Inspiration
We were inspired by movies where trash are burned, flown away, or simply zapped. We wanted to create some kind of system that makes trash an issue of the past.
What it does
Our project looks at sensors in trash cans to see how filled they are. From there, the program uses the sensor data to create an optimized route for trash disposal teams to pick up the trash in the most cost-effective and fuel effective manner. This ensures that the trash that needs to be picked up will be picked up, and the trash cans that aren't full can wait to be picked up.
How we built it
The backend is built with Node.js and Express, handling sensor data and determining which bins need attention (if their fill level exceeds 80%). It also uses the Google Maps API to generate optimal routes. The frontend is built with React, displaying the bin locations on a map and showing optimized routes. MongoDB stores bin data like fill levels and locations. A Python script simulates sensor readings by sending data to the backend every few seconds, helping to demonstrate the system in action.
Challenges we ran into
Some challenges we worked with included trying to work with google API's. Relying on external APIs (like Google Maps) also created some rate limitation issues. We also had to consider some scalability issues as adding trash cans, working with theoritical broken sensors, and thinking about traffic in route optimization.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We're proud to understand how to connect with multiple different coding sources, and split and deligated tasks in order to work together as a team. I think the primary achievement was figuring out how we can work together to make the best plan and strategy.
What we learned
We learned how to primarly work with API's like google maps which taught us how to make API requests, handle responses, and troubleshoot issues like rate limits and authentication errors. We also learned how to handle large amounts of data and work with a team to discover, fix, and save errors in our code.
What's next for Optimized Trash Disposal System
We need to impliment real-world data to see if this works realistically with things such as broken sensors, amounts of traffic, and other factors like different trash trucks, amount of garbage being held.
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