Smart Washrooms

For me, engineering has always been using scientific principles to design innovative solutions for daily life problems. I came across such a problem when I was working in my institute's co-curricular committees. While working there, I got to know the non-teaching staff, especially peons, a lot closer. Over the days, I realized that they were very concerned about the cleanliness and energy wastage in the washroom. They always kept instructing students and visitors to hit the flush and turn off the lights while leaving the washroom as we weren't having automatic flushing or lights installed back then. The unhygienic conditions and frequently instructing others were very frustrating for them. 

On the other hand, we were just starting to get familiar with Arduino and its wide range of applications.  No sooner had we learned Arduino programming than we decided to design an automatic flush for our washroom. Using an Arduino, solenoid valve, voltage converters, and proximity sensor, we crafted a solution for that particular washroom considering all the possible factors (range, heights, pipes, power supply, etc.) After some tests and modifications, we installed it along with some decent fabrication. We also integrated our other project, Aura, to automate the lights in the washroom smart. This mechatronics project was a very inexpensive solution entirely within 400 rupees. Despite the use of low-priced systems and hardware, the setup worked perfectly well, was full proof, durable, and without maintenance. Our institute's management was impressed with this affordable solution and our commitment to the institute's betterment. Considering this, they proposed us to produce auto-flush setups for all the washrooms on the Campus. 

I felt gratified for being able to apply what I learned to solve a problem.