Mechanical sweeping machines currently available in the market have technological limitations that complicate the driver’s work and cause machinery defects.
The workers' vision needs to focus on the residue on the ground most of the time, and therefore they cannot pay enough attention to the road. Plus, the worker controls with a joy-stick the movement of the vacuum, which can damage the machinery, as there are unavoidable obstacles.
For that reason, Valoriza has developed a Smart Street cleaning service, 3D Smart Cleaning, funded by the CDTI. It consists of a functional sweeping machine prototype, installed on a model from manufacturer Schmidt, based on the design of an innovative solution pack formed by three main elements: hardware, mechanical system and specific and transversal control software, with two 3D laser cameras as a key point.
This protoype, adapted to the sweeping machines, achieves, among other things, automating vacuuming and improving performance and efficacy of mechanical sweeping.
Automatization consists of:
-Automatic regulation of the vacuum that adapts to the terrain.
-Detection of people, cyclists, cars, and anticollision with objects on the road and alert with sound and light signals in the cabin.
-Guided sweep system to the driver thanks to the curb detecting system.
“With this project, we have achieved a greater sweeping efficiency thanks to the automatic regulation of the vacuum, which allows automating the mechanical street sweeping process, avoiding the worker controlling the vacuum manually”, explains Jesús Hernández, Head of Machinery of Valoriza Medioambiente.
Within the framework of this project, we have installed several cameras in blind spots and in the vacuuming system to provide complete vision and information to the worker.
This entails a 10% productivity increase and better service quality, as the wear on the vacuum is reduced and avoids unnecessary machinery stops. We also achieve a better rate of collected waste residue, better safety for workers, and reducing carbon emissions.
Ultimately, this is efficacious, functional equipment that improves the work’s performance, safety, and quality.
“After all these years of testing in different municipalities all over Spain and confirming its efficacy, we offer this option in current and future tenders”.
