Wireless Sensor Sleeve for Waste Vehicle Lift Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sensors in waste service vehicles are expensive, difficult to maintain, prone to damage, and hardwired, making them costly and inconvenient for periodic or temporary use.
Innovation Solution
A sensor sleeve with a self-powered, wireless sensor connected to a lift arm, which generates signals indicative of a waste receptacle's parameters and transmits them wirelessly, allowing for temporary installation and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hardwired sensors are permanently connected to the service vehicle, then measurement capability is provided, but cost and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into a portable sensor unit that can be detached and attached to different vehicles, separating the sensor from the permanent vehicle installation. This allows the sensor to be maintained independently and transferred between vehicles, reducing maintenance difficulty while preserving measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor connection changes from static (permanent hardwired installation) to dynamic (portable attachment/detachment). The sensor can be dynamically attached to the lift arm during service operations and removed when not needed, enabling easy maintenance and replacement without permanent installation constraints.
2Reliability
If conventional hardwired sensors are permanently installed, then continuous monitoring is possible, but device complexity and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical wiring system is replaced with wireless communication technology. The portable sensor transmits measurement data wirelessly to the vehicle's control system, eliminating the need for complex hardwired connections while maintaining data transmission capability and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is extracted from the permanent vehicle installation and made into a separate portable component. This extraction removes the wiring complexity from the vehicle system while retaining the monitoring capability through wireless data transmission.
3Measurement precision
If expensive permanent sensors are installed on each vehicle, then accurate measurement is achieved, but cost increases for periodic or temporary use
Solution Approach 1:
The portable sensor is designed with universal applicability to work with multiple different service vehicles. A single sensor unit can be attached to any vehicle in the fleet, eliminating the need to install expensive permanent sensors on each vehicle while maintaining measurement accuracy across all applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is designed as a cost-effective portable unit that can be easily replaced or upgraded without significant investment. Instead of expensive permanent installations, the system uses affordable portable sensors that provide the necessary measurement precision for periodic or temporary use scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor sleeve is disclosed for a waste service vehicle having a lift arm. The sensor sleeve may have a shell configured to be received by the lift arm. The sensor sleeve may also have a sensor connected to the shell. The sensor may be configured to generate a signal indicative of a parameter of a waste receptacle loaded onto the lift arm.