Smart Waste Bin with Image Recognition for Material Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current waste management systems fail to effectively sort and recycle plastic and food utensils due to contamination and lack of proper identification, leading to inefficient recycling and misuse of materials.

Innovation Solution

A closed-loop system that uses uniquely coded plant-based or petroleum-based plastic products, which are scanned and sorted at collection bins to ensure only acceptable materials are recycled, allowing for multiple re-manufacturing cycles and maintaining a clean waste stream.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If waste is collected in mixed receptacles for general disposal, then collection simplicity is improved, but recycling effectiveness deteriorates due to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollection simplicityVSAvoidrecycling effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The waste collection system is segmented into multiple specialized receptacles (food waste receptacle, recyclable receptacle, landfill receptacle) instead of using a single mixed receptacle. Each receptacle is designed for specific waste types, enabling separation at the source while maintaining operational simplicity through intuitive placement and identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A camera system acts as an intermediary between the waste receptacles and the sorting process. The camera captures images of deposited waste, and image recognition technology automatically identifies waste types, serving as a mediator that enables intelligent sorting without requiring manual intervention from users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple specialized receptacles are provided for waste separation, then recycling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecycling effectivenessVSAvoidreceptacle system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The waste receptacle system is integrated with a multifunctional control system that combines camera imaging, image recognition processing, automated trapdoor control, and user interface functions. This universal system manages multiple specialized receptacles through a single coordinated platform, reducing operational complexity despite the presence of multiple receptacles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automated waste identification and sorting decisions without requiring user expertise. The camera and image recognition system automatically identify waste types, and the control system autonomously opens the appropriate trapdoors, enabling the system to serve itself in the sorting process and reducing the complexity burden on users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If automated image recognition is used for waste identification, then sorting precision is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting precisionVSAvoidwaste identification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Manual waste identification and sorting actions are replaced with an automated optical detection system. A camera captures images of waste, and image recognition algorithms automatically analyze and identify waste types, substituting human visual inspection and decision-making with automated optical and computational systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the detection parameter from manual visual inspection to automated image capture and digital analysis. By transforming waste identification into an image processing task, the system achieves higher precision through computational analysis while managing complexity through standardized digital workflows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of time

If waste is transported to landfills without sorting, then loss of time is reduced, but loss of substance increases due to missed recycling opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport timeVSAvoidrecyclable material loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Waste sorting is performed preliminarily at the collection point before transport. The image recognition system identifies and separates recyclable materials from food waste and landfill waste at the source, ensuring that recyclable materials are not lost during transport or at the landfill. This preliminary sorting action prevents material loss while maintaining efficient transport timelines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11507763B2Apparatus, method, and system for capturing and re-manufacturing waste

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 REYNOLDS CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

A recycle/re-manufacturing program to enable the collection of products to re-use them in a re-manufacturing processes to create valuable products which can be also be broken down at the end of their lives and re-used. It has been found that the bio-plastic materials can be re-used up to ten times with no degradation in properties. Enabling multiple collections and re-use of the materials. A benefit is that tech factories receive clean waste streams and low-cost materials which can be re-used multiple times.