Redefining waste management.

In 2014, I co-founded Urbin Solutions, which was what truly brought out my passion for robotics. It started as a project from SHAD, a summer leadership program for high school students interested in business, engineering and/or science.

We were challenged to come up with a business idea that would help Canadians reduce their footprint. Our solution was the Urbin, a self-sorting garbage bin which would reduce the amount of recyclable and compostable waste being sent to landfills, without changing human behaviours.

Engineering & Design

Urbin Prototype 1
Urbin Prototype 2

As one of the Head Engineers, I built two prototypes for the Urbin using Arduino microcontrollers, along with a colleague. We researched and experimented with a variety of sensors to produce our first prototype (left).

The prototype was able to sort paper and food from other types of waste, and used a servo-based swivel system to mechanically sort materials. We later improved our prototype to build a second module that could additionally identify metal, and added a conveyor belt system (right). A video of the second module, which was displayed at a trade show, is shown below.

Awards

Best Prototype

We pitched Urbin Solutions at many entrepreneurial competitions to promote our ideas and accumulate funding. Some of the awards we received include:

  • Shad Valley Entrepreneurship Cup: Best Prototype
  • Waterloo Innovation Challenge: Highest Degree of Innovation
  • Make Your Pitch 2015
  • Young Entrepreneurs Competition 2015
  • Manitoba High School New Venture Championships: Top Idea Pitch

We had a pretty good run with it.

The project was disbanded at the end of 2015, as many of the team members dedicated more time towards university studies. Nonetheless, I am grateful to have been part of this venture from start to finish. It has sparked my interest in engineering and entrepreneurship, taught me to be curious and innovative, and has driven me to pursue a career in the field of robotics.