Team: Fri-23 (Ann Shi, Jeffrey Hu, Oishi Ray, Rachel Yuet Tsang, Varunan Varathan)
Relevant Milestone documents were mostly made up of CAD drawings and Python code, and are therefore not included here.
I used to throw out my recycling without giving much thought about it other than “it has those three arrows on it”. However, after finding out the complexity that goes into sorting waste at a recycling center, I will make sure to separate my plastics and double check!
Recycling centers across Canada are becoming more capable in what they can recycle and the quantity that can be processed at any given time. As more items are added to this list, the task becomes even more challenging to sort these items. One potential solution could be automation!
This project assumes that we have access to a robotic arm and mover that can sort items one by one, place them in a transport container, and be moved to its designated location. The challenge for our team was design a mechanism that could hold garbage and unload it upon detection of the correctly colour bin along with a program that could automate the arm and the mover. The sensors and the code were all designed by the group, and were tailor made for the situation at hand.
Our team combined modelling and computing skills to build a system that could identify, classify, verify containers for recyclability, deposit recyclable items using a fabricated mechanism, and transfer containers from the sorting station to the correct bin with a computer program.
As a member of the programming sub-team, we were responsible for creating a program that would automate the sorting process of the recycling system. Garbage is funneled one by one onto a platform that can measure the weight and composition of the object. Given the right measurements, our program would predict what type of material it is, and begin sorting.
Our robot and hopper was able to carry up to three items. Therefore, depending on the order of items given, the sorting arm would place the waste into the hopper. Following this, the mover would use colour lines on the floor and RGB sensors to navigate its way to the associated bin. The hopper would dump the garbage, and the entire system would return to its home position.
Photo by Chris Madden on Unsplash