The Dog Waste Station
Created by
Planet Wiser
Griselda Fisniku
Himel Miah
Kevin Belloso
Michael Bermejo
Ramiro Buestan
Reon Samuel
Table of Contents
Summary by Michael Bermejo and Ramiro Buestan………………………………………….2
Introduction by Michael Bermejo and Ramiro Buestan………………………………2
Description by Reon Samuel……………………………………………………………………. 4
Outer Casing……………………………………………………………………………… 5
Solar Panel…………………………………………………………………………………5
LED Light Indicator……………..……………………………………………………….6
Waste Bin and Deposit Hole…..………………………………………………………….7
Advertising Screen and LCD Monitor…………………………………………………..8
Treat Storage Container………………………………………………………………….9
Treat Chute and Portion Cups………………………………………………………….10
Motion Sensor……………………………………………………………………………11
Solenoid…………………………………………………………………………………..12
Operation of the DSW…………………………………………………………………..14
Innovation Process………………………………………………………………………………14
Cost Analysis by Kevin Villon and Griselda Fisniku………………………………….15
Scheduling by Kevin Villon……………………………………………………………..17
Evaluation Techniques by Reon Samuel, Kevin Villon,and Himel Miah……………………20
Conclusion by Himel Miah………….…………………………………………………………..20
References by Reon Samuel..…………………………………………………………………..22
Summary
Ideally, our Dog Waste Station will be put in dog parks or areas with high pet traffic to incentivize dog owners to dispose of their pet’s waste responsibly. The station dispenses treats for pets to enjoy. It works by sensing the bags being thrown in using a motion sensor. At that point a light comes on, indicating that the lock is disengaged on the dispensation knob. The user now has the option for the next 15 seconds to turn the knob to receive a portion of treats. The waste will be picked up by the park workers or caretaker of the facility. This entire process is sustainable due to the solar panel connected to our station. Any extra energy produce will be reverted to the electric grid giving the facility rebates that can be applied to their monthly electric bill
Introduction
With the gradual increase of the dog population in New York City, the New York Health Department has stated that there is a population of 80,000 dogs in NYC (Kolomatsky, 2019, p.1). With the number of pet owners increasing, the amount of dog waste being left at local dog parks has increased drastically. According to a survey done by the Animal Waste Collection Association in Maryland, only about 60 percent of dog owners pick up after their pets. We will implement a solution to this problem by constructing a dog waste station that collects the dog’s waste and dispenses treats in return if the dog owner chooses to receive one. The machine itself will be self-sufficient, excess energy goes towards the park and advertisements to pay for the treats that the machine will dispense while still making us a decent profit. Additionally, we intend on looking for partners that would want to be advertised on our machine, since there will be a large area for display that will be visible to the dog owners once they throw their dog waste in it. Companies that we are looking to partner with are dog food companies, dog store companies, etc.
We are initially starting with a trial run, to monitor the performance of the station and gather feedback from the users. Our report will include costs and materials needed for one machine. To offset the parks’ extra labor cost for picking up the trash, we offer any excess energy we produce. The first trial will take place in K9 Korral Dog Run located at 8445 Park Ln S, Queens, NY 11421. This will be our test site as we look to expand over our trial month. Our goal is to make this machine with a motion sensor, plastic housing, portion dispenser, circuit, Led Light, Plastic Bin, Solar Panel, and dog treats. The total cost for the dog waste machine will be around $1255.00. An LCD screen is also attached to our station, where we will share ads for revenue. After the cost of maintenance, we expect to make $2,431.00 per month per machine.
The purpose of this machine is to stop the amount of dog waste being left on the floor and add an incentive for the dogs that have their waste thrown out on the machine. The estimated dimensions of this machine will be 24x21x48 inches. The implementation of this machine in local parks will accomplish a reduction in dog waste found in the streets. In this proposal, we will provide a detailed technical description that gives in-depth specifications of each component of the dog machine as well as an explanation of the process that will take place. We will include a presentation and appendices that will explain the process of the products to give a further insightful description of our product.
Description
The description of the DWS Dog Waste Station will be done from the outside in; it consists of a rectangular outer casing with a pull-out 15-gallon waste bin and solar panel connected on top. Inside the DWS are a 12-gallon treat container, a motion detector, and a portion cup with a treat chute and solenoid. At the front of the station is a LED light, a turn knob, an opening to collect the treats, a hole to put in the poop, a waste receptacle, and an advertising screen.
Image 1: The DWS outer shell and its connecting parts.
Outer Casing
The outer casing of the DWS is rectangular shaped of dimension 24x21x48 inches, green, and has a curved roof. The roof’s curvature functions as an aesthetic design and prevents the settling of debris or water on the station. It is made from High-Density Polyethylene, also known as HDPE, as it is a very versatile plastic and widely used outdoors due to its resistance to extreme weather, mold, and mildew. An additional benefit of using HDPE is that it can be dyed to a specific color, eliminating painting costs. Below the led indicator is a knob mounted on the device’s outer case. It is a silver rectangular knob that the user turns to receive their treats, as seen in image 1. Under the knob is the treat slot where the user can access the treat; it has a dimension of 4×3 inches.
Image 2: Expert power solar panel used on the DWS.
Solar Panel
Mounted at the top of the DWS is a flexible solar panel produced by Expert Power, a subsidiary of SunPower, as seen in image 2. The panel is rectangular and has dimensions: of 25×21.9×1 inch, weighs 2.5lbs, and has 16 photovoltaic cells. Due to its flexibility, it can be shaped to the roof’s curvature and improve the absorption angle of solar radiation. Expert power was chosen because it has an efficiency of between 22-and 25%, above the industry standard of 11-15%.
Image 3: LED indicator and its connecting part.
LED Light Indicator
Mounted to the front of the station, three inches from the top, is a green LED indicator created by the brand Smseace as seen in image 3. The indicator is used to signal to the user that the device is in dispensing mode thus they can retrieve the dog treats if so desired. Its dimensions are 20.7×8.8mm, chromed polish, waterproof, made from heat and corrosive resistant metal. The LED indicator is attached to the station by fitting it inside an 8.9mm hole drilled into the front outer shell. It is then held in place with the use of the fastening nut and the waterproof coil, sealing both the LED and the drilled hole. This LED indicator has a flame-retardant base, 150mm tail line, and its brightness. With its flame-retardant base, the LED indicator suppresses any possible electrical fires keeping the device safe. Having a tail line of 150 mm the indicator has ample length of connection wire to be connected to the motion sensor that supplies it with power. In addition having a brightness rating of 60 lumens the indicator light can be visible on the sunniest of days and has a lifespan of 30000 hours.
Image 4: A section view of the DWS
Waste Bin and Deposit Hole
Nineteen inches from the collection slot is a hexagonal hole used to deposit the dog waste into the station, leading to the waste bin. The waste bin is located below the deposit hole 20x16x24 inches, green as seen in image 4. It can hold 15 gallons of waste and fits snugly inside its outer casing to prevent rodents from entering.
Image 5:The LCD advertising d Monitor
Advertising Screen and LCD Monitor
Above the waste deposit hole is an advertising screen that is embedded in the outer shell and flushed with the outer surface of the DWS. The advertising screen is transparent in color, made from plexiglass, and has dimensions of 20×20 inches. Fixed to the Advertising screen with the use of clear adhesive glue is an LCD advertising monitor seen in image 5. The monitor is manufactured by Hubei Kadiyin Technology Co. Ltd and has the dimensions 18.5 x18.5 inches and is black. At the back of the LCD monitor is a USB port, an SD card slot, and an HDMI input, and at its front are two speakers for audio. This monitor has 3G android capabilities, so ads can be uploaded to it remotely if so desired or they can be manually added via a USB drive. The LCD monitor is connected directly to the solar panel which gives it constant power allowing it to operate normally.
Image 6: Showing section view of inside the DWS
Treat Storage Container
At the left side of the station is an opening door with a dimension of 12×18 inches; it is used to fill up the treat storage container inside the station, which can hold 100lb of treats. The treat storage container dimension is 20x12x12 inches and is made from the same material of the outer shell and gray seen in image 6. This treat storage container is molded into the body, preventing the need for mounting brackets and screws. Also, this process makes the storage container waterproof, with the added benefits of being mold and mildew resistant which prevents the treats from spoilage.
Image 7: A sketch and section view of treat chute and portion cup assembly.
Treat Chute and Portion Cup.
Under the storage compartment connects a chute that transports treats via gravity to the treat slot located at the front of the station. It is L-shaped with dimensions of 13×1.9×4 inches and is made from aluminum and mounted under the storage container with glue seen in image 7. Located inside the vertical section of the chute is a circular portion cup with a 2-inch opening found on the upper and lower side and sealed at its center. The importance of the portion cup is it dispenses an exact amount of treat each time the knob is turned allowing for portion control. The portion cup is connected to the chute via a shaft that leads to the turn handle on the outside. The purpose of the treat chute and portion cup being made from aluminum is that it is resistant to rust making it durable. In addition, aluminum offers a slick surface allowing the treats to glide smoothly down, while at the same time preventing rodents from climbing the chute. Aluminum also has an antimicrobial property rated 99.9% against Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus), ensuring no pathogen forms in or along the chute.
Image 8: The motion sensor and position inside the DWS
Motion Sensor
Above the waste bin aligned parallel with the waste deposit hole and attached to the inside of the body is a motion sensor that detects when the fecal matter is inserted. Bluejay creates this motion sensor; it is white and has a length of 34.5mm and a radius of 25.5mm seen in image 8. This device was chosen because its time delay and sensitivity switch can be adjusted. By adjusting its sensitivity, even if insects manage to get inside, the device will not activate due to its motion. While the time delay adjustment determines how long the station remains activated. The purpose of the motion detector is to act as a switch. It connects to the solar panel and feeds power to the LED indicator outside
Image 9: The solenoid.
Solenoid
The solenoid is found inside the front outer shell and parallel with the shaft that connects the portion cup to the knob. It is manufactured by Adafruit and is rectangular in shape with dimensions of 1.905×5.842×7.62cm, nickel gray, seen in image 4. The solenoid has a shaft that protrudes out its front and is inserted into a similar diameter hole on the turning knob. The solenoid is connected to the led indicator in the series circuit, leading back to the motion sensor completing the circuit. When the solenoid is activated, its shaft is retracted, allowing the user to spin the knob and take their treat. When the motion sensor cuts its power, the shaft returns to its initial position, thus preventing the handle from turning.
Operation of the DWS
The solar panel converts the radiant energy absorbed from the sun to electrical energy. This electrical energy is then sent to the motion detector which acts as a switch. When the dog waste is dropped into the station it activates the motion sensor which sends electrical power to the LED indicator, displaying a green light. The green light signals to the user that the knob can be turned. Simultaneously when the light is turned on power is also sent to the solenoid which releases the turn knob so that it can be turned by the user, who receives their portion of treats. After 15 seconds the motion sensor deactivates cutting power to the LED light and solenoid which locks the handle preventing it from being turned.
Innovation Process
We chose the K9 Korral Dog Run as our first location because it’s a sizable popular park with good sunlight. Here it would be exposed to a large part of our target audience, dog owners. Though you don’t have to use the DWS to see the advertisement any passerby would be exposed to our advertisement panel. It would also be in front of a busy road that is the main entrance to the Jackie Robinson Parkway. For the park we place them in, we offer all excess energy produced by our solar panels to offset the extra labor it would be to pick up one extra trash can. A large part of the trial run is to provide analytics to companies as to how much exposure our station receives in order to set a competitive rate. We estimate that we could charge $700 to $1000 per month per slot; ideally, we can fill three spaces with different companies. With this estimate, we receive a return on investment almost immediately.
Costs Analysis:
| Material | Cost ($) |
| Solenoid | $19.80 USD |
| Chute Assembly | $280.00 USD |
| Solar Panel | $85.00 USD |
| Handle | $7.99 USD |
| Shell | $700.00 USD |
| 5 Led Lights | $12.99 USD |
| Monitor | $150.00 USD |
| Total: | $1255.80 USD |
Table 1. Materials itemized
Materials that we are going to need to build the DWS are a small solenoid, the treat chute assembly, a 50W flexible solar panel, a replacement handle turn knob, the DWS shell, and 5 pieces of LED Indicator Lights, and the display monitor. The way the machine is built and how these materials are connected to each other is explained in the technical description.
Maintenance:
| Labor cost | Dog treats per machine | Cleaning products | Park fee | Number of machines | Total cost per month | Transportation
expenses per month |
| $22.00 USD / hr | $4.80 USD /lbs | $3.00 USD per maintenance inspection | $200.00 USD per month | 1 | $319.20 USD | $250.00 USD |
| Maintenance done by one person in one day. | 8 | $2553.60 USD | $320.00 USD | |||
| Number of dog parks in NYC | 60 | $19152.00 USD | $450.00 USD | |||
Table 2. Recurring cost
The expected cost incurred per month to service a varying amount of station can be seen on Table 2. This number does not include broken parts or unforeseen expenses. Though, this number is a fair representation since maintenance won’t take up an entire hour ideally. We can also see from the table when it’s time for expansion, there are plenty of other potential dog parks. Each dog park will be reimbursed $200 to include this our DWS in their park’s trash runs. As an added bonus, all excess electricity we produce, will go back into the parks’ powergrid. Transportation section of the table includes the maintenance, gas, and insurance of our vehicle. The transportation price doesn’t scale per machine. This estimate is considering potential gas prices after flat monthly costs like insurance.
| Number of machines | Expected income per month | Total expenses per month | Profit per month |
| 1
|
$3000.00 USD | $569.00 USD | $2,431.00 USD |
| 8
|
$24,000.00 USD | $2,873.60 USD | $21,126.40 USD |
| 60
|
$180,000.00 USD | $19,602.00 USD | $160,398.00 USD |
Table 3: Net profit per month
Scheduling
| Date | Task | By |
| May 1st, 2022 | Order all small hardware parts necessary to create circuit and mechanism | Reon Samuel Kevin Villon Belloso |
| May 1st, 2022 | Commission the custom bin from 3D printing company | Reon Samuel &Kevin Villon Belloso |
| May 4st, 2022 | Assembly of parts | Reon Samuel Kevin Villon Belloso |
| May 5th, 2022 | DWS gets delivered to the park and installed to work with solar panels. | Reon Samuel & Kevin Villon Belloso |
| TBD | We contacted Con Edison, so we can connect the DWS to the park’s electrical grid. | Expert group |
Table 4. Assembly and Installation scheduling
After we received all parts we assembled the DWS in half a day and ConEdison will be contacted so we can schedule when they can connect our product to the electrical grid of the park. A pre-installation will happen on May 5th including placing our DWS at the park in an optimal location in the relevant space taking into account sunlight and distance from the park’s electrical grid and preparing it for Con Edison. For our trial run, we will monitor and evaluate our product until the end of June. General maintenance would take about 30min.
Task Schedule:
| Date | Maintenance | By |
| 5/10/2022 | Once the DWS is installed, we check to make sure every mechanism and device is working properly and loaded with dog treats | DWS team member |
| Every Tuesday till July as per our trial:
5/17/2022 5/24/2022 5/31/2022 6/7/2022 6/14/2022 6/21/2022 6/28/2022 |
|
DWS
Team Member |
Table 5. Maintenance dates and checklist.
Maintenance is important to keep a seemingly unsanitary waste station clean and presentable. There also needs to be someone to replace the treats when they run out since it wouldn’t be the responsibility of the park to do so. The weekly maintenance will be done to ensure all devices and mechanisms are functioning properly. This would only take a team member about 30 min to do but when we expand, we’ll expect to pay a laborer $22 per hour to do these maintenance runs on different machines per day.
Evaluation Techniques
To evaluate the success of the trial run we will be monitoring the amount of fecal matter on the ground two weeks before installation and compare the data with the amount found after installation of the station over a month. There will also be monitoring of the amount of waste placed in the machine and the number of treats used to better understand how often it needs to be refilled. In addition to monitoring, surveys will also be conducted to analyze how pet owners feel about the machine and what can be done to improve the user experience. The DWS also records electronically each time the motion sensor activates; this information will be streamed to us via the LCD screen’s 3G capabilities. With all the collected information the data can be analyzed to see how the station is incentivizing proper disposal of waste, as well as have analytics that can be shared with companies for advertisement.
Conclusion
We have innovated a trashcan not only to deter littering but also to encourage pet owners to properly dispose of waste. There is an issue with excessive dog waste on the street. On many occasions, people tend to step on dog waste unintentionally. We invented a machine that encourages dog owners to deposit their dog waste in the machine instead of leaving it on the street so that the community can stay clean.
We just completed our invention process in which the DWS was built out of solar panels, exterior shells, LED indicators, turn knobs, garbage collecting slots, waste deposit holes, and waste bins, keeping people healthier more efficiently since dog poop causes hazardous bacteria and pollutants, resulting in less pollution in our community.
The team comprises Reon Samuel, Griselda Fisniku, Kevin Villon Belloso, Michael Bermejo, and Ramiro Buestan, all of whom have extensive expertise in both engineering and community health. We spent every week as a group developing the design, including how it should appear, its structure, and the parts it would be manufactured with. We are confident in what we have accomplished thus far. We plan to expand and create more efficient DWS in the near future. With these devices, we are keeping the environment clean and green.
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