A Portfolio Presented to the Faculty of the

APAYAO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Senior High School
San Isidro Sur, Luna, Apayao

Solar Powered Trash Collecting Robot

(COLBOT)

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In partial fulfillment of the requirements in Research and Robotics 10

Junior High School
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Submitted by:
Chloe Nirah Lactam
Jewel Liane Parugrug
Chloe Vrianne Jadsac
Cassandra Enciso Domingo
Lorian Balicat
Greille Dae Castro

Submitted to:
Daine D. Gamiao
Michael B. Bernardo
 APAYAO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of the Study..............................................................................................................1
Statement of Problem...................................................................................................................2
Hypothesis....................................................................................................................................3
Scope and Limitations..................................................................................................................3
Significance of the Study.............................................................................................................3
MATERIALS AND METHODS....................................................................................................4
Materials.......................................................................................................................................4
Block Diagram.............................................................................................................................5
Flowchart.....................................................................................................................................6
3-Dimensional Figure..................................................................................................................7
General Procedures......................................................................................................................8
Risk and Safety............................................................................................................................9

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INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Nowadays, environmental problems arise in many towns in the Philippines. Waste

management is a big issue globally and it needs serious attention. There is no proper

management of waste and garbage in rural and urban areas in Apayao, which may cause a threat

to health security, hygiene, human safety, and wildlife safety. Presently the manual garbage

collection system exists in most places, where human intervention is involved. Manual garbage

is the good source to generate employment.

According to a report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD), only nine percent of plastic worldwide is recycled, while the rest is incinerated,

dumped in landfills, or improperly disposed of. Of this nine percent, only two percent are

effectively recycled, while the others are downcycled and eventually end up as plastic waste. The

Philippines is famous for its open dump sites and irresponsible waste haulers, which allow

plastic to leak into the ocean contributing 0.75 million tons of waste every year to the world

(Gueverra, 2022). Our project, the Garbage Collector Robot, is based on the need to keep the

earth clean. It tackles the issue of increasing waste with people refusing to dispose of it properly.

It can be used in various environments and situations, such as cleaning up after class or events at

our gymnasium with the robots making it much easier and faster for the students to clean up,

especially when students are rushing to go to their classes. This helps reduce the waste that is

polluting our environment and leaves a much smaller carbon footprint. Our robot is different

from other products because of its size and capacity. Because it does this, it cannot pickup bigger

pieces of trash. (Garbage Collector Robot, Florida Atlantic University)

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 APAYAO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

This study promotes an eco-friendly system that is powered by solar instead of batteries. This

will advocate the use of current engineering technology making it an automated solar-powered

trash-collecting and segregating robot. This will help the environment become environmentally

safe from hazardous waste and will keep the campus clean and green. The robot is also suitable

for a water body cleaning robot that attempts to classify the waste using a camera with a custom

machine learning model and segregate accordingly using separators while collecting them on the

basket attached. The robot can be deployed on any water surface thus making it more effective

than a largescale ocean pollution cleaning technique. A waste-removing robot that can be used in

ponds, rivers, or in oceans. Floating waste collecting robot can be a savior for the endangered

aquatic animals.

Statement of Problem
This study aims to invent a solar powered trash collecting robot using Arduino.

Specifically, it aims to answers the following:

1.Assess the solar powered trash collecting robot in terms of:

a. Efficiency

b. Effectiveness

2. Can the robot run purely on solar energy?

3. Can the robot collect trash on water as efficiently as it can on land?

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 APAYAO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Hypothesis

1. Assessment

a. The robot will not function as efficiently as a human in trash collection.

b. The robot will not do an effective job in collecting trash.

2. The robot will be unable to run purely on solar energy.

3. The robot’s collecting properties in water is not as efficient as it is on land.

Scope and Limitations

The study will be conducted to invent a solar powered trash collecting robot with the help

of Arduino. The researchers gathered evaluations on the effectiveness of using the Solar powered

Trash collecting robot in everyday life scenarios. The study will be conducted at Apayao Science

High School during February 10- June 30.

Significance of the Study

The purpose of this study is to invent a robot “solar powered trash collecting robot out

of Arduino to help with the problem of trash collecting and waste segregation in our country.

Community – It makes cleaning after much faster and easier.

Environment – This robot helps reduce waste that is polluting our environment and at the

same time leaves a smaller carbon footprint.

Future Researchers - This can serve as a basis for future studies regarding Solar Powered

Trash Collecting Robots.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

Materials
 Arduino Uno- the motherboard of the project. It is an open- source microcontroller

designed by Arduino.

 Dc motor - used to make some of the parts move

 Propellers - this is used to make the robot move in the water

 Tires - used to make the robot move in the land

 Robotic arm - used to pick up trash that is being detected by the robot

 Bluetooth module -used to connect the phone from the robot and make it move clear

 Protective case - to keep the mother board from being wet waterproof

 Adhesive tape - basket (trash bin) - where the trash goes when being collected by the

robot Breadboard – used for an experimental circuit

 Screws – used to join things together

 Mini elongated floaties - used to make the robot float in the water

 Mini camera - the eye of the robot.

 Ultrasonic sensor- instrument that measures the distance to an object using ultrasonic

waves. Solar panel - where the robot gets its energy.

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Block Diagram

Figure 1. Block Diagram of the “Solar Powered Trash Collecting Robot”

Solar Panel

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Flowchart

Figure 2. Flowchart of “Solar Powered Trash Collecting Robot”

DC motors for
START Moves Forward
wheels move

Land
Power on

Robot moves around Land Water

or DC motor(s) for
to detect trash propellors move
water?

Camera No Yes
Move on If Power indicator
sees Power Off
forward negative
trash
No

Robot continues END

Yes initial task

Pick trash up Put trash in attached

using gripper bin

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3-Dimensional Figure

Figure 3. 3D of “SOLAR POWERED TRASH COLLECTING ROBOT”

SIDE VIEW TOP VIEW

FRONT VIEW BACK VIEW

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General Procedures

1. Attach a clear- like base out of wood.

2. Attach a clear compartment in the bottom of the base wherein the researchers can put some of

the wires and two of the dc motors in the researchers and then attach the tires.

3. After which, the researchers add the solar panel, the makeblock robot gripper and the Arduino

uno on top of the wooden base.

4. The researchers then create two holes on front. The bigger hole being a spare for the ultrasonic

sensor while the smaller one if for the mini camera.

5. The researchers then connect every component to the breadboard and Arduino uno using

multiple wires.

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Risk and Safety

RISK

• Electric shock: When the water enters the robot, the robot's energy will shock you once

touched.

• Maintenance Problems: If routine maintenance is neglected, a system breakdown might occur

when it is submerged in water.

SAFETY

. Knowledge in wirings. Before handling a real life robot, one must know how to connect
wirings properly to avoid any malfunction.

. Safety attire. In making a robot, one must know the proper precaution of wearing safety attires

like goggles and life vest especially when testing the robot in the water.

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APAYAO SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

“Where learning blends with nature.”

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