Waste Disposal Vehicle 3D Camera Volume Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current disposal vehicles face challenges in efficiently collecting and transporting waste with limited personnel and time, particularly in ensuring operational safety during container emptying, due to restricted visibility and reliance on costly and unreliable optical systems for monitoring.

Innovation Solution

Equipping disposal vehicles with a camera arrangement capable of creating three-dimensional spatial images and an image evaluation unit for automatic volume calculation and change detection, allowing for quick reaction to potential dangers without human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional left-hand drive standard truck chassis is used, then cost is reduced and availability is improved, but driver visibility to the right is limited and operational safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle cost and chassis availabilityVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/optical monitoring systems (cameras, sensors, mirrors) with a driver wearing an augmented reality headset that provides virtual visual monitoring of the danger area. This substitution maintains safety functionality while allowing use of conventional left-hand drive chassis, resolving the contradiction between cost/chassis availability and operational safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If optical systems such as cameras and sensors are used for monitoring, then visibility of the danger area is improved, but system complexity increases and reliability decreases due to environmental interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of danger areaVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the monitoring function from complex external optical systems and relocates it to a simplified wearable device (augmented reality headset) on the driver. This extraction eliminates the need for multiple cameras, sensors, and processing units while maintaining comprehensive danger area visibility, thus reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver themselves performs the monitoring function through the augmented reality headset, eliminating the need for separate automated optical monitoring systems. The driver's own sensory capabilities are enhanced rather than replaced by complex machinery, simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Area of stationary object

If multiple sensors are arranged side by side to monitor the danger area, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverage areaVSAvoidnumber of sensors and their arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The augmented reality headset serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides virtual visual monitoring of the danger area, displays alerts and warnings, and guides the driver's attention. This single multi-functional device replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized sensors and processing systems, reducing complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances operational safety by enabling fast and automated monitoring of the critical space around the feed device, reducing the need for human oversight and minimizing computing resources, while effectively handling various container sizes and environments.

Implementation Method 1

PMF-Verfahren mit einer Kombination aus Bildaufnahme und Flugzeitaufnahme des abgestrahlten Lichts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Implementation Method 2

drei dimensionale Bilder und eine Berechnung eines Raumes, in dem sich das Gerät befindet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2910497B1Waste disposal vehicle with at least one loading device for receiving waste material or the like
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 SKRYPZAK ROLAND
  • EP2910497B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2910497B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2910497B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A waste disposal vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle-mounted receiving container (2) for residual materials, recyclables or the like and with at least one feeding device (3) for receiving and transferring goods to be disposed of to the receiving container (2) is designed such that the waste disposal vehicle (1) is equipped with at least one monitoring camera arrangement (15; 16; 17; 18; 19) that creates three-dimensional spatial images and with an image evaluation unit, from which a volume calculation of a space (21;22;23;24a;24b) recorded by the camera arrangement (15; 16; 17; 18; 19) can be carried out and any change in volume that may occur when an object enters this space (21;22;23;24a;24b) can be recorded.