Considerations:
I am trying to detect if the dustbin is full. The dustbin is a rectangular shoe-box like structure without any lid. The kind of material that will be collected will be mostly hair, paper, carpet etc. I am thinking to use optical sensors. But I do not want to go through the pain of cleaning sensors again and again.
- Are there sensors that can be put in a glass case and they can penetrate through the glass? This will protect the sensor from dust/collected material.
- Is there a better alternative then optical sensors (IR, depth, laser,weight, acoustic, capacitive, touch, limit switches ).
- The system needs to be robust.
- Weight sensors: seems to be unreliable because the weight is not consistent.
- Touch sensors: The material, say paper, if it touches the sensor then we can think the dustbin is full. But because dustbin is long (not cylindrical), the indication can be false. Also, in case of hair, the weight or touch, neither can help in detection.
- Multiple IR sensors: These can be mounted and based on blockage, we can detect if the system is full but again I want to eliminate the need of cleaning sensors again and again.
Best Answer
You can always use IR sensor. But they need to be cleaned. Rather if you want you can use ultrasonic distance measurement sensors. This way you can calculate the height of the trash in the bin when placed under the sensor. And you don't need to clean the sensor. Another advantage will be that no matter what container you use, the system can be used. This saves your thought on mounting the sensor inside or along with the bin and the bin remains replaceable. Programming and getting results from the sensor however depend on the thoughtfulness of the programmer.