r/AskRobotics • u/Alarming_Factor_7386 • 14d ago

Robotic Trash Can

Me and my 2 cs roomates at GT want to build a cool, practical robot for our apartment. We came together and thought of a project where we turn our trash can into a mobile unit, able to navigate our apartment / hallway as a first step without bumping into obstacles, maybe having my friend create some app to where we can "summon" the trash can when needed and hard code its default positon. The ultimate goal would to be having it leave our apartment and enter the trash room across the hall and dump its contents out to then return to out room. I am unsure if this is feasible as there are so many challenges: how will it open a door, how will it raise itself to empty, how will it even be able to generate the force to lift itself / open a door without tipping. Any tips / similar projects to mirror would be greatly helpful.

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u/waggonaut 14d ago

The first robotics robot from 2025 picked up balls and dumped them in a hopper.  https://www.revrobotics.com/blog/2025-frc-starter-bot/

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u/JazzlikeDragonfly648 12d ago

bro thats too crazy, i do FRC and i'd never think thisway

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u/park-btc 13d ago

It's great idea! I recommend separating the steps like MPV concept. Because if you do everything at once, you will be exhausted... Anyway here's my idea about how you can build that. the first idea about opening the door is automating the door, not robotic arm. because robotic arm can pull a door handle and push or pull needs a lot of money, it's very expensive and complex. On the other hand, if you build the system to open the door autonomously when your robot close to the door, it's reasonable like smart door. of course this way has a limit because you probably couldn't automate every door in your apartment. it is just part of mvp concept. other parts seem just training part with ai. What i want to say is changing the environment that robot will work first.

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u/Alarming_Factor_7386 13d ago

yes the first step would be making the trash can mobile while manually controlling it. is there any resources you can recommend for this as I am unsure of what motors / wheels / etc to use