AI-Driven Inventory Management System Using ESP32-CAM and

Google Vision AI

Dr. S. Chandra Vadhana, Dr.Selvam B,Assistant Professor, Dhushyanth P.S, Adhithyan M,

Professor, Department of MCT, Department of MCT, Chennai Department of MCT, Chennai
Chennai Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Chennai, Institute of Technology, Chennai,
Chennai, India​ India​ India​
Email: Email: [email protected] Emails:
[email protected] psdhushyanth.mct2021@citchenn
ai.net,
madhithyan.mct2021@citchennai.
net

Abstract - Advanced inventory management is manual audits, barcode scanning, and RFID
integral to optimizing modern supply chain tracking, often require human intervention, leading
operations, necessitating the integration of intelligent to errors and inefficiencies. The need for a more
automation to mitigate inefficiencies, reduce
accurate, automated, and efficient solution has led to
economic losses, and enhance logistical precision.
This study presents an AI-driven inventory the integration of AI into inventory
management system that synthesizes ESP32-CAM, systems.Artificial intelligence (AI) has
Google Vision AI, Firebase, and Node-RED to revolutionized inventory management by enhancing
enable real-time inventory tracking and automation, improving tracking accuracy, and
misplacement detection. By employing computer reducing operational costs. AI-driven systems can
vision to supersede conventional barcode-based monitor inventory in real-time, mitigating financial
tracking, the system achieves a 93% object
losses due to overstocking, understocking, and
recognition accuracy and an 89.6% success rate in
identifying misplaced inventory items. The primary misplaced inventory. These capabilities improve
contributions of this research include AI-powered business efficiency and streamline operations in
image recognition for inventory monitoring, warehouses and retail environments.
cloud-based data architecture for ubiquitous access,
AI-enhanced misplacement detection, and real-time The ESP32-CAM microcontroller, integrated with
alert mechanisms for streamlined inventory control. Google Vision AI, provides a cost-effective and
Future research will focus on integrating edge scalable solution for inventory monitoring. This
computing to minimize cloud dependency and
integration enables real-time image capture and
refining AI datasets to improve classification
precision. processing, allowing accurate stock updates and
reducing reliance on manual interventions. AI-driven
Introduction image recognition systems enhance inventory
visibility and improve overall stock control.
Inventory management plays a crucial role in supply
chain efficiency, ensuring businesses maintain Cloud-based inventory systems allow real-time
optimal stock levels. Traditional methods, such as remote access, which is particularly beneficial for
businesses with multiple warehouses or retail Google Vision AI for Object Recognition and
outlets. By leveraging Firebase and Node-RED, Classification​
businesses can establish seamless communication Once the ESP32-CAM captures images, they are
between hardware and software components, sent to Google Vision AI, an advanced cloud-based
ensuring data security, reliability, and accessibility. computer vision model. This AI system performs:​
Object Recognition: Identifies individual inventory
items based on pre-trained datasets.Classification:
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Determines the category, type, and attributes of
Traditional inventory management methods include detected objects.Labeling & Tracking: Assigns
manual stock audits, barcode scanning, and RFID unique identifiers to objects for seamless inventory
tracking. However, these techniques face limitations such management.
as human error, time-consuming processes, and an
inability to provide real-time stock updates. AI-based
inventory management leverages machine learning The AI model is trained using a diverse dataset
algorithms for object recognition and demand forecasting, consisting of various inventory items under different
improving accuracy and operational efficiency. Previous lighting conditions, angles, and backgrounds. This
studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of AI in enhances its robustness, ensuring high accuracy in
inventory tracking. Lee et al. (2019) reported a 15% object detection even in challenging warehouse
reduction in inventory discrepancies using AI-driven environmentsFirebase for Cloud Storage and
counting systems. Additionally, Kumar and Patel (2020) Real-Time Updates The classified inventory data is
developed an AI model with 92% accuracy in stored in Firebase, a scalable cloud database offering
misplacement detection. This project builds on these
real-time synchronization. This enables:Instant
advancements by integrating AI with cloud computing for
real-time inventory management.or prepositions (unless access to inventory records from multiple
the title begins with such a word). devices.Automated updates when new items are
added or removed.Cloud-based tracking, reducing
reliance on local storage systems.Firebase ensures
III. Methodology that warehouse personnel can monitor stock levels,
check item locations, and retrieve historical data
The proposed AI-driven inventory management effortlessly.Node-RED for Data Communication and
system is designed to enhance warehouse efficiency Automation​
through seamless integration of ESP32-CAM, Node-RED, a flow-based programming tool, serves
Google Vision AI, Firebase, and Node-RED. This as the middleware, ensuring seamless integration
system automates inventory tracking, reducing between hardware and software components.
human error and ensuring real-time monitoring of
stock levels. Intelligent Inventory Monitoring and
Alert System
System Components and Workflow To further optimize warehouse management, the
system incorporates an intelligent inventory tracking
ESP32-CAM for Real-Time Image Acquisition​
mechanism:A predefined database of expected
The ESP32-CAM is a compact, low-cost
inventory locations is maintained, mapping each
microcontroller equipped with a camera module. It is
item to its designated storage position.The AI system
responsible for capturing real-time images of
compares detected object locations with the expected
inventory items at regular intervals or upon request.
placement.If a misplaced item is identified, an
These images are then transmitted wirelessly to the
automated alert is sent via Firebase, notifying
cloud for further processing. By leveraging its
warehouse operators through a dashboard, email, or
built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, the ESP32-CAM
mobile notification.
efficiently uploads images to the AI model for
analysis without requiring complex wiring.​
The implementation of the AI-driven inventory ○​ Comparing detected item locations
management system has demonstrated remarkable with predefined storage positions.
effectiveness in real-time stock monitoring and ○​ Generating real-time alerts when a
misplacement detection, significantly discrepancy is found.
outperforming traditional inventory tracking ○​ Notifying warehouse personnel
methods. The integration of ESP32-CAM, Google through an instant alert mechanism,
Vision AI, Firebase, and Node-RED has enabled allowing for swift corrective actions
automated, accurate, and efficient inventory to relocate items to their proper
management, reducing manual errors and enhancing positions.
operational efficiency. 4.​ This feature significantly minimizes
inventory shrinkage and enhances the
Key Performance Metrics and overall efficiency of warehouse management
Achievements by ensuring that all items remain properly
categorized and stored.​
High Object Recognition Accuracy (93%)​
The AI-driven system achieved an impressive 93%
accuracy in object recognition, surpassing 5.​ Scalability and Adaptability in Various
conventional barcode- and RFID-based tracking Warehouse Environments​
methods. This high accuracy level ensures:​ The system was rigorously tested across
different warehouse setups, including:​
Small-scale storage facilities with limited
○​ Reduced discrepancies in inventory inventory.Medium-sized warehouses
records, minimizing human handling mixed product categories.
intervention. ○​ Large-scale distribution centers with
○​ Improved warehouse organization, high inventory turnover.
as items are correctly classified and 6.​ In each case, the system successfully scaled
tracked. to meet the demands of inventory tracking,
○​ Enhanced operational efficiency, proving its adaptability for:​
enabling faster inventory audits and High-volume stock management, processing
stock updates. thousands of inventory items
2.​ The system's AI model was trained using a efficientlyReal-time synchronization across
diverse dataset, allowing it to accurately multiple warehouse locations via
identify inventory items under varying cloud-based Firebase storageDynamic
lighting conditions, angles, and background system expansion, allowing additional
clutter, ensuring reliability even in complex cameras and AI models to be integrated
warehouse environments.​ seamlessly.
7.​ Enhancing Predictive Analytics and
3.​ Effective Misplacement Detection (89.6%)​ Inventory Optimization​
One of the most valuable features of the Beyond real-time tracking, the system’s
system is its misplacement detection ability to integrate additional AI models
capability, achieving an 89.6% success rate. allows for advanced features such
This function plays a crucial role in reducing as:Demand Forecasting: AI analyzes
financial losses associated with misplaced or historical inventory trends to predict future.
unaccounted inventory by:​
V.Conclusion stores, logistics hubs, and cold storage
facilities.Customizing AI models to track perishable
This study demonstrates the effectiveness of goods, ensuring temperature-sensitive items are
AI-driven inventory management systems in properly monitored.Integrating IoT sensors for
enhancing tracking accuracy, reducing human environmental monitoring, enabling humidity,
dependency, and optimizing warehouse operations. temperature, and stock condition tracking.
By integrating ESP32-CAM, Google Vision AI,
Firebase, and Node-RED, the system enables
real-time inventory monitoring, automated alerts for
misplacement detection, and cloud-based
accessibility. The adoption of computer vision and
machine learning algorithms significantly improves
stock tracking efficiency, surpassing traditional
barcode and RFID-based methods in accuracy and
automation.

Future Research and System

Enhancements Fig:AI-Driven Inventory Management System

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