IoT Color-Based Product Sorting Machine Using Arduino

This guide will help you build an IoT-based color-based product sorting machine using Arduino. The system will sort products based on their color by utilizing a color sensor and motor controls, with real-time monitoring and control via IoT.

Components Required

• Arduino board (e.g., Arduino Uno)
• Color sensor (e.g., TCS3200 or similar)
• Servo motors or stepper motors (for sorting mechanism)
• Relay module (for controlling motors)
• Connecting wires and breadboard
• Power supply (for Arduino and motors)
• Cloud service account (e.g., ThingSpeak, Blynk, or AWS IoT)
• Infrared sensor or proximity sensor (optional, for object detection)

Setting Up the Hardware

Follow these steps to set up the hardware:

1. Connect the Color Sensor

   Attach the color sensor to the Arduino. The sensor will detect the color of the products as they pass through the sorting machine.

2. Integrate the Motors

   Connect the servo or stepper motors to control the sorting mechanism. The motors will move the products to different bins based on their color.

3. Set Up the Relay Module

   Wire the relay module to the Arduino to control the motors. The relay will switch the motor direction or speed based on the color detected by the sensor.

4. Power the System

   Ensure all components are properly powered. Use a suitable power supply for the Arduino and motors.

Programming the Arduino

Write the code to read data from the color sensor, control the motors, and send data to the cloud. Below is a basic outline of the code using Arduino IDE:

                #include <Wire.h>
                #include <Adafruit_TCS34725.h>
                #include <Servo.h>

                // Create color sensor and servo objects
                Adafruit_TCS34725 colorSensor;
                Servo sortingServo;

                // Servo pin
                const int servoPin = 9;

                void setup() {
                    Serial.begin(9600);
                    if (colorSensor.begin()) {
                        Serial.println("Color sensor initialized.");
                    } else {
                        Serial.println("Color sensor not detected.");
                        while (1);
                    }
                    sortingServo.attach(servoPin);
                }

                void loop() {
                    uint16_t r, g, b, c;
                    colorSensor.getRawData(&r, &g, &b, &c);
                    
                    // Convert raw data to color values
                    float red = (float)r / c;
                    float green = (float)g / c;
                    float blue = (float)b / c;

                    Serial.print("Red: "); Serial.print(red); Serial.print(" ");
                    Serial.print("Green: "); Serial.print(green); Serial.print(" ");
                    Serial.print("Blue: "); Serial.print(blue); Serial.println(" ");

                    // Determine the color and control the servo
                    if (red > green && red > blue) {
                        sortingServo.write(0); // Move to bin 1
                    } else if (green > red && green > blue) {
                        sortingServo.write(90); // Move to bin 2
                    } else if (blue > red && blue > green) {
                        sortingServo.write(180); // Move to bin 3
                    }

                    // Send data to cloud (pseudo-code, replace with actual API call)
                    // sendDataToCloud(red, green, blue);

                    delay(1000); // Delay between readings
                }
            

This code reads color data from the sensor and controls the sorting servo based on the detected color. Replace the pseudo-code with actual API calls to send color data to your cloud service.

Setting Up Cloud Integration

To visualize and analyze the data, integrate the system with a cloud service. Configure your cloud service to receive data from the Arduino and set up dashboards or alerts based on the collected color data.

Testing and Calibration

Test the sorting machine by passing products of different colors through the system. Verify that the products are sorted correctly and adjust the sensor calibration and servo positions as needed.