confirm the pick-up of the object O, then the electronic control unit 60 is configured to generate and send (block S16) (via Bluetooth) a further signal able to be perceived by the user to the second closest mobile device 86 (having excluded the one that has not confirmed) and continuing the routine in this way.

If the value ΔΝ of the change of the number N of objects O placed on the mat 30 is different from 0 and is less than 0, then the electronic control unit 60 will cancel the pick-up process (for example removing the virtual object from the virtual trolley of the user) and will add the number N of the objects placed on the mat 30.

The storage system 10 is suitable for being used in various ways, for example for user profiling and/or for automatic stock and shelf management depending on the requirements of the manager and/or of the user or the tracing by optical system 90 of a specific object being picked up.

The invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants all of which are covered by the inventive concept.

Moreover, all of the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Claims

1. A mat (30) designed for positioning on a shelf (20) and accommodating at least one object (O), whereby the mat (30) has an electric circuit (40) configured to generate a constant current and a multi-layer structure that includes:

- a pair of conducting layers (31 ) electrically powered by the electric circuit (40), and

- a resistive layer (32) placed between two conducting layers (31 ) and configured to vary its electrical resistance in relation to a change in compression exerted on the resistive layer in the stacking direction of the multi-layer structure.

2. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the resistive layer (32) is made of a pressure-sensitive material.

3. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 2, whereby the pressure-sensitive material is a composite material that comprises a polymer matrix and a reinforcement made of electrically conducting material.

4. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the multi-layer structure comprises a pair of insulating layers (33) that each cover a free side of a conducting layer (31 ) facing the opposite direction with respect to the resistive layer (32).

5. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the resistive layer (32) is in contact with the pair of conducting layers (31 ).

6. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 5, whereby the resistive layer (32) comprises a pair of opposite faces and each face of the resistive layer (32) is in contact with a face of a respective conducting layer (31 ) facing towards the resistive layer itself.

7. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the resistive layer (32) is made from a sheet of resistive material.

8. 8. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the resistive layer (32) is the same size and/or shape as the size and/or shape of the conducting layers (31 ).

9. Mat (30) in accordance with claim 3, whereby the polymer matrix is a polyolefin and the electrically conducting material is carbon black.

10. An object storage system (10) that comprises:

- a shelf (20) with a support surface (21 ) for objects (O); and

- a mat (30), in accordance with any of the previous claims, resting on the support surface (21 ) of the shelf (20), that can be compressed in the stacking direction of the multi-layer structure between one or more objects (O) and the support surface (21 ).

11. System (10) in accordance with claim 10, which comprises:

- an electronic control unit (60) operationally connected to the mat (30) and configured to determine the value of a parameter representing the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) as a function of variation in electrical resistance of the mat's (30) resistive layer (32).

12. System (10) in accordance with claim 1 1 , whereby the electronic control unit (60) is also configured to:

- capture the value of a difference in electric voltage between the two conducting layers, and

- determine a value for the parameter representing the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) on the basis of the difference in electric voltage measured.

13. System (10) in accordance with claim 12, whereby the phase to determine the parameter representing the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) includes the following phases:

- comparing the measured value for the difference in electric voltage measured with a reference value; and

- determining the value of the parameter representing the number of objects placed on the mat on the basis of the difference between the value for the difference in electric voltage measured and the reference value.

14. System (10) in accordance with claim 127, whereby the phase to determine the parameter representing the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) includes the following phase:

- obtaining the value for the parameter representing the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) as output of a pre-calibrated map that receives the measured voltage difference as input.

15. System (10) in accordance with claim 1 1 , whereby the representative parameter is the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30).

16. System (10) in accordance with claim 15, whereby the electronic control unit (60) is configured to:

- compare the number of objects (O) calculated with a certain threshold value, and

- generate an alert if the number of objects (O) calculated is less than or equal to the threshold value.

17. System (10) in accordance with claim 1 1 , comprising an electric power supply connected to either the integrated circuit or electronic control unit (60) at least.

18. System (10) in accordance with claim 1 1 , comprising a memory unit (51 ) operationally connected to the electronic control unit (60) and configured to store the parameter representing the number of objects (O) calculated.

19. System (10) in accordance with claim 1 1 , comprising a data transmission/receiver module (80) operationally connected to the electronic control unit (60).

20. System (10) in accordance with claim 1 1 , comprising a range of mats (30), in accordance with any of claims 1 - 9, electrically connected to each other and placed on the same support surface (21 ) on the shelf (20).

21. System (10) in accordance with claim 20 comprising a multiplexer (70) operationally connected to the range of mats and the electronic control unit.

22. System (10) in accordance with claim 1 1 whereby the electronic control unit (60) is configured to determine a parameter representing the position of one or more objects (80) on the shelf (20).

23. System (10) in accordance with claim 19, whereby the transmission/receiver module (80) comprises a wireless module (81 ) and a Bluetooth module (82).

24. System (10) in accordance with claim 23, which comprises a plurality of mobile devices (86), used by a respective plurality of users, suitably equipped with an interfacing software, which are singularly connected through the Bluetooth module (82) to the mat (30).

25. System (10) in accordance with claims 12 and 24, whereby the electronic control unit (60) is configured to carry out a control cycle relative to the monitoring of an object (O) taken from or placed on the shelf (20), whereby such a control cycle comprises:

- calculating a value (ΔΝ) of a change of the number (N) of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) based on the determined value of the parameter representing the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30);

- checking whether the value (ΔΝ) of the change of the number (N) of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) is different from zero and,

if the value (ΔΝ) of the change of the number (N) of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) is greater than zero, then the electronic control unit (60) activates a picking up process in which the electronic control unit (60) activates the Bluetooth module (82) and it is associated with the Bluetooth modules of the mobile devices (86) able to be reached by it; the electronic control unit (60) is then configured to calculate the distance between each of the mobile devices (86) and the Bluetooth module (82); determining the mobile device (86) closest to the Bluetooth module (82) and generating and sending via Bluetooth a signal able to be perceived by the user to the closest mobile device (86); moreover, the electronic control unit (60) is configured to verify whether the user has been sent the signal confirming the picking up of the object (O) and, in the affirmative case, generating and sending via Bluetooth a further signal able to be perceived by the user to the mobile device (86), on the other hand, in the negative case, generating and sending via Bluetooth a further signal able to be perceived by the user to a closest second mobile device (86) having excluded the one that has not confirmed;

if, on the other hand, the value (ΔΝ) of the change of the number (N) of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) is less than zero, then the electronic control unit (60) cancels the picking up process and updates the number (N) of the objects placed on the mat (30).

26. Method to control the storage of objects (O) which includes the following phases: - setting up a mat (30), in accordance with any of claims 1 - 9, on a support surface (21 ) on a shelf (20), so the mat (30) can be compressed in the stacking direction of the multi-layer structure between at least one object (O) and the support surface (21 ); and

- calculating the value of a parameter representing the number of objects (O) placed on the mat (30) as a function of variation in electrical resistance of the mat's (30) resistive layer (32).