Smart Dustbin With IoT Notifications

This guide will help you create a Smart Dustbin that uses IoT technology to monitor its fill level and send notifications when it needs to be emptied. This system improves waste management efficiency by providing real-time updates on the dustbin’s status.

Components Required

• Microcontroller (e.g., Arduino, ESP32, or ESP8266)
• Ultrasonic distance sensor (for measuring fill level)
• Wi-Fi or GSM module (for communication)
• Power supply (for the microcontroller and sensors)
• Cloud service account (e.g., ThingSpeak, AWS IoT, or Firebase)
• Buzzer or LED indicator (optional, for local alerts)

Setting Up the Hardware

Follow these steps to set up the hardware:

1. Install the Ultrasonic Sensor

   Mount the ultrasonic distance sensor at the top of the dustbin to measure the distance between the sensor and the top of the waste. This measurement will be used to determine the fill level of the dustbin.

2. Integrate the Communication Module

   Connect the Wi-Fi or GSM module to enable communication between the microcontroller and the cloud service. This allows the dustbin to send real-time notifications about its fill level.

3. Set Up Local Indicators (Optional)

   Connect a buzzer or LED indicators to alert users locally when the dustbin is full.

4. Power the System

   Ensure that the microcontroller and all components are properly powered using a suitable power supply.

Programming the Microcontroller

Write the code to read data from the ultrasonic sensor, determine the fill level, and send notifications to the cloud when necessary. Below is a basic outline of the code using Arduino IDE:

                #include <WiFi.h>  // For ESP32 or ESP8266
                #include <ThingSpeak.h>

                // Configuration
                const char* ssid = "YOUR_SSID";
                const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";
                const char* apiKey = "YOUR_THINGSPEAK_API_KEY";
                const int channelID = YOUR_CHANNEL_ID;

                // Define pins
                const int trigPin = 9;
                const int echoPin = 10;

                // Set up
                void setup() {
                    Serial.begin(115200);
                    WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
                    while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
                        delay(1000);
                        Serial.print(".");
                    }
                    Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");
                    ThingSpeak.begin(client);
                    pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);
                    pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);
                }

                void loop() {
                    long duration;
                    int distance;
                    const int fullThreshold = 10;  // Threshold for full dustbin (in cm)

                    // Trigger the sensor
                    digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
                    delayMicroseconds(2);
                    digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
                    delayMicroseconds(10);
                    digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
                    
                    // Read the sensor
                    duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);
                    distance = (duration / 2) * 0.0344;  // Convert to centimeters
                    
                    // Check if dustbin is full
                    int dustbinStatus = (distance < fullThreshold) ? 1 : 0;  // 1 for full, 0 for not full

                    // Send data to ThingSpeak
                    ThingSpeak.setField(1, dustbinStatus);
                    ThingSpeak.updateChannel(channelID, apiKey);
                    
                    // Local alert (optional)
                    if (dustbinStatus == 1) {
                        // Trigger buzzer or LED (if connected)
                    }

                    delay(60000);  // Update every minute
                }
            

This code reads the distance from the ultrasonic sensor to determine if the dustbin is full. It sends this data to ThingSpeak for real-time monitoring and can trigger local alerts if configured.

Setting Up Cloud Integration

To visualize and manage dustbin status, integrate the system with a cloud service. Configure your cloud service to display the fill level and send notifications or alerts when the dustbin reaches the full threshold.

Testing and Calibration

Test the system by simulating different fill levels and verifying that notifications are correctly sent to the cloud and local indicators (if any) function as expected. Adjust sensor thresholds and calibration settings as needed for accurate performance.