If there’s a better name for a trash can than Bigbelly, we’d like to hear it. The company produces smart trash cans, and there’s a chance you may have already deposited some litter inside one of Bigbelly’s receptacles already, as they’re being deployed around the world right now. What you may not have known at the time is that inside is a Qualcomm Gobi 3G modem with GPS, and it’s the heart of Bigbelly’s smartness.

Imagine a city with thousands of trash cans, all connected to a central point, providing live information on which ones need emptying, where more bins are needed, and even if the inside is getting hot and smelly. This is the functionality the Qualcomm chip brings to each Bigbelly smart trash can. It’s powered by a large solar panel on the top, which powers an internal compactor to make the most out of the space. Even the door can be remotely locked when it gets full, or potentially in the event of a security alert.

Information from each one is displayed at a central office, where collectors can be deployed to where they’re most needed, instead of trudging round emptying bins that aren’t yet full. There are considerable time, effort, and money-saving opportunities to be had by optimizing routes and collecting historical data on usage. But ultimately, it’s us who will benefit most, because when we find somewhere to put our rubbish, there’s a strong chance it won’t be overflowing.

Because Bigbelly cans are network connected, teams can access the data on the move, react to any emergencies, and adjust routes accordingly. When it’s laid out like this, connecting everyday dumb devices to the Internet suddenly makes complete sense.

By: DocMemory
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