Automated Garbage Can Lid Opener 🥲

This project uses an Arduino Nano to automatically open and close a garbage can lid based on the proximity of an object (like a hand).

Hardware Components

• Arduino Nano V3.0 ATMEGA328P
• VL53L0X-v2 Laser Time-of-Flight (ToF) Sensor
• MG996R Tower Pro 120° Servo Motor

Software

The Arduino code for this project is written in C++. It uses the built-in Servo library to control the servo motor, and analogRead to read the output from the IR sensor.

The behavior is as follows:

• If an object comes within a certain distance of the IR sensor (indicating that someone wants to throw something away), the servo motor turns to open the garbage can lid.
• If no object is detected within the range of the IR sensor, the servo motor turns to close the garbage can lid.

Wiring

Connect MG 996R Servo Motor:

• Power Wire (Red 🔴): Connect the power wire from the servo to the 5V pin on the Arduino Nano.
• Ground Wire (Brown/Black ⚫️): Connect the ground wire from the servo to one of the GND pins on the Arduino Nano.
• Signal Wire (Orange/Yellow 🟠): Connect the signal wire from the servo to a digital pin on the Arduino Nano (D9 as example).

Connect VL53L0X-v2 Laser Time-of-Flight (ToF) Sensor:

• VIN: Connect to the 5V pin.
• GND: Connect to any GND pin.
• SDA: Connect to the A4 pin (which acts as the SDA pin).
• SCL: Connect to the A5 pin (which acts as the SCL pin).

Note 🤔 The servo motor should be powered directly from the 5V power source, not through the Arduino, to prevent overloading the Arduino's power output.

Author

Andrii Bovsunovskyi