The Garbage Man

Garbage Man - Automated Garbage Can Management System

Inspiration

The inspiration for Garbage Man came from observing a universal challenge that affects countless households - managing garbage collection schedules. This issue is particularly significant for individuals with movement disabilities or those experiencing debilitating pain during movement. We recognized that smart home technology could play a crucial role in improving daily quality of life, especially for these individuals, while benefiting anyone seeking a streamlined solution to this routine task.

What it does

Garbage Man is an innovative winch and cart system designed to be adaptable to existing garbage cans. The system automates the process of moving garbage cans from the home to the street for collection and returning them afterward. Using a controlled descent mechanism, the cart safely transports the garbage can down the driveway on collection day. After the waste is collected, the system automatically pulls the garbage can back to the house, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

How we built it

We developed Garbage Man using a combination of hardware and software components: Hardware Components:

• Stepper motor for controlled movement
• ESP32 DevKit as the main controller
• Gyroscope and accelerometer for position sensing
• Button interface for manual control
• 9V batteries for power
• Motor drivers to control the stepper motor
• Custom 3D-printed parts for the physical structure Software:
• Programmed using ArduinoC
• Developed in Arduino IDE
• Created control systems for the winch mechanism ## Challenges we ran into Our primary challenge was designing a cart and winch system that could meet our ambitious constraints. We needed a solution that would be:
• Adaptable to any garbage can
• Safe for users and the environment
• Robust against adverse weather conditions This presented significant design and engineering hurdles, as creating a system that works reliably in various situations required careful consideration of numerous factors. ## Accomplishments we are proud of We're particularly proud of overcoming our design challenges through rapid iteration and prototype testing. By building small-scale prototypes and thoroughly testing the limits of our hardware, we were able to develop a representative scaled-down version of our final vision. This approach allowed us to make adjustments quickly and efficiently, leading to a functional prototype that demonstrates the potential of our solution. ## What we learned Throughout this project, we gained valuable experience in:
• Mechatronic system design
• Integration of sensors and motors
• Practical application of smart home technology
• Addressing accessibility challenges through automation
• Iterative prototyping and testing methodologies
• Adapting designs to meet specific user needs ## Next steps for the project Looking ahead, we plan to:
• Scale up the project to accommodate a full-size garbage can
• Enhance the design to be more robust against adverse weather conditions
• Improve the user interface for easier operation
• Conduct user testing with individuals who have mobility impairments
• Explore additional features like scheduling options and notifications
• Develop a more energy-efficient version for sustainable operation

The Garbage Man project represents an important step toward making everyday tasks more accessible and convenient through smart home technology, ultimately improving quality of life for city residents and creating more inclusive communities

Built With

• arduinoc
• arduinoide
• espressif