Automated garbage can device

An automated garbage can device for automatically transporting garbage to a pickup location, said device comprising:

• a garbage can having an outer wall defining an interior space of said garbage can wherein said interior space is configured to contain a garbage bag, said garbage can having an electronics space being defined beneath said interior space, said electronics space being fluidly discrete from said interior space, said outer wall having a front side and a back side and a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said garbage can having a bottom wall, said interior space having a lower bounding surface, said lower bounding surface being spaced upwardly from said bottom wall, said lower bounding surface having a first side intersecting a second side, said first side sloping downwardly from said first lateral side of said outer wall toward said bottom wall, said second side sloping downwardly from said second lateral side of said outer wall toward said bottom wall, said first side and said second side intersecting at a point which extends between said front side and said back side of said outer wall, said electronics space being defined between said bottom wall and said lower bounding surface of said interior space;
• a pair of cushions, each cushion of said pair of cushions being integrated into said outer wall of said garbage can, each cushion of said pair of cushions being positioned on a respective one of said first lateral side or said second lateral side of said outer wall, each cushion of said pair of cushions extending partially around said front side and said back side of said outer wall of said garbage can, each cushion of said pair of cushions being oriented to extend along a line being oriented parallel to said bottom wall of said garbage can, each cushion of said pair of cushions being comprised of a resiliently compressible material wherein each cushion of said pair of cushions is configured to absorb impact energy when said garbage can strikes against an object;
• a lid being hingedly coupled to said garbage can, said lid being positionable between an open position exposing said interior space of said garbage can or a closed position closing said interior space, said lid having a top surface and an outer edge, said outer edge having a first sidelong side and a second sidelong side each extending between a forward side and a rear side, said lid including a plurality of hinges, each hinge of said plurality of hinges including a first portion being coupled to said top surface of said lid and a second portion being coupled to said back side of said outer wall of said garbage can, said first portion of each hinge of said plurality of hinges extending away from said rear side of said outer edge of said lid;
• a pair of lid handles, each lid handle of said pair of lid handles being coupled to said lid for opening or closing said lid, each lid handle of said pair of lid handles being positioned on said top surface of said lid, each lid handle of said pair of lid handles being positioned adjacent to a respective one of said first sidelong side and said second sidelong side of said outer edge of said lid, each lid handle of said pair of lid handles being positioned proximate an intersection between said forward side of said outer edge of said lid and said respective first sidelong side or said second sidelong side of said outer edge of said lid, said pair of lid handles being oriented to angle toward each other;
• a plurality of rollers, each roller of said plurality of rollers being rotatably coupled to said garbage can wherein each roller of said plurality of rollers is configured to roll along a support surface to transport said garbage can along the support surface, said outer wall of said garbage can having a plurality of wheels wells, each wheel well of said plurality of wheel wells being recessed into a respective one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said outer wall of said garbage can, each wheel well of said plurality of wheels wells intersecting a respective one of said front side and said back side of said outer wall of said garbage can, each wheel well of said plurality of wheel wells having a bounding surface, said bounding surface curving between said bottom wall of said garbage can and said respective front side or said back side of said outer wall of said garbage can, each roller of said plurality of rollers being located in a respective one of said plurality of wheel wells, each roller of said plurality of rollers having a rolling surface, said rolling surface of a respective roller being continuously arcuate about a rotational axis of said respective roller wherein said rolling surface is configured to roll along the support surface, said rolling surface of each roller of said plurality of rollers being oriented co-arcuate with said bounding surface of said respective wheel well;
• a plurality of axles, each axle of said plurality of axles being rotatably coupled between said outer wall of said garbage can and a respective one of said plurality of rollers, each axle of said plurality of axles being spaced upwardly from said bottom wall of said garbage can, said rolling surface of each roller of said plurality of rollers curving downwardly beyond said bottom wall of said garbage can wherein said bottom wall is configured to be elevated above the support surface, each axle of said plurality of axles having a rotational axis being oriented parallel to said bottom wall of said garbage can, each axle of said plurality of axles defining said rotational axis of said respective roller;
• a plurality of shock absorbers, each shock absorber of said plurality of shock absorbers being integrated into said bottom wall of said garbage can, each shock absorber of said plurality of shock absorbers being coupled to a respective one of said plurality of axles, each shock absorber of said plurality of shock absorbers being oriented perpendicular to said bottom wall of said garbage can, each axle of said plurality of axles being movably upwardly or downwardly on said garbage can wherein said plurality of shock absorbers is configured to reduce bouncing when said plurality of rollers either rolls over objects on the support surface or rolls through depressions on the support surface;
• a plurality of motors, each motor of said plurality of motors being integrated into said garbage can, each motor of said plurality of motors being in mechanical communication with a respective one of said plurality of rollers, each motor of said plurality of motors being positioned in said electronics space in said garbage can, a respective motor rotating said respective roller in a forward direction when said respective motor is actuated to rotate in a first direction wherein said garbage can is configured to travel forwardly on the support surface toward a collection spot, said respective motor rotating said respective roller in a rearward direction when said respective motor is actuated to rotate in a second direction wherein said garbage can is configured to travel rearwardly on the support surface toward a home position;
• a camera being coupled to said garbage can, said camera being oriented to point along a direction of travel of said garbage can wherein said camera is configured to capture imagery along said direction of travel of said garbage can;
• a processor being integrated into said garbage can, said processor being positioned in said electronics space in said garbage can, said processor being in electrical communication with each motor of said plurality of motors, said processor being in electrical communication with said camera;
• an electronic memory storing a database comprising an image analysis module, said electronic memory being in electrical communication with said processor, said image analysis module analyzing data from said camera to define a route of travel for said garbage can, said electronic memory being in electrical communication with said camera wherein said image analysis module is configured to analyze the imagery captured by said camera thereby identifying objects in the imagery, said electronic memory being positioned in said electronics space in said garbage can, said processor actuating each motor of said plurality of motors to rotate in said first direction according to said route of travel for said garbage can wherein said garbage can is configured to automatically travel between said home position and said collection spot, each motor of said plurality of motors being independently actuatable with respect to each other wherein said processor is configured to steer said garbage can along said route of travel and avoid the objects identified by said image analysis module;
• a transceiver being integrated into said garbage can, said transceiver being in electrical communication with said processor, said transceiver being in wireless communication with an extrinsic electronic device wherein said extrinsic electronic device is configured to communicate operational commands to said processor to remotely control said garbage can;
• a pair of front motion sensors, each front motion sensor of said pair of front motion sensors being coupled to said front side of said outer wall of said garbage can wherein said each front motion sensor of said pair of front motion sensors is configured to sense motion relative to said front side, each front motion sensor of said pair of front motion sensors being positioned adjacent to said bottom wall of said garbage can, each front motion sensor of said pair of front motion sensors being in electrical communication with said processor, said processor de-actuating said plurality of motors when said pair of front motions sensors senses motion wherein said processor is configured to park said garbage can in said collection spot;
• a back motion sensor being coupled to said back side of said outer wall of said garbage can wherein said back motion sensor is configured to sense motion relative to said back side, said back motion sensor being located adjacent to said bottom wall of said garbage can, said back motion sensor being in electrical communication with said processor, said processor de-actuating said plurality of motors when said back motion sensor senses motion wherein said processor is configured to park said garbage can in said home position;
• a power supply being integrated into said garbage can, said power supply being in electrical communication with said processor, said power supply comprising at least one rechargeable battery;
• a charging unit being mountable to a structural support wherein said charging unit is configured to be elevated above the support surface at said home position, said charging unit being in electrical communication with a power source, said charging unit broadcasting a charging signal, said charging unit having a rear surface and a front surface and an exterior surface extending between said rear surface and said front surface, said exterior surface curving inwardly between said rear surface and said front surface, said rear surface having an area being greater than an area of said front surface;
• and
• a plurality of charging plates, each charging plate of said plurality of charging plates being coupled to said garbage can, each charging plate of said plurality of charging plates being in electrical communication with said processor, a respective one of said charging plates being in wireless communication with said charging unit when said respective charging plate abuts against said charging unit when said garbage can is parked against said charging unit, said respective charging plate receiving said charging signal from said charging unit for charging said rechargeable battery, each charging plate of said plurality charging plates being positioned on a respective one of said back side or said first lateral side or said second lateral side of said outer wall of said garbage can, each charging plate of said plurality of charging plates which are positioned on said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said outer wall of said garbage can being positioned between a respective one of said pair of cushions and said lid, said charging plate which is located on said back side being in wireless communication with said charging unit when said garbage can is parked for charging said rechargeable battery, each charging plate of said plurality of charging plates having an exterior surface of said charging plates extending between said outer wall of said garbage can and a distal surface of a respective charging plate, said exterior surface of said respective charging plate curving inwardly between said outer wall of said garbage can and said distal surface of said respective charging plate, said distal surface of each charging plate of said plurality of charging plates lying on a plane being oriented parallel to said respective front side or first lateral side or second lateral side of said outer wall of said garbage can, said distal surface of said charging plate which is positioned on said back side of said outer wall of said garbage can abutting said front surface of said charging unit when said garbage can is parked against said charging unit.