Anteproyectos

Smart Medicine Cabinet: Sensor that reminds patients when to take medication

OBJECTIVE:

Create a tool or piece of automated equipment that held your medicine and reminded you to take it at the proper time and amount.

MATERIALS:

- Microcontroller

- Computer

- Arduino

- LED’s

- Metal pads

PROCEDURE:

This science project can be as simple or as involved as you'd like it to be. You could simply demonstrate a sensor that registers when a medicine bottle has been placed on it or add to the sensor by attaching a microcontroller, an Arduino that interfaces with a computer. Then write a computer program that displays instructions to the user to remind him or her of the medication schedule. An interface would allow the user to input the medication schedule and signal to the user that it is time to take a medication. Finally, you could add LEDs (light emitting diodes) that act as indicators to the user.

The first step is to build an electrical sensor that senses when a medicine bottle has been picked up or placed on it. This sensor should be based on a voltage divider. A voltage divider is a circuit that is used to supply a voltage that is different than the available battery or power supply. Figure 1, below, shows the sensor circuit in two modes. The red squares are conductive metal pads. Figure 1.a. shows the sensor when there is no bottle in place. Here, since there is no connection between the metal pads, current moves through the two resistors (the voltage divider). Figure 1.b. shows the sensor when a bottle is in place. In this case, the bottle bridges the gap and current flow is through the metal pads and the lesser of the two resistors. If you decide to stop with building the electrical sensor, then you will need a digital multimeter to monitor the voltage change.

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