Robotic systems and methods for collecting trash outdoors

• Main Authors: Kersten, Katelyn Suzanne, Jaworsky, Amanda Nicole, Suandi, Allyson Christine, Gulick, Owen Keith, Palmatier, Noah Riley, Fountain, Emmett Monroe, Rasmus, Joseph Andrew, Schafer, Faith Mae, Egger, Ethan Frederick, Denk, Camden Henry, Kersten, Steven Michael, Schafer, Jack Arthur, Bellinger, William Daniel, Lounsbury, Gabriel Steven, Truong-Phan, Trucy Thanh
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.06.2024
• Subjects: CLEANING BEACHES; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; COFFEE MILLS; CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES; DISPERSING; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FOG IN GENERAL; FURNITURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; SPICE MILLS; STREET CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL

Robotic systems and methods for collecting trash are provided. The robotic system includes a vehicle, a camera, a trash collection unit, an actuator, and a controller. The vehicle includes a drive. The camera moves with the vehicle to capture images of the trash while the vehicle moves along ground. The trash collection unit is carried by the vehicle to collect the trash. The trash collection unit includes a vacuum pump and a collection conduit. The actuator is operatively coupled to the collection conduit to adjust a position of the collection conduit relative to the vehicle to position the collection conduit adjacent to the trash to collect the trash. The controller is coupled to the drive, the camera, the trash collection unit, and the actuator to coordinate movement of the vehicle, positioning of the collection conduit, and operation of the vacuum pump to collect the trash.