Waste collection system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a waste collection system. The waste collection system comprises a detection device, a first base, and a waste collection device. The detection device is used for detecting waste in a water body. The first base comprises a plurality of floating body units. The waste collection device is parked at the first base. On the basis of a signal acquired by the detection device, the waste collection device parked at the first base proceeds to collect the waste in the water body. According to the waste collection system in the present disclosure, waste collection procedures can be rapidly and automatically completed, saving a large amount of time, reducing the cost, and improving the waste collection efficiency.

Description

Waste collection system [Technical field] [ooo 1] Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a waste collection system, and more particularly, to a waste collection system for collecting waste in a body of water. [Prior Art]

[0002] Every year, large amounts of waste enter open water bodies (including oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, etc.). The accumulation of waste can cause serious harm to the environment and animal life. Therefore, it is vital to collect and remove waste from water bodies.

[0003] Current waste collection systems can be divided into dynamic and fixed types. Dynamic waste collection systems can be moved in the water body, for example, an operator can operate on or near a dynamic waste collection system to collect waste in the water body by sailing in the water body. Fixed waste collection systems are installed in selected areas of the water body, for example, fixed waste collection systems can be installed in specific areas to intercept waste. Current waste collection systems usually take a lot of time to collect waste. [Summary of the invention]

[0004] Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a waste collection system. The waste collection system includes a detection device, a first base, and a waste collection device. The detection device is used to detect waste in a water body. The first base includes a plurality of floating units. The waste collection device is moored at the first base. The waste collection device moored at the first base collects waste in the water body according to a signal obtained by the detection device.

[0005] In some embodiments, the detection device is a drone. In some embodiments, the detection device can be detached from the first base and perform detection. After the detection device detects waste in the water body, the detection device moves together with the waste in the water body to guide the waste collection device to collect the waste in the water body. In some embodiments, the waste collection device is a ship.

[0006] In some embodiments, the floating units are arranged in at least one row and at least one column, and each of the floating units includes a base and a column above the base. In some embodiments, the base includes a uniform cross-sectional area portion and a gradually changing cross-sectional area portion above the uniform cross-sectional area portion.

[0007] In some embodiments, after the waste collection device collects waste in the water body, the waste collection device returns to the first base. In some embodiments, the waste collection system further includes a second base. After the waste collection device collects waste in the water body, the waste collection device goes to the second base. In some embodiments, the first base is set in a water body, and the second base is set on land. In some embodiments, the second base includes a waste storage area, and after the waste collection device arrives at the second base, the waste collection device dumps the collected waste in the water body into the waste storage area.

Simple explanation of the diagram

[0008] In order to make the features or advantages of the present disclosure more obvious and easy to understand, some embodiments are specifically cited and described in detail as follows in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that various features are not necessarily drawn in proportion. In fact, the sizes of various features may be arbitrarily enlarged or reduced, and may be drawn schematically. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a waste collection system according to some embodiments. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a waste collection device according to some embodiments. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a first base according to some embodiments. Figures 4 to 6 are schematic diagrams of how a waste collection system collects waste according to some embodiments. Figure 7 is a flow chart of how a waste collection system collects waste according to some embodiments. [Implementation Method]

[0009] In this specification, many different embodiments or examples are provided to implement different features of the present disclosure. If this specification describes that a first feature is formed "on" or "above" a second feature, it means that embodiments in which the first feature and the second feature are in direct contact may be included, and embodiments in which an additional feature is formed between the first feature and the second feature so that the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact may also be included.

[0010] In addition, in this specification, relative spatial terms may be used to describe the arrangement of various features. The relative position of a feature in the drawings relative to other features. In addition to the orientation shown in the drawings, these spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation. The device can be turned to different orientations (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the relative spatially relative terms used herein can also be interpreted in the same way. For example, if the drawing is flipped so that the device is upside down, the features on the "top" will become the features on the "bottom".

[0011] In this specification, the terms "including", "having" and the like are open-ended words, and thus should be interpreted as "including but not limited to..." Therefore, the terms "including" and "having" specify the existence of corresponding features, regions, steps, operations and / or components, but do not exclude the existence of one or more corresponding features, regions, steps, operations and / or components.

[0012] Ordinal numbers in the specification and patent application, such as "first", "Second" and the like do not have a sequential relationship, and are only used to mark and distinguish two different features with the same name. Therefore, the first feature referred to in the specification may be referred to as the second feature in the scope of the patent application. In addition, similar and / or corresponding symbols or letters may be used in different examples of the present disclosure. The use of these similar and / or corresponding symbols or letters is only for the purpose of simply and clearly describing some embodiments of the present disclosure, and does not represent any relationship between the different embodiments and / or configurations discussed.

[0013] Please refer to FIG. 1 to understand a waste collection system 50. The waste collection system 50 can collect waste in a water body. The waste to be collected in the water body may include any garbage, dregs, sludge. In addition, the waste to be collected in the water body may be solid waste, liquid waste or semi-solid waste, such as plastic or oil spills.

[0014] The waste collection system 50 includes a detection device 100, a waste collection device 200, and a first base 300. However, the components of the waste collection system 50 are not limited thereto.

[0015] The detection device 100 can be used to detect waste in a water body and generate signals related to the waste, including location information, size information, etc. In some embodiments, the detection device 100 can use a geographic information system (GIS) to identify a specific area. In FIG. 1, the detection device 100 is a drone. However, the detection device 100 is not limited to this. In some embodiments, when the drone wants to perform a detection function, the detection device 100 can be detached from the first base 300. In some embodiments, when the power of the drone is about to run out, it can return to the first base 300 for charging.

[0016] In some embodiments, the detection device 100 is a low Earth orbit (LEO) or an artificial satellite (satellite). In some embodiments, the detection device 100 is not an independent device, but a component equipped on other devices (for example, the waste collection device 200 or the first base 300 or a land facility). In some embodiments, the detection device 100 may be a radar component, a light detection and ranging (LiD AR) component, etc. In some embodiments, the detection device 100 may include both an independent device and a radar component on other devices to improve the detection accuracy.

[0017] In addition to FIG. 1, please also refer to FIG. 2 to understand the waste collection device 200. The waste collection device 200 can be used to collect waste in a water body. In some embodiments, the waste collection device 200 is a ship, a catamaran, a multihull, etc. The waste collection device 200 can be moored at the first base 300 .

[0018] In some embodiments, the waste collection device 200 may include other structures or features for collecting waste. For example, the waste collection device 200 may include a waste collection space 210 for collecting waste, a mechanical arm (not shown) for carrying waste, a conveyor belt (not shown) for conveying waste, a waste collection bag (not shown) for temporarily storing waste, a sensing device (not shown) for sensing the amount of collected waste, etc.

[0019] In addition to FIG. 1, please refer to FIG. 3 to understand the first base 300. In some embodiments, the first base 300 includes a plurality of floating units 310 arranged in at least one row and at least one column. In FIG. 3, the floating units 310 are arranged symmetrically, but in some other embodiments, the floating units 310 may be arranged asymmetrically. In some embodiments, the waste collection device 200 is moored in the space between the floating units 310. In some embodiments, the waste collection device 200 is moored adjacent to one of the floating units 310.

[0020] Each of the floating units 310 includes a base 311 and a column 312. The column 312 is above the base 311. In some embodiments, the base 311 and the column 312 may include steel, aluminum, reinforced concrete (RC), steel reinforced concrete (SRC), fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), or a combination of the foregoing materials.

[0021] In some embodiments, an integrally formed Base 311 and column 312. In some embodiments, base 311 and column 312 are manufactured separately in different processes and then assembled. Because each of floating units 310 is manufactured in the same way, manufacturing standardization can be achieved. ( standardization ) > Can simplify the manufacturing process and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0022] In some embodiments, the density of the base 311 is greater than that of the column 312, so that the center of gravity of the floating unit 310 is relatively low to ensure that the first base 300 is stable. For example, most of the time, the center of gravity of each of the floating units 310 is below the water level.

[0023] In some embodiments, the radial dimension of the base 311 is greater than the radial dimension of the column 312 and the axial dimension of the base 311 is less than the axial dimension of the column 312. In some embodiments, the diameter of the base 311 is about 5.0 meters to about 7.0 meters, for example, about 6.0 meters. In some embodiments, the diameter of the column 312 is about 3.0 meters to about 5.0 meters, for example, about 4.0 meters.

[0024] The base 311 may include a uniform cross-sectional area portion 3111 and a gradually changing cross-sectional area portion 3112. The uniform cross-sectional area portion 3111 maintains a uniform cross-sectional area, while the gradually changing cross-sectional area portion 3112 gradually decreases toward the column 312. The gradually changing cross-sectional area portion 3112 is located to the ± side of the uniform cross-sectional area portion 3111. The gradually changing cross-sectional area portion 3112 may help the floating unit 310 to maintain stability and reduce the impact of water flow.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first base 300 may also include other structures or features for collecting waste, including but not limited to a waste collection space for collecting waste, a robotic arm for transporting waste, a conveyor belt for transporting waste, Waste collection bags for temporarily storing waste, sensing devices for sensing the amount of collected waste, etc.

[0026] Please refer to FIG. 1 alone. In addition to being a parking place for the waste collection device 200, the first base 300 may have other functions, so that the waste collection system 50 has a wider range of applications.

[0027] In some embodiments, the platform 500 and the building 600 may be built on the first base 300. In some embodiments, the number of floating units 310 is determined according to the size and weight of the platform 500 and the building 600. For example, if the platform 500 and the building 600 are relatively large, a larger number of floating units 310 may be required. In some embodiments, the material of the platform 500 and the building 600 is the same as that of the floating unit 310. In some embodiments, the building 600 may be a hotel, an entertainment facility, etc.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first base 300 may utilize external water flow. For example, electronic devices that emit a large amount of heat may exist on the first base 300, such as servers, mining machines, etc. Seawater may be used to cool these electronic devices that emit a large amount of heat and / or reduce the temperature of the building 600. Alternatively, the building 600 may include a washroom (not shown), and the external water flow may be used to flush the washroom.

[0029] When the waste collection system 50 is to perform the waste collection procedure, the detection device 100 first detects and determines the information of the waste (including but not limited to the location information and size information, etc.), and then the waste collection device 200 parked at the first base 300 goes to collect the waste. In this way, only the waste collection system needs to be set in advance. The waste collection process of the waste collection system 50 is completed automatically and quickly, which can save a lot of time and reduce costs, and improve the efficiency of waste collection.

[0030] In some embodiments, the content and priority of the tasks may be set in advance in the detection device 100. In some embodiments, the main task is to detect waste, and the subtask is to track the detected waste, including but not limited to moving with the waste, or the subtask is to detect whether there are other wastes nearby. Specifically, after the detection device 100 detects the waste (completes the main task), it may track the detected waste, or it may detect whether there are other wastes nearby (start one of the subtasks). Next, after the waste collection device 200 completes the collection of the waste detected by the detection device 100, the detection device 100 may execute the main task again to detect other wastes.

[0031] In the following content, similar components will be represented by similar symbols. Moreover, for the convenience of explanation, the components in the figures may be shown schematically.

[0032] Please refer to FIG. 4 to understand how the waste collection system 50A collects waste. In this embodiment, the water body is a water body with a small area such as a stream or a river, and the waste collection system 50A can be set up near the stream bank or river bank RS. In addition, the detection device 100A may not be an independent device, but is equipped with the waste collection device 200A or the first base 300A± to focus on scanning the area near the waste collection system 50A. In some embodiments, the detection device 100A can emit light to deter people from arbitrarily The effect of discarding waste.

[0033] After the detection device 100A detects waste and obtains a signal, the signal may be transmitted to the waste collection device 200A and / or the first base 300A where it is parked. The waste collection device 200A may go to collect waste according to the signal obtained by the detection device 100A. After the waste collection device 200A collects the waste detected by the detection device 100A, the waste collection device 200A may return to the first base 300A.

[0034] Please refer to FIG. 5 to understand how the waste collection system 50B collects waste. In this embodiment, the water body may be a water body with a large area such as an ocean, and the waste collection system 50B may include a first base 300B disposed in the water body and a second base 400B disposed on land. In some embodiments, the distance between the first base 300B and the coastline CL is less than 2 kilometers. In some embodiments, the second base 400B is disposed adjacent to the coastline CL and has other functions. In some embodiments, the second base 400B may be a land facility. For example, the second base 400B may be a lighthouse. In some embodiments, the second base 400B includes a waste storage area 410B that can temporarily store waste. In some embodiments, the first base 300B may also include a waste storage area (not shown) for temporarily storing waste.

[0035] The detection device 100B may first scan any area to find waste. In some embodiments, the detection device 100B scans the area between the first base 300B and the second base 400B, so as to return to the first base 300B or go to the second base 400B for charging before its power is exhausted. After the detection device 100B scans the waste and obtains the signal, it can transmit the signal to the waste collection device parked at the first base 300B. The waste collection device 200B can collect waste according to the signal obtained by the detection device 100B.

[0036] After the waste collection device 200B collects the waste detected by the detection device 100B, the waste collection device 200B may return to the first base 300B and park at the first base 300B again. Alternatively, after the waste collection device 200B collects the waste detected by the detection device 100B, the waste collection device 200 may go to the second base 400B and park at the second base 400B. In some embodiments, after the waste collection device 200B arrives at the second base 400B, the waste collection device 200B dumps the collected waste into the waste storage area 410B.

[0037] Please refer to FIG. 6 to understand how the waste collection system 50C collects waste. The embodiment of FIG. 6 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5 , with the main difference being that the waste collection system 50C includes a plurality of detection devices 100C, a plurality of waste collection devices 200C, a plurality of first bases 300C, and a plurality of second bases 400C.

[0038] The plurality of waste collection devices 200C may be different. Because waste may be of various types, including different sizes, different hardness, etc., there may be waste collection devices 200C suitable for collecting small waste and waste collection devices 200C suitable for collecting large waste. There may also be waste collection devices 200C suitable for collecting waste that is more easily deformed and waste collection devices 200C suitable for collecting waste that is not easily deformed. Therefore, the efficiency of waste collection can be improved. The plurality of first bases 300C may be arranged in a matrix-like, chain-like, polygonal, circular, etc.

[0039] It is worth noting that the number of waste collection devices 200C and the number of first bases 300C may be the same or different. In an embodiment where the number of waste collection devices 200C is the same as the number of first bases 300C, waste can be collected more quickly. In an embodiment where the number of waste collection devices 200C is less than the number of first bases 300C, it may be beneficial to schedule different waste collection devices 200C.

[0040] Multiple detection devices 100C can scan different areas. After any detection device 100C scans waste and obtains a signal, it can choose to transmit the signal to the desired waste collection device 200C and / or the first base 300C or the second base 400C where it is parked. For example, the nearest waste collection device 200C and / or the first base 300C or the second base 400C where it is parked, or the waste collection device 200C and / or the first base 300C or the second base 400C where it is parked that is most suitable for collecting the detected waste.

[0041] In some embodiments, the waste collection system 100C may be equipped with an integration unit (not shown). The integration unit may set at least two of the multiple first bases 300C and the multiple second bases 400C as the same group. In some embodiments, the integration unit may set the adjacent (for example, within a certain distance) first bases 300C and second bases 400C as the same group, and distinguish multiple groups. When any detection device 100C detects waste, it may notify the integration unit. The integration unit may notify all waste collection devices 200C and / or the first base 300C or second base 400C where they are parked in a specific group (for example, the nearest group) of the waste information, and select the desired waste collection device 200C to collect. In some embodiments, the integration unit may not consider Considering the second base 400C on land, only at least two of the first bases 300C are set as the same group. In some embodiments, the detection device 100C for detection can be selected by the integration unit.

[0042] The waste collection device 200C can go to collect waste according to the signal obtained by the detection device 100C. In some embodiments, after the waste collection device 200C collects the waste detected by a detection device 100C, if the waste collection device 200C still has space for accommodating waste, it can go to another place to collect waste according to the signal obtained by another detection device 100C.

[0043] After the waste collection device 200C collects the waste detected by the detection device 100C, the waste collection device 200C may return to the first base 300C and / or the second base 400C where it was previously parked, or the waste collection device 200C may go to the nearest first base 300C or the nearest second base 400C (for example, based on power considerations). After the waste collection device 200C arrives at the second base 400C, the waste collection device 200C may dump the collected waste into the waste storage area 410C.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , a plurality of waste collection devices 200C can construct a dense collection route between a plurality of first bases 300C and a plurality of second bases 400C to facilitate rapid collection of waste.

[0045] Please refer to FIG. 7 to understand the waste collection process of the waste collection system disclosed in the present invention. In step S10, a detection device is used to scan a specific area and obtain signals of waste in the specific area, including location information or size information of the waste. For example, the detection device can generate the coordinates of the waste after confirming the existence of the waste. (For example, using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify waste and send back its current coordinates).

[0046] In step S20, the detection device transmits a signal to the waste collection device and / or the base where it is parked. In some embodiments where the waste collection system includes multiple waste collection devices, the signal can be transmitted to the desired waste collection device and / or the base where it is parked according to demand, for example, the nearest waste collection device, or the waste collection device that is most suitable for collecting the detected waste.

[0047] In step S30, the waste collection device collects waste according to the signal transmitted by the detection device. In step S40, after collecting the waste, the waste collection device returns to the same base or goes to another base. In some embodiments where the base includes a waste storage area, the waste collection device can dump the collected waste into the waste storage area.

[0048] The present disclosure may include other variant embodiments. For example, waste in a body of water may change position with the flow of water. In some embodiments, the detection device may track the waste detected in the body of water and continuously transmit the latest signal to the waste collection device and / or the base where it is parked to guide the waste collection device to collect the waste in the body of water. In some embodiments, the detection device moves with the detected waste directly above the detected waste. In some embodiments, the detection device may have a waterproof function and can be submerged in water and move with the detected waste.

[0049] In some embodiments, the waste collection system may have a computing device, which can calculate the waste state in the water body by detecting the state of the waste detected by the detection device. The direction of movement of the waste can be determined by using a geographic information system (for example, a vector of the waste can be calculated using a geographic information system). In such an embodiment, the waste collection device can directly go to the location where the waste will arrive without having to go to the current location of the waste.

[0050] In some embodiments, the detection device may be equipped with a structure or feature for collecting waste. For example, the detection device may include a claw-shaped tool. When the detection device detects highly toxic waste, the claw-shaped tool may be used to grab the waste from the water body to reduce the pollution of the water body by the highly toxic waste.

[0051] In some embodiments, the scanning route of the detection device can be predetermined by an algorithm or manually. In this way, after the detection device scans along the same scanning route multiple times, an appropriate database can be established. In some embodiments, a path of interest can be defined or calculated, for example, the connection of the coordinates of the most waste found in the historical record, and the detection device can detect along this path of interest.

[0052] In some embodiments, the waste collection device may be equipped with an imaging device, which can obtain images of the waste when approaching the waste to facilitate the collection of the waste.

[0053] The present disclosure provides a waste collection system. The waste collection system includes a detection device, a waste collection device, and a base. The detection device and the waste collection device can be parked at the base. Through the detection of the detection device and the collection of the waste collection device, the waste collection system can quickly and automatically complete the waste collection process, which can save a lot of time and reduce costs, and improve the efficiency of waste collection.

[0054] The above summarizes the features of several embodiments so that those with ordinary knowledge in the art can better understand the various aspects of the present disclosure. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be easily used as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures to achieve the same purpose or have the same effect as the embodiments described herein. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that such equivalent configurations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions and modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Explanation of symbols

[0055] 50,50A,50B,50C: Waste collection system 100,100A,100B,100C: Detection equipment 200,200A,200B,200C: Waste collection equipment 210: Waste collection space 3OO,3OOA,3OOB,3OOC: First Base 310: Floating unit 311: Base 312: Column 311 1 : Cross-sectional area uniformity part 3112: Gradual change of cross-sectional area 400B,400C: Second Base 410B,410C: Waste storage area 500: T-stage 600: Buildings

Claims

[Scope of invention patent application]

1. A waste collection system comprising: a detection device for detecting waste in a body of water; A first base, including a plurality of floating units; and a waste collection device moored at the first base; The waste collection device parked at the first base collects the waste in the water body according to a signal obtained by the detection device.

2. The waste collection system as described in Claim 1, wherein the detection device is a drone.

3. A waste collection system as described in Claim 1, wherein the detection device can detach from the first base and perform detection, and after the detection device detects the waste in the water body, the detection device moves together with the waste in the water body to guide the waste collection device to collect the waste in the water body.

4. The waste collection system as described in Claim 1, wherein the waste collection equipment is a vessel.

5. The waste collection system as described in Claim 1, wherein the floating units are arranged in at least one row and at least one column, and each of the floating units includes a base and a column above the base.

6. The waste collection system as described in Claim 5, wherein the base includes a portion with a uniform cross-sectional area and a portion with a gradually changing cross-sectional area above the portion with a uniform cross-sectional area.

7. The waste collection system as described in Claim 1, wherein after the waste collection equipment collects the waste in the water body, the waste collection equipment returns to the first base.

8. The waste collection system as described in Claim 1 further includes a second base, wherein after the waste collection equipment collects the waste in the water body, the waste collection equipment goes to the second base.

9. The waste collection system as described in Claim 8, wherein the first base is set on the water body, and the second base is set on land.

10. The waste collection system as described in Claim 9, wherein the second base includes a waste storage area, and after the waste collection equipment arrives at the second base, the waste collection equipment dumps the collected waste in the water body into the waste storage area.

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