Refuse Cart Detection and Grabber Control Around Obstructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refuse vehicles require manual repositioning and interaction with obstacles during refuse cart collection, which is inefficient and potentially hazardous for operators.
Innovation Solution
A refuse cart detection system using sensors and a controller to automatically detect and engage refuse carts, adjust collection routines based on cart location and obstructions, and control actuator arms for precise engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual repositioning and interaction with obstacles is used during refuse cart collection, then operator flexibility is maintained, but efficiency decreases and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The refuse collection system performs self-navigation and self-adjustment by using sensors to detect cart locations and obstructions, with the controller automatically modifying collection routines and actuator arm positions without requiring operator intervention for manual repositioning or obstacle navigation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated system that uses sensors (optical, LIDAR, radar) and electronic control to detect cart positions and obstructions, process this information through a controller, and actuate the grabber assembly accordingly, eliminating the need for operator physical intervention
2Productivity
If automated sensor-based detection is implemented, then collection efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it receives and processes sensor data from various sensor types (optical, LIDAR, radar), determines cart locations and obstruction positions, calculates appropriate collection routines, and controls the actuator arms, thereby consolidating complexity into a single multi-functional control unit
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the actuator arms, processing raw sensor data into actionable information and generating appropriate control commands, thereby managing system complexity through a centralized coordination layer
3Manufacturing precision
If actuator arms are adjusted for precise engagement, then collection accuracy improves, but the time required for adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of cart locations and obstructions using sensors before engagement, allows the controller to pre-calculate optimal collection routines and actuator positions, and enables advance adjustment of the grabber assembly, thereby achieving precise engagement without time-consuming on-site adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A system for detecting and engaging a refuse cart includes a sensor coupled to a refuse vehicle and configured to generate sensor data indicative of objects on one or more sides of the refuse vehicle; a grabber assembly coupled to the refuse vehicle and comprising actuator arms that are configured to engage the refuse cart; and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a location of a refuse cart based on data from the sensor, detect a location of an obstruction in a vicinity of the refuse cart based on the data, and modify a collection routine associated with operation of the actuator arms based on the location of the refuse cart and the location of the obstruction.