During the S6 Project, Casper Tak is working independently as an embedded systems engineer student to design an IoT (Internet of Things) solution for a prototype smart trash can with the goal of counteracting Vegetable Fruit Food Scraps (VFFS) waste pollution.

Casper: “This trash can is designed to counter unpleasant odors from VFFS waste through various technical and mechanical solutions.”

“The design must be scalable, which presents some challenges during the process. As Remko Welling, the HAN IoT lecturer who taught me this course, sometimes says, “It’s like five-dimensional chess.” Solving challenge A then brings challenges B and C.”

The final prototype will consist of 20 to 30 smart garbage cans that will send sensor data, such as temperature and humidity, from the test candidates’ homes to a central server at Insyte technology, according to Casper.

“Through the graphical dashboard I designed, the company can see the status of the garbage cans at a glance. The database acts as a clear and secure repository for all sensor data and personal data of the test candidates. I hope I get to learn a lot during this project before I expand further during my Minor next year in Utrecht: Design for Health.”

Meanwhile, the first functional prototype of the smart trash bin is ready. Casper says, “Now it’s my task to shrink the prototype into a functional printed circuit board (PCB) so that it can be produced on a larger scale and seamlessly integrated into the final casing.”

Casper already has experience in PCB design. That’s why he specifically wants to focus on designing the PCB in collaboration with students from Industrial Design Engineering. “My project team members, Rutger d’Haens and Zowie Hendriks, have been working hard on the casing design for the smart trash bin in recent weeks. It’s time to come together and discuss how we can integrate the embedded system with the technical product. I’m really looking forward to it!”

Source and input: Casper Tak
Photography: HAN