5 questions about artificial intelligence & data capture

1. Isn’t AI in a MRF just a robot that replaces people?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not the actual robot, but the technology that powers the robot—a bit like its brain. AI also is not restricted to robots when it comes to its use within a material recovery facility (MRF), rather, it can be integrated in various locations within a MRF to capture data. Our MACH Vision™ system is designed to deploy AI within a MRF. It can give real-time information and data analysis, increase specific recognition and provide a greater understanding of the material stream, helping improve operations and profitability.

2. Why the need for AI and data capture within a MRF today?

Machinex has developed its own line of sorting equipment, including the Mach Hyspec® optical sorter, which is based on efficient algorithms to detect materials, and uses AI (MACH Vision™) as an add-on to cover blind spots that previous technologies may have missed. Each of these elements is translated into detectable patterns to become data. This data can be stored and will assist operators in their decision-making, reporting and operations optimization. Without data capture, you hardly tap into the potential additional performance of your installed technologies and would therefore miss any custom-tailored opportunities specific to your MRF. AI enhances other technologies when combined together but also can power its own sorting technology, such as our SamurAI™ sorting robot.

3. Why do I need to capture my own data and, once it has been captured, how do I make it actionable with my MRF?

I like to think of this like human intelligence. You might have the world’s highest IQ, but if you don’t use it to learn on your own, what do you actually have? Many may think they can save money by sharing data among the facilities, but material composition changes from area to area. The product percentage always varies in different areas based on machinery, system flow and design. Anomalies from these operations might not be detected if the system solely is based on data outsourced from other facilities. But, once we obtain the data, we can organize and analyze it, thus determining objectives for the MRF. When we capture data from the facility itself, we have accurate and precise data and can truly be impactful. With our current knowledge of sorting technologies and MRF design, we know what the useful signal is to send to the machine which increases our ability to enhance the performance. When one does not have a deep understanding of all the sorting technologies within a MRF, it is harder for them to access the needed information and could hardly program the optimized sorting decision. When we can utilize interconnectivity among the equipment within our system, we get a better assessment for operation optimization.

4. What is the first action I can take to integrate or introduce data capture in my MRF?

For new customers, we can install the MACH Vision™ to begin analyzing data from your operation and, from that data, we can determine possible future needs to upgrade to more intelligent technologies. In a MRF with existing Machinex equipment, we simply can install the MACH Intell™ platform to begin analyzing the data to better understand the material stream and provide the necessary indicators that allow MRF operators to optimize performance.

5. How long will it be before AI takes over all our jobs?

Some may be afraid of AI, but I do not see AI having the ability to read a room and maintain a long-term customer relationship. Therefore, the need for people will never completely be dismissed.