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eSpider--a Recycle Bin based Recyclables Presorter |
Category: Sustainable Technology |
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Marty Loughry
none (did at home)
Los Osos, CA US
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Page Views: 342
Votes: 11
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Entered: 07/24/2008
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Introducing eSpider
A network enabled, AI driven, Recycle Bin based Recyclables Presorter
Design Solution and Implementation Details c7/2008 by Marty Loughry
Marketing Information
1. Need:
-- Millions of Recyclable Bins emptied weekly
-- Consumers have shown disdain for separating their own recyclables
-- Current recycling based on inefficient human, post-collection separation at Regional Plants
2. Solution: "eSpider" (short for Eco-Spider)
-- eSpider, a self-contained Recyclables Presorting system built into an average Recyclable bin
The core of the system is a "spider shaped" mechatronic sensing/grasping head
that uses digital cameras and a surface sensory pod to evaluate Recyclable objects
placed in the bin. Presorting identifies Paper, Glass, Plastic or
Aluminum, and places them in presorted compartments inside the bin.
After optical recognition of an item via the camera system, a 2 pass evaluation process
is used to identify the package. First, if a UPC is located, this number is used
to identify the package, and place it where required. If no UPC is found, a surface based
sensory pod is placed on the package to determine if it is one of the 4 presorted groups.
If not it is set aside and a different object is evaluated. Curb-side emptying of the bins
preserves the presorted item placement inside the bin. Mesh Network connection to
municipality servers provides a wide range of oversight capabilities. [A similar system
can be built into the pickup truck]
3. Market:
-- Huge
4. Payoffs:
-- Higher efficiency in sorting directly translates into higher cash returns for recycled materials to the municipality.
-- Most recyclables can be aggregated for bulk shipment right at the municipality saving fuel costs for load transport to distant regional sorting centers.
-- Human Operator intervention in individual eSpider bins (via network) can further increase overall efficiency of the Presorting process.
-- Data from individual bins can be collected centrally to constantly optimize all aspects of the collection and recycle process. (Route selection, unload times etc.)
Implementation Details
System Components
a. Larger Recyclable Bin -- Main Area + 4 smaller areas (paper glass plastic aluminum)
b. Manipulator Head (spider)
-- Moveable Position Platform
-- Hook, 2 Prong, 3 Prong Gripper
-- Surface & Weight Sensors
c. Lid-mounted Solar Panel (for power)
d. Control Box
-- Main Controller (Operation, AI Recognition, UPC, Sensor Platform Control)
-- Inclination Sensor (only works +/- 10 deg from Horiz)
-- 2 Low Light, Low Power Cameras
-- Mesh Network Module (pickup alert, central help, reprogramming UPC data)
Typical Use
a. Schedule: Charge / Dormant during day, Separate at Night
b. Identification Process:
-- Camera + AI = Localize Object
-- Camera + Barcode = Package Details
Weigh for Empty/Full
-- Camera + no Barcode + Surface Sensor + AI = Guess?
c. eSpider attempts to move object and put in proper bin
(or move aside and leave as unsortable)
Unloading/Transfer
a. Sliding Stainless Steel Shutter allows opening entire bottom of bin
b. Bin placed upright over truck, careful tunneling routes presorts/unsorts
to right holding area inside truck
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Meet the Entrant, Marty Loughry
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Contact Email: hdlagery@calinet.com |
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Association: none (did at home) |
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Profession: Engineer/Designer |
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Number of times entering contest previously: 0
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Marty's favorite design tool:
Imagination (if you can't "see" it ahead of time, you can't design it!)
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