Waste Container Verification Using Selective Image Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waste disposal companies face increased costs and a worsening CO2 footprint due to repeated collections when complaints arise from incorrectly placed waste containers, with no existing methods to verify correct container placement.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the recording of image and geolocation data by waste disposal vehicles, comparing container identifiers, and selectively retaining image data for unidentified containers to provide proof of incorrect placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image data is recorded and stored for all containers to verify correct placement, then proof of incorrect placement can be provided, but data storage requirements and privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and retains only the essential proof element (image data for unidentified containers) while discarding redundant data (image data for identified containers). This selective extraction maintains proof capability while minimizing data storage requirements and privacy intrusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically discards image data for containers that are correctly identified and recovered (retains) image data for unidentified containers that may require proof of incorrect placement. This dynamic data management resolves the contradiction between maintaining proof capability and reducing storage burden.
2Measurement precision
If image data is stored for all containers, then complete monitoring is achieved, but data protection violations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different data retention policies to different containers based on their identification status. Identified containers receive minimal data retention (only proof data), while unidentified containers receive full monitoring. This localized quality approach ensures data protection compliance while maintaining monitoring effectiveness where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing data for all containers and deleting some, the system inverts the approach by only storing data for containers that need proof (unidentified ones). This inversion fundamentally reduces data protection risks while maintaining monitoring precision for problematic cases.
3Reliability
If comprehensive image recording is implemented, then proof of container placement is available, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial image processing by only retaining and potentially analyzing image data for unidentified containers rather than processing all recorded images. This partial action maintains verification accuracy for problematic cases while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to comprehensive processing.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for verifying the availability of at least one container to be emptied by a waste collection vehicle, characterized by the following steps: - provision of identification data for identifying the at least one container and geolocal data corresponding to a predetermined position of the at least one container, - acquisition of image data by a waste collection vehicle at the predetermined position of the at least one container, wherein image data acquired at the predetermined position of a container are assigned to the identification data of that container and stored, - performance of an identification process by the waste collection vehicle by comparing the identification data with an identifier on the container, - deletion of the image data, except for that which is assigned to at least one unidentified container.