TL;DR
- AI on a refuse truck analyses waste, not people, and also works at night and in the rain.
- The system does not see through an opaque bag, but it does recognise and count that bag.
- Installation takes less than 4 hours on average and the driver simply carries on with his work.
Cameras and AI on a refuse truck raise questions. From drivers, from customers and from policymakers. Some questions are based on a wrong idea of what the technology does. Below we clear up seven misconceptions, using D4T from Rematics as an example.
1. "The camera films passers-by and neighbours"
The camera is aimed at the waste stream during the lift. The AI is trained to recognise waste fractions, non-conformities and hazardous items. Rematics only processes the data needed for that. Waste recognition is not facial recognition. Read more about privacy in the frequently asked questions.
2. "AI sees through waste bags"
No. A camera does not see through an opaque bag. D4T can recognise and count such a bag. Waste lying loose in the container is visible to the system. With transparent bags, such as PMD bags, the contents are often visible.
3. "It does not work in the rain or in the dark"
Many rounds start at 3 or 4 in the morning. That is why lighting comes with the camera, and D4T also works in the dark. The camera is usually partly sheltered and keeps working until the lens is completely covered with water. The hardware is built for dust, vibration and changing weather.
4. "A few photos per lift are enough"
Waste falls in layers. In one photo you mainly see the top. D4T analyses the entire lift at 40 images per second. That way the system also sees what was under the first layer, and small items such as batteries are spotted more easily.
5. "Installation takes the truck off the road for days"
Installing D4T takes less than 4 hours per vehicle on average. A vehicle that comes in in the morning can be back on the road the same day.
6. "It only works with one type of container"
D4T works regardless of the collection system: wheelie bins, coloured bags and large commercial containers. Recognition stays equally accurate. Thanks to a modular design, the system fits different types of collection vehicles. On the product page you can read more about the technology.
7. "AI replaces the driver"
The driver keeps driving, emptying and deciding. What changes is the visual inspection. From the cab, a driver cannot always see what is in a container. D4T carries out that inspection automatically at every lift and records it with images. If the system sees a hazardous item, the driver immediately gets an audio signal. That makes his work safer and saves admin.
What AI on the refuse truck does do
AI on the refuse truck provides objective data about what is in each container. Collectors use that data for conversations with customers. Inter-municipal authorities use it to follow sorting behaviour per neighbourhood. Bram Peetermans wrote an opinion piece about it: What if waste tells us more than we think?
Another question not covered here? Get in touch or request a demo.