Waste Stream Scanner
Multi-Spectral + Mass + RFID Waste Item Scanner
The waste stream scanner is a 15-kilogram diagnostic instrument housed in a 316L stainless steel frame that identifies discarded items to route them into recovery streams. Operating on 50 watts, the unit integrates visible and near-infrared multi-spectral imaging, a dimensional weigh scale, and an RFID reader to classify polymers, metals, and composites at 100 items per hour with 95 percent accuracy. Lunar deployment subjects optical sensors to abrasive regolith dust, requiring scratch-resistant sapphire viewports and self-cleaning optics across its 15-year design life. An onboard machine-learning classifier continually correlates spectral data, physical mass, and manufacturer RFID metadata to refine sorting precision.
Multi-sensor scanner identifying waste items by material type, mass, and embedded RFID tags to route them to the correct recycling stream.
Purpose
Multi-sensor scanner identifying waste items by material type, mass, and embedded RFID tags to route them to the correct recycling stream.
Context
Child of L2-WMS-SORT within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Multi-spectral imaging (visible + NIR) identifies polymer/metal/composite
- ▸Weigh scale + dimensional measurement classify item
- ▸RFID reader retrieves manufacturer metadata when present
- ▸ML classifier improves over time with operator feedback
- ▸Output stream tagged for downstream sorter
Typical implementations
- ▸Industrial MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) optical sorters
- ▸Mining ore-sorting systems
- ▸Recycling robotic sorters (AMP Robotics, ZenRobotics)
Lunar considerations
- ▸Long-mission database of items grows over years
- ▸RFID-tagged spare-parts policy from inception
- ▸Self-cleaning optics tolerant of lunar dust
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Multi-sensor scanner identifying waste items by material type, mass, and embedded RFID tags to route them to the correct recycling stream. |
| throughput items per hour | 100 |
| classification accuracy percent | 95 |
Physical
| mass kg | 15 |
| materials | Sapphire viewports, NIR camera, RFID reader, 316L SS frame |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 50 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 15 |
| mtbf hours | 40000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Classification per item
Requires
- Waste stream input from production processes
- Scanner power (~50 W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Waste Stream Scanner" (L3-WMS-SORT-SCAN). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-WMS-SORT-SCAN
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.