Waste Management App for Dynamic Route Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current waste management systems for service vehicles face challenges in managing frequent changes to pickup schedules, determining stop orders, timing, and tracking services, especially for new locations with complex requirements, as no tools exist to assist operators with these aspects.
Innovation Solution
A waste management app that includes a locating device, input device, and controller to receive route assignments, track vehicle movement, and provide a graphical user interface showing scheduled services and vehicle location, enabling operators to manage waste services efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional manual waste service management is used, then operators can perform waste services, but it becomes difficult to manage frequent changes to pickup schedules, determine stop orders, and track services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mobile device application as an intermediary tool between the operator and the waste service management system. The application receives route assignments from a backend system, processes schedule information, provides turn-by-turn navigation, and enables service tracking, thereby simplifying the operator's interaction with complex scheduling changes and route optimization requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The application enables operators to independently access and manage their route assignments, view real-time location information, receive navigation guidance, and confirm service completion without requiring constant back-office intervention. The system automatically updates schedules and provides real-time guidance, allowing operators to self-manage their routes even when schedules change frequently
2Productivity
If operators manually track service completion and report to back office, then service records can be updated, but it consumes additional time and increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The application implements real-time feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors the operator's location via GPS, automatically detects when the service vehicle arrives at a customer location, and prompts the operator to confirm service completion. This immediate feedback loop eliminates delays in reporting and ensures accurate real-time tracking of service completion status
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of reporting service completion to a back office with an automated electronic system. The mobile application automatically transmits service completion data to the backend system through electronic communication, eliminating the need for manual phone calls, paperwork, or delayed reporting, thereby significantly reducing the time required for tracking and recording services
3Adaptability or versatility
If pickup schedules change frequently with new locations and complex requirements, then service coverage is improved, but it becomes difficult for operators to determine stops, order, timing, and travel routes
Solution Approach 1:
The application provides dynamic route management capabilities that automatically adjust to schedule changes. When new locations or service requirements are added to the route assignment, the system recalculates the optimized stop order, timing, and travel routes in real-time based on current conditions, customer locations, and service requirements, presenting the updated dynamic route to the operator
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary route optimization and preparation by receiving complete route assignments in advance, processing all customer locations and service requirements, and pre-calculating the optimal stop sequence and timing before the operator begins their route. This preliminary action ensures that even when schedules change frequently, operators receive pre-processed, optimized routes that account for all complex requirements ahead of time
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed for providing a waste management app. The system may have a locating device disposed onboard a service vehicle and configured to generate a first signal indicative of a location of the service vehicle, an input device, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive a route assignment including waste services to be performed by the service vehicle, and to track movement of the service vehicle during performance of the waste services based on the first signal. The controller may also be configured to provide a graphical user interface for display on the input device, listing the waste services from the route assignment to be performed by the service vehicle and showing a location of the service vehicle relative to at least one location at which the waste services are to be performed.