IOT Based Dumpster Monitoring using Arduino & ESP8266

In this DIY, we are going to make an IOT based dumpster/garbage Monitoring System which will tell us that whether the trash can is empty or full through the webserver and you can know the status of your ‘Trash Can’ or ‘Dumpsters’ from anywhere in the world over the Internet. It will be very useful and can be installed in the Trash Cans at public places as well as at home.

IOT-garbage-monitoring-system

In this IOT Project, an Ultrasonic Sensor is used for detecting whether the trash can is filled with garbage or not. Here Ultrasonic Sensor is installed at the top of Trash Can and will measure the distance of garbage from the top of Trash can and we can set a threshold value according to the size of trash can. If the distance will be less than this threshold value, means that the Trash can is full of garbage and we will print the message “Basket is Full” on the webpage and if the distance will be more than this threshold value, then we will print the message “Basket is Empty”.

Here we have set the Threshold value of 5cm in the Program code. We will use ESP8266 Wi-Fi module for connecting the Arduino to the webserver. Here we have used Local webserver to demonstrate the working of this Garbage Monitoring System.

Components Required:

  • Arduino Uno (you can use any other)
  • ESP8266 Wi-Fi module
  • HC-SR04 Ultrasonic sensor
  • 1K Resistors
  • Breadboard
  • Connecting wires

HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor:

The Ultrasonic Sensor is used to measure the distance with high accuracy and stable readings. It can measure distance from 2cm to 400cm or from 1 inch to 13 feet.  It emits an ultrasound wave at the frequency of 40KHz in the air and if the object will come in its way then it will bounce back to the sensor. By using that time which it takes to strike the object and comes back, you can calculate the distance.

Dumpster Monitoring using Arduino & ESP8266

The ultrasonic sensor has four pins. Two are VCC and GND which will be connected to the 5V and the GND of the Arduino while the other two pins are Trig and Echo pins which will be connected to any digital pins of the Arduino. The trig pin will send the signal and the Echo pin will be used to receive the signal. To generate an ultrasound signal, you will have to make the Trig pin high for about 10us which will send a 8 cycle sonic burst at the speed of sound and after striking the object, it will be received by the Echo pin.

Further check below projects to properly understand the working of Ultrasonic sensor and to measure the distance of any object using it:  

ESP8266 Wi-Fi Module:

ESP8266 is a Wi-Fi module which will give your projects access to Wi-Fi or internet. It is a very cheap device but it will make your projects very powerful. It can communicate with any microcontroller and make the projects wireless. It is in the list of most leading devices in the IOT platform. It runs on 3.3V and if you will give it 5V then it will get damage.

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