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TRACE CAN
interactive trash
collecting system
Be Active, Collect Smart
As a systematic garbage collecting design, Trace Can plays an active role in collecting garbage. it detects and analyses crowds location in certain areas using image analysis. After understanding the distribution,Trace Can moves to the crowd and collects garbage by interacting with people. Once the ashbin is full, It returns back automatically.
Scope
Cross-Field Integrating Project
Human Behavior Study
Working Prototype Mechanism
Problem of Crowded Place
Due to the lack of staff members, garbage cans are always overloaded in places with crowd such as parties or zoos. Also, people always fail to recycle in these situations.
Insight
Instead of being passive and standing still, design an ashcan as an active AGV (Auto Guided Vehicle). It can walk around, interact with people and ask for garbage. Also, reminding people to recycle is one of its jobs.
Research -
Collecting Efficiency
We tried to find out which location in crowd is the most efficient in collecting garbage, so we placed a huge trash can in different corners of several night markets and recorded how it was worked.
A: right in one single crowd. B: empty area among several crowds.
C: the edge of the area D: next to one single crowd.
Result - Collecting Efficiency
At first, we assumed that spot A would be the most efficient. But the statistic showed that spot B - area among several crowds - got the best result.
Research - Interaction
We simulated an active Trace Can and observed how people interacted with it. To process this experiment, we created a mobile prototype made with a remote control car and a plastic ashcan, the connecting structure in the middle was 3D printed. The ashcan was divided into two parts, one side for general waste and the other for recyclable waste, so to test whether people would be more willing to recycle.
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Observation Documentary
We placed the mobile Trace Can prototype in a crowd and controlled it remotelly from a certain distance. A moving ashcan really caught people's eyes, especially the children. Some of them thought it was alive, they tried to interact and even talk to it. In addition, it still performed the function of collecting garbage from people. Moreover, every piece of waste in the ashcan was completely recycled.
Implementation
Trace Can adopted 3 Omni wheels for its movement system. Three stepper motors drive three wheels respectively via a rubber belt. Every action will be commanded by the Edison chip, which is also deals with the wireless commnication.
The main structure is made of aluminum extrusion, 3D printing parts and laser cutted acrylic. The axle of each Omni wheel are customized NC parts.
Hardwares
Intel Edison mother board, laser distance sensor, ultra sonic distance sensor, stepper motor control chip, lithium battery, web camera.
Image Analyze & Distance Equipment
Web camera takes two pictures periodically and analyze the place are crowded or not. The laser sensor provides information of distance.
Power Transmission Detail
Kinetic power will be transferred from 42K stepper to Omni wheel via a belt.
Hardwares
Intel Edison mother board, laser distance sensor, ultra sonic distance sensor, stepper motor control chip, lithium battery, web camera.
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Four Months Team Project
Yojack Shih - CAD, Rendering, Working Prototype
Key Liao - CAD, CMF
Ming Hong Liu - Wireless Communicaiton
Dong Lian Lin - Wireless Communicaiton
Special Honor
Thanks to the awesome teamwork, the concept won the Gold Medal Award of the Far EasTone IoT Hackathon Competition, which held by a domestic telecommunication magnate.
Local News
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