YouTuber builds robotic to make boyfriend take out the trash

Is there something extra irritating than dwelling with a companion who procrastinates on their share of the chores? Even when it isn’t malicious, it positive is annoying. Taking out the trash is YouTuber CircuitCindy’s boyfriend’s accountability, however he typically fails to do the duty in a well timed method. That pressured Cindy to implement a sinister answer: a robotic garbage can that follows her boyfriend and makes pointed feedback till he empties it.

This robotic is a motorized, Mecanum-wheeled base that carries the usual plastic garbage can Cindy and her boyfriend personal. An Arduino Mega 2560 controls the 4 wheel motors via H-bridge drivers. Cindy selected the Mega as a result of the robotic has loads of sensors — 13 in whole. Eight of these are ultrasonic sensors used for impediment detection, with one on all sides and nook. Then there are 4 PIR sensors that detect physique warmth, which can ideally be from the boyfriend. Lastly, there’s an infrared sensor on the high of the garbage can to find out when the bin is full.

When that infrared sensor sees that the garbage can is at capability, it begins trying to find physique warmth. When it finds appropriate warmth, it begins following that. Because it does, it performs pre-recorded audio messages via a DFRobot DFPlayer Mini MP3 participant. That may very well be any recording, however Cindy principally settled on passive aggressive feedback in her personal voice. 

The one method to make the snark cease is by taking out the trash, which is a fairly efficient method in idea. In apply, the robotic has some points, comparable to an incapacity to distinguish between Cindy and her boyfriend. These points make it appear unlikely that the robotic will see long-term use of their residence.