Granada Hills Charter High School InvenTeam
Electromagnetic Locking Device for Trash Cans
Energy and Environment
Los Angeles, California
2018-2019
The Granada Hills Charter High School InvenTeam invented the System Electromagnetic Assisted Locking (SEAL) aftermarket device to reduce the environmental impact of windblown trash cans in their community. The device is attached to a trash can with suction cups and uses a gyroscope to detect when the trash can is falling, which activates an electromagnet to ensure that the lid does not open and trash does not spill out. A ferromagnet is always present so that the lid cannot be easily opened. The device is printed on a custom PCB to fit on the trash cans required for use by the Los Angeles Bureau of Public Sanitation. The device’s power is optimized to last on one battery for at least one year.
