Abstract—Cleanliness, a crucial component of our daily life, is reflected in the significant role played by street sweepers day to day. Due to the limited manpower and the risks of the highway itself, it cannot be done effectively daily. Mechanization of road sweeping activity is gaining importance, especially in metropolitan cities. With the need for cleaning that requires less human effort and is adjusted to the dimensions of Peruvian highways, the objective of this work is to conceptually design a Trash Collection Machine (TCM) with a drag mechanism. With this, the aim is to improve efficiency and safety in cleaning, transforming urban waste management, and contributing to environmental sustainability. Highway “Variante de Uchumayo” (HVU) in Arequipa, Peru is considered as a practical case in this study. The methodology implemented for this design is based on the Pahl and Beitz Model. First, visits were made to the HVU, and the problems of accumulation, efficiency, and safety were recognized. Then task clarification, conceptual design, embodiment design, and detail design of the machine are carried out. As a result, the technical specifications and systems involved in Trash Collection Machine (TCM) are synthesized. Also, the TCM was evaluated technically and economically according to the standard VDI 2225, highlighting its superiority over the manual cleaning process. This solution offers an efficient and low-cost alternative for highway cleaning. Likewise, the manufacturing and automation of the machine are considered as a future study.

Keywords—machine design, trash collection, conceptual design, highway

Cite: Trunks Giorgio Vásquez Llave, Luis Angel Luque Huaman, Boris Percy Ramos Torres, José Canazas Rodríguez, and Yuri Lester Silva Vidal, "Conceptual Design of a Trash Collecting Machine for Highways in Arequipa, Peru," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 477-488, 2024.

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