IoT contactless smart sanitizer dispensing unit: A conceptual design

Abstract

In 2020, the World Health Organization formally announced Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease to be a global pandemic that has a significant effect on people around the world. Health experts say that one way to avoid further outbreaks of this disease is through preserving the hygiene routine, in particular by a regular practice of hand washing or the use of hand sanitizers. The available sanitizing system in public areas has the risk of cross contamination due to the use of the in-contact dispenser. As a result, a contactless method of sanitizer deployment is required while also encouraging the group to practice hand hygiene. The idea is further strengthened by incorporating the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor and inform the use of sanitizers when the dispenser is running out. In order to automate the existing dispenser, the final control element will be used in the form of a direct current (DC) motor, along with the Arduino-nano and infrared (IR) distance sensor as a measuring element. The operating principle is that the automatic dispensing of the predetermined sanitizer quantity will occur when the user's hand is detected in the sensing area. Data on the use of the dispenser will be sent to the database via the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol. A notification will be sent as soon as the sanitizer falls below the minimum level, advising that a refilling process is required. The IoT-based sanitizer study contributes to the ingenuity of product digitization firms by supporting IR4.0 and if introduced, would also inspire the public to practice hand hygiene regularly.