Mark GjølMar 10

I would like #homeassistant to alert me if I have forgotten to take out the trash. First thought is a proximity sensor of some sort. Or just anything where I can detect that my trash can has moved the ten or so meters away from my house to the road (there are multiple trash cans on different schedules). A sensor that does nothing except report signal strength might also work.

Any good ideas?

Show threadKevin Morin
@Gjoel Maybe a vibration sensor? If it did not detect long vibrations during the day, it means that the trash has not been taken out? Or a NFC tag that you could scan when you take the trash out (it is cheaper and nobody can steel the tag, but you have to do something, it is less automated)?
Mar 10 at 8:05pmWeb
Show threadMark GjølMar 10

@kmorin There are a couple of solutions of varying viability (and utility)...

NFC: Yes, but I don't like the manual part. Having to bring up a phone won't be easy to sell to the wife.
Vibration sensor: Maybe. At least if I tune the threshold just right it might be a good indicator. Of course, then I could probably also just use signal strength.
Door sensor: It would have to accept a rather long distance, since I won't be placing the bins the exact same place.
Infrared LoS sensor: Probably needs continuous power, even if I actually only need it to fire once every other week at a set time.

Anything big attached to the bin would have to be very securely attached due to the manner in which they empty them (the truck bangs them a few times to get everything out). And of course, Everything is located outside, so that's another fun challenge.