사물인터넷 기반의 스마트 폐의약품 수거함 구현

Abstract

Improper disposal of waste medicines can pose serious environmental risks. In particular, when such waste is disposed of as household trash, pharmaceutical compounds may contaminate soil and water, potentially causing severe harm to ecosystems and human health. Therefore, waste medicines must be properly discarded through dedicated collection boxes. However, the current collection system faces several challenges. The lack of standardized disposal sites and methods across municipalities creates confusion among citizens, while limited budgets and personnel often result in inadequate management of collection boxes. To address these issues, this study proposes a smart waste medicine collection box utilizing Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The system is implemented using Raspberry Pi and Arduino, and is equipped with weight sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and a camera module to monitor operational status and perform user authentication in real time. By integrating with a central server, the system supports data storage, management, and remote monitoring, while a mobile application enables users to check the location and status of collection boxes. This approach is expected to promote safer and more efficient disposal of waste medicines, thereby contributing to environmental protection and the enhancement of public health.