(Spring 2018)
Problem Statement:
To create a user-friendly pill dispenser that will dispense pills at necessary times, alert the patient to take them, and relay this information with the patient’s caregiver.
Objectives:
- Schedule for multiple doses per day
- 28 compartments with room for 6-8 pills each
- Alarm function that shuts off when pills have been removed
- Tamper proof casing
- Communicate a missed dose or power outage to caregiver
- Caregiver/customer preloads the pills
- Operates independently for long periods
Metrics:
- Number of pills per day/ Frequency: The pill dispenser will compartmentalize pills 4 doses/day 7 days a week
- Information storage: A notification will be sent to a cell phone through Bluetooth that will relay information about storage and usage of pill dispenser to the caregiver.
- Size of pills: The pill dispenser will be able to hold multiple pills of different shapes and sizes in one time slot
What worked:
- setting dosage times from a display (set at 3 different times/day)
- motor spins at a precise angle (12.4 degrees)
- box’s stability/sturdy
- the alarm to alert the consumer rings
- each compartment can hold 6-8 pills
- power supply to the motor for rotation (12V)
- dispensing the correct dose automatically
- dispensing pills right into the cup