Optimal waste collection routing using smart waste containers and smart waste collection vehicles

• US 10,332,197 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enevo Oy
• Original Assignee: Enevo Oy
• Inventors: Kekalainen, Fredrik, Engstrom, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Scott L
• Application Number:
  US14/443,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20160300297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,038 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/128 Data transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/182 Volume determining means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/041 in which a variable is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation

Abstract

A waste collection system (10) includes one or more waste containers (20) for receiving waste (50), a server system (100) for receiving one or more signals via a wireless communication network (70) from sensor arrangements (30, 40) included on the one or more waste containers (20) for sensing a waste status of the one or more containers (20). Beneficially, the server system (100) is operable from receiving the one or more signals to compute an optimal strategy for one or more waste collection vehicles (150) to collect waste from the one or more waste containers (20). The waste collection system (10) is capable of supporting a competitive bidding arrangement for implementing collection of waste (50) for the one or more waste containers (20).

Claims

1. A waste collection system, comprising:

one or more waste containers for receiving waste;

one or more sensors disposed on the one or more waste containers, the one or more sensors including;

a waste status sensor to determine a volume of waste in a waste container of the one or more waste containers; and

a spatial position determining sensor for determining a spatial position of the waste container;

a server system for receiving one or more signals via a wireless communication network from the one or more sensors, wherein;

the server system is configured to receive the one or more signals to compute an optimal waste collection strategy for one or more waste collection vehicles to collect waste from the one or more waste containers;

wherein the one or more waste collection vehicles include one or more vehicle sensors configured to sense at least a spatial location and a waste capacity status of the one or more waste collection vehicles; and

wherein the server system is configured to modify the optimal strategy for at least one waste collection vehicle of the one or more waste collection vehicles based on one or more of a type of the at least one waste collection vehicle and a type of waste to be collected relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a spatial location of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a waste capacity status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a degree of access of a given type of the at least one waste collection vehicle to a given waste container relative to a given type of access of at least one other waste collection vehicle to the given waste container relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a current route of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, current traffic conditions for the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to current traffic conditions of at least one other waste collection vehicle; and

wherein one or more of the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle is configured to change its current waste collection route in dependence upon the modified optimal strategy communicated from the server system to the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle.

2. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server system is configured to employ Monte Carlo simulation to search a multi-dimension search space defined by parameters (A) influencing the one or more waste containers to determine one or more of the optimal strategy or the modified optimal strategy.

3. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors of the one or more waste containers are configured for determining whether or not the waste is in a fermenting state which could represent a health hazard, and for determining and sending corresponding information to a server system controlling the waste collection system, and the one or more sensors include a combination of a temperature sensor and a methane sensor to measure a level of fermentation and/or biodegradation of the waste.

4. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one or more vehicle sensors are configured to sense the spatial locations of the one or more vehicles and their waste capacity status in substantially real-time for enabling the server system to dynamically modify the optimal strategy and communicate the modified optimal strategy to the at least one waste collection vehicle in substantially real-time, to enable the at least one waste collection vehicle to change their current waste collection route during collection of the waste from the one or more waste containers.

5. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors include a user-actuated input sensor for enabling a user to signal to the server system that collection of waste of the container associated with the sensor arrangement is required to have waste collected therefrom.

6. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the server system includes a user portal for enabling competitive bidding from one or more operators of the one or more vehicles to collect waste from one or more of the waste containers.

7. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the server system is configured to:

generate one or more signals to compute a plurality of job offers for receiving a plurality of bids from the one or more operators of the one or more vehicles to collect waste from one or more of the waste containers;

receive one or more signals from the one or more operators of the one or more vehicles for sensing one or more vehicle status of the one or more vehicles;

select a lowest bid from the plurality of bids provided by the one or more operators of the one or more vehicles to collect waste from one or more of the waste containers;

notify the one or more operators of the one or more vehicles of the selection of the lowest bid;

track the job offer and determine whether a collection of waste from the one or more of the waste containers takes place.

8. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more signals are used to compute a plurality of job offers, wherein the plurality of job offers is based on signals provided from the waste status sensor arrangement and the spatial position determining sensor of container and vehicle type and status.

9. The waste collection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the system is configured to receive vehicle status of the one or more operators of the one or more vehicles, wherein the vehicle status is pre-entered by the one or more operators of the one or more vehicles.

10. A computerized method of operating a waste collection system including one or more waste containers for receiving waste;

one or more sensors disposed on the one or more waste containers, the one or more sensors including;

a waste status sensor to determine a volume of waste in a waste container of the one or more waste containers; and

a spatial position determining sensor for determining a spatial position of the waste container;

a server system for receiving one or more signals via a wireless communication network from the one or more sensors, wherein the computerized method includes executing instructions in at least one processor in the server system for;

computing from the one or more signals an optimal waste collection strategy for one or more waste collection vehicles to collect waste from the one or more waste containers;

wherein the one or more waste collection vehicles include one or more vehicle sensors configured to sense at least a spatial location and a waste capacity status of the one or more waste collection vehicles; and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

modify the optimal strategy for at least one waste collection vehicle of the one or more waste collection vehicles based on one or more of a type of the at least one waste collection vehicle and a type of waste to be collected relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a spatial location of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a waste capacity status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a degree of access of a given type of the at least one waste collection vehicle to a given waste container relative to a given type of access of at least one other waste collection vehicle to the given waste container relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a current route of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, current traffic conditions for the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to current traffic conditions of at least one other waste collection vehicle; and

cause one or more of the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle to change its current waste collection route in dependence upon the modified optimal strategy communicated from the server system to the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method includes:

operating the server system to employ Monte Carlo simulation to search a multi-dimension search space defined by parameters (A) influencing the one or more waste containers to determine the optimal strategy and the modification of the current route to another route.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method includes:

operating the one or more sensors of the one or more waste containers to determine whether or not waste in a waste container is in a fermenting and/or biodegraded state which could represent a health hazard;

determining and sending corresponding information to the server system controlling the waste collection system; and

arranging for the one or more sensors to include a combination of a temperature sensor and a methane sensor to measure a level of fermentation and/or biodegradation of the waste.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the method includes providing the one or more waste collection vehicles with vehicle sensors for sensing the spatial locations of the one or more vehicles and their waste capacity status in substantially real-time for dynamically modifying the optimal strategy and to modify the current route to another route in substantially real-time during collection of the waste from the one or more waste containers.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method includes incorporating in each of the one or more containers a waste status sensor for determining a volume of waste in a corresponding waste container, and a spatial position determining sensor for determining the spatial location of the corresponding waste container.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method includes arranging for one or more sensors to include a user-actuated input sensor for enabling a user to signal to the server system that collection of waste of the container associated with the sensor arrangement is required to be have waste collected therefrom.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the method includes providing via the server system a user portal for enabling competitive bidding from operators of the one or more vehicles to collect waste from one or more of the waste containers.

17. A software product recorded on non-transient machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software product is executable upon computing hardware for:

receiving one or more signals via a wireless communication network from one or more sensors disposed on one or more waste containers for receiving waste, the one or more sensors including;

a waste status sensor to determine a volume of waste in a waste container of the one or more waste containers; and

a spatial position determining sensor for determining a spatial position of the waste container;

operating a server system to receive the one or more signals via a wireless communication network from the one or more sensors, wherein the server system is configured to receive the one or more signals to compute an optimal waste collection strategy for one or more waste collection vehicles to collect waste from the one or more waste containers, wherein the one or more waste collection vehicles include one or more vehicle sensors configured to sense at least a spatial location and a waste capacity status of the one or more waste collection vehicles; and

wherein the software product is further executable on the computing hardware to;

modify the optimal strategy for at least one waste collection vehicle of the one or more waste collection vehicles based on one or more of a type of the at least one waste collection vehicle and a type of waste to be collected relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a spatial location of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a waste capacity status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a degree of access of a given type of the at least one waste collection vehicle to a given waste container relative to a given type of access of at least one other waste collection vehicle to the given waste container relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a current route of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, current traffic conditions for the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to current traffic conditions of at least one other waste collection vehicle; and

cause one or more of the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle to change its current waste collection route in dependence upon the modified optimal strategy communicated from the server system to the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle.