ME360 ASSIGNMENT 1 -
Sketching (Big Belly)
Problem Statement
The solar panels on Big Belly trashcans are easily hindered by snow and debris, and the cans are unhygienic because they fill quickly and locals need to grab the trashcan to open it.
Proposed Solution
The "Side View" sketch is of a lever mechanism that allows the mouth of the trashcan to be opened with a pedal located at the bottom. This eliminates the need to touch the trashcan with hands.
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The "Top View" sketch depicts a wiper mechanism that would activate if the trashcan detects that its power input is below a certain threshold. This means that something is obscuring the solar panels and the trashcan should wipe it. This mechanism can easily be programmed to certain hours of the day, and can be controlled manually given the wifi connectivity of these trash cans.
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The simplicity of these designs, and the fact that they incorporate already existing systems, lowers implementation costs and makes these both viable solutions for these existing problems.
