An Automatic Trash Bin

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An Automatic Trash Bin

Here is an Automatic Trash Can that can detect when a user is near within a certain distance, which causes the bin to open automatically and close after a short period of time!

Supplies

The supplies needed are:

1.) One Arduino

2.) One breadboard (preferably a small one depending on box size)

3.) One Ultra sonic distance sensor

4.) One Servo motor

5.) Two LEDs (preferably red and green)

6.) One cardboard box

7.) Jumper wires

Putting the Circuit Together

The first step is to assemble your circuit.

First, we must make sure our breadboard has power and ground. Make sure you connect the 5V and GND from the Arduino to the breadboard!

Perfect! Now, let's start with our distance sensor. First, we need to connect the VCC to the power rail and the GND pin to the GND rail! Next, you have to connect the TRIG and ECHO pins to the Arduino (I used pin 8 for Trig and pin 2 for Echo). Awesome, now our first component is wired!

Our second step to wiring is the Servo Motor! Make sure you are wiring color-coded! First, we need to connect the Control Signal Wire (usually white, yellow, or orange) to a PWM pin on the Arduino. Preferably pin 3. Next, you need to connect the power wire(usually red) to the power port the same way we did to the distance sensor as well as the GND wire.

Finally, we can finish off with our two LED lights to signify when the can is open or closed! Simply just connect the positive side of the LED (the longer leg) to the power rail and the other leg should have a connection to a pin on the Arduino (I used pins 9 and 7).

Writing the Code

#include<Servo.h>

Servo myServo;

int trig = 8;

int echo = 2;

int green = 9;

int red = 7;

void setup() {

pinMode(trig, OUTPUT);

pinMode(echo, INPUT);

pinMode(red, OUTPUT);

pinMode(green, OUTPUT);

myServo.attach(3);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

digitalWrite(trig, LOW);

delayMicroseconds(2);

digitalWrite(trig, HIGH);

delayMicroseconds(10);

digitalWrite(trig, LOW);

long duration, inches;

duration = pulseIn(echo, HIGH);

inches = duration/74/2;

delay(10);

Serial.println(inches);

if (inches <=20 && inches >= 0)

{

myServo.write(50);

digitalWrite(green, HIGH);

digitalWrite(red, LOW);

delay(2000);

}

else

{

myServo.write(160);

digitalWrite(green, LOW);

digitalWrite(red, HIGH);

}

delay(60);

Serial.println(inches);

}

Now we will start writing the code for the project!

Lines 1–5: Import the servo library and define pins for the servo, ultrasonic sensor, and LEDs.

Lines 7–16: Set up the pins (input/output), attach the servo, and start serial communication for debugging.

Lines 18–22: Trigger the ultrasonic sensor to send out a sound wave and measure the time it takes to return.

Lines 24–25: Convert the time into the distance in inches.

Lines 27–34:

If the distance is 20 inches or less:
Open the trash bin lid by moving the servo.
Turn on the green LED and turn off the red LED.
Wait for 2 seconds.

Lines 35–40:

If the distance is more than 20 inches:
Close the trash bin lid by moving the servo.
Turn on the red LED and turn off the green LED.

Line 42: Add a small delay to stabilize the loop.

Putting It All Together

Now the easy part, putting the circuit inside your box.

First, you would mark out two circles of the distance sensor on the front of the box to signify where you will be placing it. After you've done that you can easily place the distance sensor inside having it hover.

Next, you can make small incisions on the side of the cardboard box for the two LED lights.

Now you can tape the servo motor to the edge of the box and then tape either a pencil or popsicle stick to the end of the servos arm.

Now you should be all set! It is optional to tape the Arduino and bread port someplace else to have more room in the trash!

(In my demonstration the Arduino would be on the bottom left where all the messy wires are!)

Thank you for going through my guide and I hope this helps you make awesome garbage bins!!