Smart Plastic Container Using Arduino

A special container for store objects, iot-ready. It is able to keep track of stocks stored inside and notify when stocks are low!

Things used in this project

Hardware components

SparkFun hx711

Adafruit Standard LCD – 16×2 White on Blue

Arduino MKR1000

LED (generic)

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Story

A special container for store objects, with sensors inside, iot-ready. This container is able to keep track of stocks stored inside it and react:

sending notification to the cloud

turn an alarm led on when the stocks are low.

An LCD show information on the container like label or setup information.Through a web interface is possible to control the status of all the registered smart containers.

some containers in the list are “fake”, I have just 1 arduino MKR1000

An universal windows app allows to configure some settings: wifi network,wifi password, label, bottom threshold(content under threshold are considered low), position/location.

The circuit can be powered by:

5V with a micro usb cable

battery with a lipo battery, 3.7V at least 700 mhA (check the specs).

The arduino MKR1000 contains a recharge circuit.

Scenario

Everywhere you can replace a simple container with a smart container:

store/warehouse/depot: keep track of materials to buy automatically and “physically” view which one are low (thanks to Led notification). This last action helps anyone to understand immediately the status of the container… without opening it or control it on the server.