Building a Trash Monitoring System with Fill Level and MQTT Communication

11.12.2024 - Engine: Gemini

Building a Waste Management System with Level Monitoring and MQTT Communication

Components

• Trashcans with integrated ultrasonic sensors for level measurement
• Gateway that collects sensor data and publishes using MQTT
• MQTT broker for relaying data to subscribers
• Visualization dashboard for displaying the trashcan levels

Steps

1. Hardware Installation

• Install ultrasonic sensors into the trashcans.
• Connect the gateway to the sensors.

2. Gateway Configuration

• Configure the gateway to collect sensor data.
• Install an MQTT client on the gateway.
• Connect the gateway to the MQTT broker.

3. MQTT Broker Configuration

• Create a new topic for sensor data.
• Authorize the gateway to publish to the topic.

4. Visualization Dashboard Development

• Create a dashboard that displays the trashcan levels.
• Connect the dashboard to the MQTT broker.
• Subscribe to the topic for sensor data.

5. Connecting All Components

• Connect the gateway to the MQTT broker.
• Connect the visualization dashboard to the MQTT broker.

6. Testing the System

• Throw waste into the bins and observe the readings update on the dashboard.
• Verify the communication between the gateway and MQTT broker.

MQTT Communication

The system uses MQTT for communication between components:

• The gateway publishes sensor data to the topic trashcans/level.
• The visualization dashboard subscribes to the topic trashcans/level and receives the sensor data.

Benefits

• Real-time Monitoring: Trashcan levels are monitored in real-time.
• Optimized Waste Disposal: Trashcans can be emptied before they become full, saving costs and reducing environmental impact.
• Remote Monitoring: The system can be monitored from anywhere with internet access.
• Scalability: The system can be easily expanded to include more trashcans.