Pet Waste Machine Sensor System for Remote Health Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pet waste machines are unable to analyze waste, determine pad cleanliness, differentiate between liquid and solid waste, track pet visits, or enable remote monitoring and control, leading to inefficiencies and lack of health monitoring for pets.
Innovation Solution
A pet waste machine equipped with a sensor system, control and drive module, and network connection that captures pet information, analyzes waste, and transmits data to a server for user interface management, allowing for remote control and health diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated pad advancement is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to actuators and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to automatically detect waste presence and triggers pad advancement without manual intervention. The machine serves itself by monitoring its own state and performing maintenance actions autonomously, eliminating the need for complex continuous-control actuators while maintaining automation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system continuously monitors the pad surface before waste is deposited, and the system is pre-configured to automatically advance the pad when waste is detected, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making control systems.
2Measurement precision
If waste analysis capabilities are added, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to sensors and data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential detection function needed for waste analysis, using simple sensors to detect presence and basic characteristics of waste rather than implementing complex comprehensive analysis systems. This provides sufficient measurement precision for the application while minimizing added complexity.
3Ease of operation
If remote monitoring and control features are implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to network connections and communication modules
Solution Approach 1:
The control module serves multiple functions: it manages local pad advancement, processes sensor data, and enables remote monitoring through network communication. By making the control module universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each feature, thereby reducing the overall complexity increase while providing comprehensive remote operation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A pet waste machine configured to capture animal information and dispose of animal waste. The pet waste machine includes a flat surface configured to receive pet waste, wherein a roll of pads is disposed upon the flat surface. A supply housing for holding a fresh supply of pad rolls which is connected to the waste station. A take-up assembly, which is connected to an end of the pet waste machine, is configured to dispose soiled pads by rolling up and sealing the soiled portion of the pad. A control and drive module is connected to the pet waste machine and is configured to detect animal activity. The control and drive module is comprised of an activity sensor. A network connection is connected to the control and drive module and is capable of transmitting data obtained by the pet waste machine.