Optimal waste collection routing using smart waste containers and smart waste collection vehicles

A computerized method of operating a waste collection system including one or more waste containers for receiving waste;

• one or more sensors disposed on the one or more waste containers, the one or more sensors including:
• a waste status sensor to determine a volume of waste in a waste container of the one or more waste containers;
• and
• a spatial position determining sensor for determining a spatial position of the waste container;
• a server system for receiving one or more signals via a wireless communication network from the one or more sensors, wherein the computerized method includes executing instructions in at least one processor in the server system for:
• computing from the one or more signals an optimal waste collection strategy for one or more waste collection vehicles to collect waste from the one or more waste containers;
• wherein the one or more waste collection vehicles include one or more vehicle sensors configured to sense at least a spatial location and a waste capacity status of the one or more waste collection vehicles;
• and wherein the processor is further configured to:
• modify the optimal strategy for at least one waste collection vehicle of the one or more waste collection vehicles based on one or more of a type of the at least one waste collection vehicle and a type of waste to be collected relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a spatial location of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a waste capacity status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a degree of access of a given type of the at least one waste collection vehicle to a given waste container relative to a given type of access of at least one other waste collection vehicle to the given waste container relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a current route of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, current traffic conditions for the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to current traffic conditions of at least one other waste collection vehicle;
• and
• cause one or more of the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle to change its current waste collection route in dependence upon the modified optimal strategy communicated from the server system to the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle.

A software product recorded on non-transient machine-readable data storage media, wherein the software product is executable upon computing hardware for:

• receiving one or more signals via a wireless communication network from one or more sensors disposed on one or more waste containers for receiving waste, the one or more sensors including;
• a waste status sensor to determine a volume of waste in a waste container of the one or more waste containers;
• and
• a spatial position determining sensor for determining a spatial position of the waste container;
• operating a server system to receive the one or more signals via a wireless communication network from the one or more sensors, wherein the server system is configured to receive the one or more signals to compute an optimal waste collection strategy for one or more waste collection vehicles to collect waste from the one or more waste containers, wherein the one or more waste collection vehicles include one or more vehicle sensors configured to sense at least a spatial location and a waste capacity status of the one or more waste collection vehicles;
• and wherein the software product is further executable on the computing hardware to:
• modify the optimal strategy for at least one waste collection vehicle of the one or more waste collection vehicles based on one or more of a type of the at least one waste collection vehicle and a type of waste to be collected relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a spatial location of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a waste capacity status of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a degree of access of a given type of the at least one waste collection vehicle to a given waste container relative to a given type of access of at least one other waste collection vehicle to the given waste container relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, a current route of the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to at least one other waste collection vehicle, current traffic conditions for the at least one waste collection vehicle relative to current traffic conditions of at least one other waste collection vehicle;
• and
• cause one or more of the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle to change its current waste collection route in dependence upon the modified optimal strategy communicated from the server system to the at least one waste collection vehicle and the at least one other waste collection vehicle.