BinBot

Inspiration

Trash fills up rapidly, especially in busy areas like cafeterias and hallways, and this is a common issue in many communities. On our campus specifically, we saw many students raising their concerns about this problem on Reddit. With the heavy flow of students and frequent large events being held on our campus, staff are often busy managing other tasks, and the trash often goes unnoticed.

What it does

We created a smart waste management system called "BinBot" It helps staff by sensing how full or empty a trash bin is. When the trash is full, it displays a red LED light, makes a buzzing sound so the staff can hear, and shows a "Bin is full!" message on an LCD screen. When the trash is empty, it displays a green LED light and shows a "Bin is empty" message.

How we built it

We used an ultrasonic sensor, which we placed on top of a 3D-printed lid that we printed at the MIX. The sensor detects if something is within 5 cm of it. If it senses something (like the trash getting full), it lights up a red LED, makes a buzzing sound for 2.5 seconds with an active buzzer, and displays "I'm full! " on the LCD. When the sensor doesn't detect anything close, the green LED lights up, and it shows "Im not full yet! " on the screen. We connected everything using a breadboard and an Arduino microcontroller.

Challenges we ran into

We encountered challenges with wiring, getting the components to communicate properly, and integrating the sensor outputs with the Arduino. Troubleshooting the LCD and handling connectivity issues tested our patience. Using Fusion 360 software and figuring out how to design something for the first time on the software also took some time. However, through workshops, research, and teamwork, we managed to overcome these obstacles and successfully complete the project.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re really proud of how we came together as a team and found creative ways to problem-solve throughout this project. It wasn’t just about making something that worked—we were able to engineer a solution to a real-world issue that impacts our campus and communities. Being able to apply our skills in a hands-on way and see our ideas come to life was a huge accomplishment for us.

What we learned

We learned how to use new hardware components like sensors, buzzers, and microcontrollers to solve real problems.
It was our first time coding in C++, and we picked it up pretty quickly.
We learned how to use Fusion 360 for the first time to 3D print our designs.
We discovered that we can quickly adapt to new tools and technologies.
We realized how well we can communicate and work together to turn our ideas into real, working solutions.

What's next for empowerTech

Our next step is to see how we can apply our project and integrate it into our communities. We also want to refine BinBot and make it even better. We hope to see it used in real-life situations, solving everyday problems and making a positive impact. We plan to participate in more hackathons to challenge ourselves, learn new skills, and continue innovating. We’re excited to give back to the community through technology!