Open Source Flipper Zero, Thread, Matter, and Zigbee on ESP32, Arduino go Zephyr, and more!

0:00:00 / -

Watch now on YouTube Watch now

How To Make A "smart" Trash Can | Arduino Tutorial

Made by Sci Ranch / Home Automation / Robotics / Sensors

About the project

In this project, I will teach you how to make a somewhat smart trash can using the Arduino!

Project info

Difficulty: Easy

Platforms: Arduino

Estimated time: 1 hour

License: GNU General Public License, version 3 or later (GPL3+)

Items used in this project

Hardware components

	Arduino Uno Rev 3	x 1
	Ultrasonic Sensor This project is designed for a 3-pin Ultrasonic sensor, but you can always modify it to work with a 4-pin.	x 1
	Servo Motor	x 1
	A "Trash Can" You can either use a real trash can, or make your own. For example, you could make one out of cardboard or you could 3d print one.	x 1

Software apps and online services

	Tinkercad
	Arduino

Hand tools and fabrication machines

3d printer This is *optional, but if you want to 3d print your trash can, you can do that.

x 1

Story

The Video!

How it works:

In this project, there is a two-step system to open the trash can.

When you put your hand or another object above the ultrasonic sensor, the Arduino interprets this information.

The Arduino has the servo motor move 90 degrees and then come back down.

The Ultrasonic Sensor

The ultrasonic sensor has a fairly simple role. It senses the proximity above it and if the proximity is less than 10 cm, the Arduino takes actions and controls the servo motor.

The Servo Motor

Once the Arduino has decided that an object is in range to open the trash can, the Arduino turns the servo motor 90 degrees. This opens the lid of the trash can. Then it closes the lid by turning the servo back to 5 degrees (this works the same as a smaller angle).

Conclusion

This is a simple beginner's project that turns out to be useful! Good luck!

Schematics, diagrams and documents

The Schematic

Code

The Code

#include <Servo.h>

// Vars
int pos = 0;

Servo servo_9;

int sigPin = 7;

int distArr[] = {0,0,0,0,0};

// Setup
void setup()
{
  servo_9.attach(9);
  servo_9.write(5);
  delay(1000);
  //Serial.begin(9600);
}

// Helper Functions
long microsecondsToCentimeters(long microseconds) {
  return microseconds / 29 / 2;
}

void updateArr(int num) {
  distArr[4] = distArr[3];
  distArr[3] = distArr[2];
  distArr[2] = distArr[1];
  distArr[1] = distArr[0];
  distArr[0] = num;
}


// Loop
void loop()
{
  // Ultrasonic Sensor
  long duration, cm = 0;
  
  pinMode(sigPin, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(sigPin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  digitalWrite(sigPin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(7);
  digitalWrite(sigPin, LOW);
  
  pinMode(sigPin, INPUT);
  duration = pulseIn(sigPin, HIGH);
  
  cm = microsecondsToCentimeters(duration);
  updateArr(cm);
  
  //Serial.println(cm);
  
  // Servo
  if(abs(distArr[1]-distArr[0])<5 && abs(distArr[2]-distArr[1])<5 && abs(distArr[3]-distArr[2])<5 && abs(distArr[4]-distArr[3])<5 && cm<10){
    //Serial.println("Open");
    delay(1000);
    servo_9.write(90);
    delay(5000);
    servo_9.write(5);
  }
  
}

Credits

Sci Ranch

I make robotics projects and other Arduino-themed videos to try to improve small aspects of the world, one project at a time. My goal is that these projects and this knowledge can help people to solve small problems that need to be solved.

Shop

Project Hub

Video

Blog

Shop home

3D printing

Single Board Computers

Development kits

Sensors

Internet of things

Robotics

Accessories

Product of the Week

Electromaker Educator

The Electromaker Show

The Electromaker Podcast

How To Make A "smart" Trash Can | Arduino Tutorial

About the project

Project info