Systems and methods for detecting missing refuse cans

A refuse vehicle comprising:

• a chassis coupled to a plurality of tractive elements;
• a body assembly supported by the chassis, the body assembly defining a refuse compartment configured to receive refuse therein;
• an actuator assembly configured to engage with a refuse can and to move the refuse can relative to the body assembly;
• a sensor coupled to at least one of the chassis, the body assembly, or the actuator assembly;
• and
• a control system configured to:
• capture, from the sensor, data regarding a pickup location associated with the refuse can;
• determine, based on the data, if the refuse can is present at the pickup location;
• upon determining that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location, generate a first indication that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location and a second indication that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location, the first indication different from the second indication;
• provide the first indication to a first operator of the refuse vehicle and the second indication to a second operator of a second refuse vehicle;
• and
• upon determining that the refuse can is present at the pickup location, initiate, by the actuator assembly, a refuse collection operation.

A method for detecting a refuse can, the method comprising:

• acquiring data of an area surrounding a first refuse vehicle from at least one sensor coupled to the first refuse vehicle, the area including a pickup location associated with a refuse can;
• determining, based on the data, if the refuse can is present at the pickup location;
• upon determining that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location, generating a first indication that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location and a second indication that the refuse can is absent from the pickup location, the first indication different from the second indication;
• providing the first indication to a first operator of the first refuse vehicle and the second indication to a second operator of a second refuse vehicle;
• and
• upon determining that the refuse can is present at the pickup location, initiating a refuse collection operation.