Solar Waste Collector Robot Car With Vacuum Cleaner

Vol.4, No.1

Abstract

Garbage collectors play an important role in our society by managing and maintaining
cleanliness in our environment. One of the developed methods is the GACOBOT, a garbage
collection robot that is an integration of mobile robot systems and non-mobile robots, namely
mobile robots like a car robot system and robotic manipulators like garbage grabber systems.
The researchers innovated GACOBOT, which is the SOWACO, or Solar Waste Collector
Robot Car with Vacuum, a sensor-based outdoor garbage collector equipped with a vacuum
cleaner to collect even small debris.

After testing the prototype and the mobile application, the functionalities coincide with the
goals stated by the researchers. Using a 4DOF Robotic arm claw driven by the four servo
motors, it can successfully collect garbage such as paper, bottles, and cans from a 43cm
distance from the robot. The 12v DC motor creates vacuum pressure and suction to collect
small wastes. It integrates ultrasonic sensors to support systems of garbage collection and
navigation systems for its automatic operation. Lithium-ion batteries and solar panels
supplement the power of the robot for at least 2 hours when the battery is 100% charged. The
solar panel charges the battery while in operation, extending the robot's operating time. The
robot wheels are controlled by the mobile application using a Bluetooth connection. The
mobile application maneuvers the robot and is connected to the Bluetooth module attached to
the SOWACO. The evaluation of the survey presents that the target users agree with the
proposed prototype since the weighted mean of all indicators indicates 3.1, based on the
rating of the Likert scale.

The technologies used on the SOWACO are compatible with the Arduino Uno platform and
successful in running the operations of the robot prototype, including the movements of the
robotic arm and the operations of the DC motors. The researchers conclude that the Arduino
Uno is an effective control system to drive the hardware and software of the Solar Waste
Collector Robot Car with a Vacuum cleaner.