This project was born out of necessity. As they say: "Necessity is the mother of invention", so did this project come into realization. The need was to be able to wash refuse containers (garbage bins) while the garbage is being collected from the street by the truck. Thus, eliminating the need to send another "specialized" washing truck. This would reduce not just capex but also the operating costs and overheads in parts and maintenance. The first proof of concept was presented as shown in the video below:
After the PoC was accepted we moved on to implementing the first version (version 1) which was made using a Terberg RosRoca garbage compactor truck mounted with a Terberg TGV2 bin-lifter. We deployed this system just above the packer-sweeper system. This was the first design and was intended to serve 1,100 L & 2,500 L metallic wheelie bins. The first successful run was captured in video below:
The final truck presentation video is below:
This truck was also installed with a high pressure jet water blasting handgun which was also controlled by the PLC. The operator needs to manually switch the water line selection from the robot to the gun line. This is demonstrated below:
After version 1 was successfully deployed in the field, we got orders for more such vehicles with the requirement to wash smaller plastic bins. Thus version 2 came into being:
EXPANDED TECHNICAL DETAILS
Robust Industrial Automation
ARDBOX is an industrial-grade PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) based on Arduino technology, designed to bridge the gap between hobbyist prototyping and professional factory automation.
- High-Voltage I/O Isolation: Features 12V to 24V isolated digital inputs and outputs, allowing the Arduino core to safely control industrial actuators, conveyor belts, and pneumatic valves without electrical interference.
- DIN-Rail Mountable Design: The hardware is housed in a professional DIN-rail enclosure, ensuring it can be integrated directly into standard industrial electrical cabinets alongside traditional PLCs from Siemens or Allen-Bradley.
Professional Software Integration
- Ladder Logic Compatibility: While programmable via the standard Arduino IDE, it also supports industrial programming standards like OpenPLC, allowing engineers to use Ladder Logic (LD) or Structured Text (ST) for mission-critical reliability.