Pet Waste Control Module with Camera Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pet waste machines lack the ability to analyze waste, differentiate between liquid and solid waste, track pet visits, and provide remote monitoring and control, as well as inventory management for pad supplies, leading to inefficiencies and lack of pet health monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A control module with a sensor system, including a camera, that captures pet information to generate user data, enabling remote monitoring, pad advancement based on usage, and inventory management, while detecting health irregularities and waste types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a self-cleaning pet waste machine uses a simple manual or basic automated pad advancement system, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is high, but the measurement precision of waste analysis and health monitoring capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control module is designed to perform multiple functions including waste detection, image capture, pet identification, health monitoring, and pad advancement control within a single integrated unit. This multi-functional approach enables comprehensive waste analysis and health monitoring capabilities without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one control module handles diverse tasks through software programming and sensor integration.
Solution Approach 2:
A camera acts as an intermediary device between the pet waste machine and the control module, capturing images of waste and pets for analysis. This intermediary component enables sophisticated waste analysis and pet identification capabilities while keeping the core machine structure relatively simple, as the camera handles the complex imaging and data collection functions.
2Reliability
If the pet waste machine includes advanced sensor systems for pet identification and health monitoring, then the reliability of health monitoring is improved, but the use of energy increases due to camera and sensor operations
Solution Approach 1:
The camera and sensor system operate periodically rather than continuously, activating at specific events such as when a pet enters the machine or when waste is detected. This periodic operation maintains reliable health monitoring and pet identification capabilities while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically activates sensors and camera based on detected conditions (pet presence, waste detection) without requiring continuous power consumption. The control module intelligently manages energy usage by enabling monitoring functions only when needed, maintaining reliability while optimizing energy efficiency through conditional activation.
3Productivity
If the machine automatically advances the pad based on detected waste, then the productivity of waste removal is improved, but the device complexity increases due to automated control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control module receives feedback from sensors and camera about waste presence and pet identification, then automatically adjusts pad advancement timing and inventory monitoring. This feedback loop enables efficient automated waste removal where the system responds to actual conditions rather than operating on fixed schedules, improving productivity while managing complexity through intelligent control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine autonomously monitors pad inventory and advances pads based on detected waste without requiring manual intervention. The control module self-manages the pad advancement process by integrating sensor data, camera information, and inventory status, enabling efficient automated operation while keeping the control logic centralized and manageable within one control module.
Data Source
AI summary
A control module that may be configured to detect animal activity of a pet at a waste pad, litter box, or feeding station. The control module comprises a sensor system having a camera. The control module is configured to analyze pet information and generate user data based on the pet information. Additionally, a mobile device is configured to detect animal activity within a field of view. The mobile device is configured to analyze pet information and generate user data based on the pet information.