Automatic Medicine Dispenser (DailyDose)

For college we are required to make a small, usable project utilizing everything we have learned this year. I made an automated daily medicine dispenser since I personally can make use of this.

In this instructable I will go trough all the steps I took to make this dispenser.

Supplies

Firstly we need to go over all the supplies this project needs. I have attached a file with all the electronic components and everything I bought for the exterior.

There are 2 normal buttons, one for dispensing the medication and another to confirm the user took it. There is also a power button to shut the whole box off. With our distance sensor we also check if there is a cup to catch the pills. Lastly the dispense button will only work of we log in with our badge with the RFID reader.

Step 1: Put Together All the Electronics

I made a fritzing scheme that shows how each component should be wired.

I started with soldering anything that needed it like my buttons, LED strip and some other components. Then I wire1 component at a time until they're all done. Now I can put all of this in my case.

Step 2: Build a Case

I made a simple box for this dispenser. I started with some blueprints I drew on paper in a rough 1:1 scale. Next I cut out each piece of wood, cutting some holes for the components.

Next I put everything together using wood glue and nails, when everything was done I sanded the wood to make it smooth.

I also made a simple interior pill box from a paper bowl and some other recycled items from around my home. The centre of this pill box will be moved with our motor to dispense each dose.

Lastly I spray painted the dispenser black to mask any imperfections in the wood from building it.

Step 3: Add the Code

All the code for this project is available on GitHub with this link.