Summary of PILL DISPENSER TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK
[M. Bindhammer] built a robotic pill dispenser with a 3D-printed drum, servos, touch sensor tray, speaker with speech synthesis, Arduino Due controller, and DS3231 RTC, housed in an 80s-style humanoid body to provide timed audio and tactile medication reminders.
Parts used in the Robotic Pill Dispenser:
- 3D printed dispensing drum with individual morning and evening pockets
- 360° winch servo (RC sailboat style)
- Conventional servo for sliding door
- Dispensing tray with sensitive touch sensor
- Small loud speaker
- Speech synthesis module
- Arduino Due
- Custom breakout shield for Arduino Due
- DS3231 real time clock (RTC)
- OLED screen (used as face)
- 80s style humanoid robot-shaped enclosure
When forgetting to take medication on time can lead to a bad day or night, having a helper to keep you on track can greatly improve your life. [M. Bindhammer] faces this scenario every day, so he built his own robotic pill dispenser.
The core of the project is a 3D printed dispensing drum with individual pockets for morning and evening medication. It is mounted directly to a 360° winch servo, normally used for RC sailboats, while a second conventional servo opens a small sliding door to drop the pills onto the dispensing tray. The tray integrates a sensitive touch sensor which can detect when [M] picks up the pills, without being triggered by the pills themselves.
The end result is a very polished build, which should make [M. Bindhammer]’s life with bipolar disorder a little bit easier, and he hopes it might help others as well.
For more medication related gadgets, take a peek at another pill dispenser and a 3D printed dosing spoon to replace an essential but discontinued commercial version.
Source: PILL DISPENSER TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK
- What is the core dispensing mechanism?
The core is a 3D printed dispensing drum with individual pockets mounted to a 360° winch servo. - How are pills released from the drum?
A conventional servo opens a small sliding door to drop the pills onto the dispensing tray. - How does the device detect when pills are taken?
The dispensing tray integrates a sensitive touch sensor that detects when pills are picked up without being triggered by the pills themselves. - What provides audio reminders?
A small loud speaker connected to a speech synthesis module provides audio reminders. - What microcontroller is used?
An Arduino Due is the main controller. - How is timekeeping handled?
A DS3231 real time clock is integrated on the custom breakout shield for accurate timekeeping. - What display is used for the device face?
An OLED screen is used as the device's face. - How is the electronics housed?
All electronics are enclosed in an 80s style humanoid robot-shaped body with the dispensing drum on its chest.
