Project AESOCS (Automated Eco-Solar Charging Station)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

An administration lawmaker revealed that the Philippines has become the world's third largest source of plastic leaking into the ocean and hasamong the highest trash collection rates in Southeast Asia. Plastic materials especially plastic bottles can take centuries to break down. Several government agencies and other lawmakers began to develop ways, programs and policies to reduce the use and its effect. The reduction of plastic bottles urged the researcher to develop a device that would at least help the government to alleviate this problem. This research is focused on a device that will help the consumers to charge their smartphones even in public places in exchange of their used and empty plastic bottles.

METHODS

The researcher gathered the materials needed on the construction of the device for both the framework and the circuit. The framework of the device was made of aluminum following the garbage-bin design created by the researcher. Several wiring connections for sensors, electrical components and the microcontroller have been followed. The software of the device was also programmed by the researcher to communicate or run as server to the hardware connection. Trial and error in operating the device has been made to realize effectively its function and later placed in some areas along the municipality.

RESULTS

The created device was tested through placing it in some public places along the municipality and asking some of the users to answer the survey questionnaires. The device can successfully detect plastic bottles once the user throws it in the bin. When the device detected the bottle, the charging station will be activated for the user to charge their phones. It showed that for every plastic bottle inserted on the bin, the user can charge his phone for five minutes. The charging capacity of the battery also depends on the type of the battery and brand of the phone. Based from the results gathered from the respondents, the weighted mean for functionality, effectiveness and physical structure of the device were 4.9, 4.6 and 4.5, respectively. Thus, the device functioned effectively based on its main task and the physical structure was excellent in holding the capacity of the inserted plastic bottles.

DISCUSSIONS

The collected plastic bottles of the device can be sold to some junk shop in the area. The attached solar-panel in the device serves as the powerhouse of the entire charging station. To prevent electrical fluctuation, proper execution of wiring is necessarily needed.