Member Avatar for kisei

Hi. I would like to ask for suggestions from you pro's. What's the best type/kind of sensor can you recommend for my thesis project? It's a waste monitoring project. I need a sensor and a compactor in order to detect if the bin is already full. Please do help me.

Thanks in advance.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by monstercameron

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Since you clarified you need to measure height rather than weight, focus on a non-contact range sensor mounted in the lid. pointed to that direction already; build on it by comparing sensor families and practical system design.

Ultrasonic sensors are cheap and easy to prototype with, but can give noisy readings on soft, irregular, or absorbent waste and are affected by temperature/humidity. Optical time-of-flight (ToF) or short-range laser/LiDAR modules are more accurate for height measurements and handle small targets better, but cost more and can struggle with very dark/low-reflective surfaces. Short-range IR/photoreflectors work only for near-top detection. For irregular fill shapes use two or three sensors (center + offset) and fuse readings to avoid false full/empty states.

Calibration, filtering, and safety are key. Mount sensors perpendicular to the expected surface, measure the empty-lid baseline, and use a threshold (commonly 70–85% of bin depth) with hysteresis and a requirement for several consecutive readings above threshold before triggering compaction. Apply median or moving-average filtering to reject spikes. Protect sensors from dust/condensation with a small shroud or sealed window and test with real trash — lab tests rarely match field behavior.

For the compactor, use a low-voltage linear actuator or geared motor with mechanical limit switches and current-sense stall detection; control via a motor driver so the microcontroller never switches mains directly. Add safety interlocks: prevent operation while the lid is open, include an emergency stop, and use presence detection (break-beam or light curtain) so a cycle never runs when a person is near. Log raw sensor data, timestamps, and every compaction event for thesis analysis. Prototype with an inexpensive sensor first, iterate after field testing, and document the failure modes and mitigation steps.

Member Avatar for monstercameron

maybe a digital scale under neath the bin?

Member Avatar for kisei

How can that sensor send a signal to the computer.

Member Avatar for monstercameron

there must be some digital scale, that has a terminal access

Member Avatar for kisei

BTW, we are monitoring the height of the garbage inside the bin. Not the weight. :)

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