Refuse Can Detection Using Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refuse vehicle systems lack an efficient method to detect the presence or absence of refuse cans at pickup locations, leading to missed collections and inefficiencies in waste management.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors and processing circuits integrated into refuse vehicles to capture data on pickup locations, determine the presence or absence of refuse cans, and initiate collection operations accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual detection methods are used to check for refuse cans, then the system complexity is low, but the productivity and collection efficiency deteriorate due to missed pickups and time-consuming manual checks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical detection methods with electronic sensors (cameras, LIDAR, radar) and automated processing circuits. This substitution enables automatic detection of refuse cans at pickup locations, significantly improving collection efficiency while reducing missed pickups, despite increasing system complexity through the integration of electronic detection and control systems.
2Measurement precision
If automated sensor systems are deployed to detect refuse cans, then the measurement precision and detection accuracy improve, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electronic sensors including cameras, LIDAR, and radar systems that provide high-precision detection of refuse cans. These automated systems accurately identify the presence, absence, and position of cans at pickup locations, dramatically improving measurement precision compared to manual methods. The complexity increase is justified by the significant improvement in detection reliability and reduction of missed collections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensor data is continuously processed and used to adjust vehicle operations in real-time. The control system receives detection results and automatically initiates or cancels collection operations accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that improves detection effectiveness while managing complexity through automated decision-making algorithms.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented to ensure no refuse cans are missed, then the reliability of collection operations improves, but the energy consumption and operational time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic detection at scheduled pickup locations along the collection route rather than continuous monitoring throughout the entire operation. Sensors are activated at specific intervals when the vehicle approaches predetermined pickup points, maintaining high collection reliability by ensuring each location is checked while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during transit between locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of refuse cans before the vehicle arrives at the pickup location. This advance detection allows the control system to prepare for collection operations in advance, ensuring reliability by confirming can presence beforehand while optimizing energy use by avoiding unnecessary maneuvers or delays when cans are absent.
Data Source
AI summary
1. A system for detecting a refuse can including at least one sensor and one or more processing circuits communicably coupled to the sensor. The one or more processing circuits are configured to capture, from the at least one sensor, data regarding a pickup location associated with a refuse can, determine, based on the data, if the refuse can is present at the pickup location, upon determining that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location, generate an indication that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location, and upon determining that the refuse can is present at the pickup location, generate a command to initiate a refuse collection operation.