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  • Author Author: jw0752
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Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

jw0752

If you don't want to be disappointed by this blog don't read any further cause I lied.

 

The problem is that I have just signed up for a new Garbage Service. The new bin is to be left on the curb by my house in a very specific position so that the truck can come by and use its robotic arm to pick up the bin and tip it upside down to empty it. The arm then returns the bin to the curb in exactly the same position that I left it. I do not know when the truck comes so I find my self checking the bin several times a day to see if it has been dumped yet. The exercise involved in walking to the curb and looking into the bin is OK and probably actually good for me but the neighbors may notice and wonder why I am obsessed with the trash bin. I wanted a way that I could just look out my door and know immediately if the bin had been tipped or not. Here comes the Extremely Sophisticated Electronics part:

 

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OK its not that sophisticated but one has to at least admit that its simplicity is beautiful. It is powered by 4 AA batteries and uses a Tilt Switch to trigger a small SCR. The SCR turns on a RED / BLUE 1 Hz LED flasher that continues to flash until the reset button is pushed. The circuit has been built into a small plastic box and protected from rain by a sealed plastic freezer bag. Here are pictures of the unit untriggered and triggered.

 

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Before attaching the unit to the Trash Bin I called the company to see if they minded if I drilled (2) 3.175 mm holes so that I could mount the alarm. They told me "sure you can drill the holes as long as you don't mind paying for the bin". No Holes! OK. Back to the drawing board yielded an the idea to mount a bracket to the Alarm and then use a hose clamp to attach to the handle of the bin without drilling any holes or making any marks. Here is a picture of the Alarm mounted to the bin.

 

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And

 

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Now all I have to do is count the minutes until Tuesday when I can test it out.

 

John

  • in reply to shabaz

    If anyone in the neighborhood actually knew me I am certain I would have this reputation.

     

    John

  • in reply to Workshopshed

    By aligning bins to the kerb, you've possibly got a Monk reputation in the neighbourhood : )

  • This Self-Driving Garbage Can Remembers to Take the Trash to the Curb For You

    https://gizmodo.com/this-self-driving-garbage-can-remembers-to-take-the-tra-1838621440

     

    "...Using a companion app, the SmartCan will follow a pre-programmed schedule and automatically drive itself to a curbside drop off point on garbage pickup days, and then autonomously return to wherever you keep them parked the rest of the week..."

  • in reply to jw0752

    Excellent work, John!

    And thanks for the update, I was wondering how it went image

    Smart thinking about the red/blue flashing LED. Isn't it interesting how we are built to see changes more so than anything steady. Guess that's what keeps critters like us alive in the wild!

     

    -Nico

  • Final Report:

     

    The pickup has occurred twice since the windy day. Both times the bin was placed back where I left it and the blinking Red Blue LED was visible from my door even in sunlight. The eye is very sensitive to changes. Even if I don't have the eye resolution to see a steady light in the bright sunlight the flashing light catches my attention.  Unit is working as designed.

     

    John