Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

beacon_dave — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 17:53:44 GMT

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..."

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

jw0752 — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 04:34:44 GMT

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

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

Workshopshed — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 16:00:32 GMT

Before leaving for work on Thursday, I carefully align my bin with the edge of the path.

When I return if the bin has been moved slightly, e.g. is 3 doors down upside down in a bush, then I know that the bin men have visited.

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

Workshopshed — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 10:30:55 GMT

Looks interesting, my only concern is that it's going to physically interfere with the trucks equipment

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

beacon_dave — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 22:53:34 GMT

Just wondering how visible the LED is in daylight at a distance ? I was wondering if a fluorescent flip-dot type indicator may be more visible from a distance in daylight ?

Over here the bins are still manually loaded into the wagon, so the position of the bin is unknown after it is emptied. In fact, one is lucky if they even get the right bin back outside their house. I think I would need a wireless version with a GPS location tracker [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-822f2828-5832-46f6-8954-811222545bbe/contentimage_5F00_2516.png:16:16]

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

Jan Cumps — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 15:55:50 GMT

Most of the time the ideas and contributions of you guys to my blogs out shine the original posting.

Fixed that.

Your future: (can't embed a video in the comments of your blog)

https://youtu.be/euL_NNZ2HeU

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

dougw — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 14:27:25 GMT

Great idea.

Perhaps it would make a good project for an Atomic14 challenge - design your own version of this functionality - you already have a completed entry. Or you could be a judge.

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

michaelkellett — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 13:18:19 GMT

I hate to disappoint you John but this isn't going to work.

On Tuesday you'll hear a bit of noise in the street and you'll look out of your window just in time to see one of those cute little bomb disposal robots blow up your bin !

It reminds me of a joke I liked when I was a kid and we had real bins made of metal.

One binman to another: "Honestly Bert, it was so quiet you could 'ave 'eard a bin drop !"

Good luck (and a nice blog - thanks) !

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

shabaz — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 12:58:24 GMT

This is awesome!

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

jc2048 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 11:21:53 GMT

Nice project - it will be interesting to see whether it survives its encounter with the robot arm.

You got me wondering what the off leakage was and how long your batteries would last. Simple way to find out was to try it. This is the 'off' supply current with a 2N5060. [Sorry that the picture isn't very good - it's hard to get good pictures of the display on the Fluke with its reflective surface.] 36nA isn't much.

[View:/resized-image/__size/500x375/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-822f2828-5832-46f6-8954-811222545bbe/contentimage_5F00_183810.jpg:500:375]

Then I wondered how that would compare with building the SCR out of two transistors like this

[View:/resized-image/__size/500x375/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-822f2828-5832-46f6-8954-811222545bbe/contentimage_5F00_183811.jpg:500:375]

in this case, the off supply current was 61nA

[View:/resized-image/__size/500x375/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-822f2828-5832-46f6-8954-811222545bbe/contentimage_5F00_183812.jpg:500:375]

So the SCR is better ["Hurrah for the SCR!"], though I don't think either would tax your batteries too much.

RE: Using Extremely Sophisticated Electronics to Solve a Real World Problem

mcb1 — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 07:24:00 GMT

The idea has potential.

I'm surprised that no-one has produced a simple mechanical version that simply clips around the handle.

I wonder if the driver will decide that it's a good target ...

Could you use a couple of 'terry clips' and clip it directly onto the handle ??

[View:/resized-image/__size/259x194/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-822f2828-5832-46f6-8954-811222545bbe/contentimage_5F00_183809.jpg:259:194]

Mark