Compartment occupied detector

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi all experts,
Recently I have be given a task to do a project to check if any of the compartment block is being occupied and send the info to a PC remotely. I never did any project with wireless or RF technology, all I did is wired project like IO detection or switching.

Here are the theory, as seen in the picture attached. Each compartment block has a sensor to detect if it is occupied with an object or the object been withdraw out. The signal 1/0 with the compartment ID will send to a PC remotely only after a certain delayed seconds.

The Hosting PC will be a visual system that monitoring the activity of the compartment block.

From the above explanation... what are the equipment and tools I should prepare? the sensor has to be battery operate and can be installed in each compartment. can I use Arduino Micro/Nano and some RF transmitter and receiver... is this idea make sense?

compartment.jpg
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2

Image from Original Post so we don't have to download it. See this Simple Image Guide

e003d687e6836e8278cb3c2a1fb7afce493868cb.jpg
e003d687e6836e8278cb3c2a1fb7afce493868cb.jpg450×596 47.7 KB

...R

3

How big is this device?

What is it made from?

What will be stored in it?

What is the distance for the wireless communication and will it be clear line of sight or must it penetrate the walls and floors of a building?

...R

4

Robin2:
How big is this device?

What is it made from?

What will be stored in it?

What is the distance for the wireless communication and will it be clear line of sight or must it penetrate the walls and floors of a building?

...R

The cubicle is made by aluminium profile.

every single block is as big as 27 inches wide screen monitor, 2 feet deep and 2 feet height . it stores electronics equipment in cube side.

5

So are you saying that the structure in the image is over 18 feet tall and over 18ft wide?

Maybe you could have a false floor in each recess and when any weight is put on it a microswitch is pressed down?

...R

6

Robin2:
So are you saying that the structure in the image is over 18 feet tall and over 18ft wide?

Maybe you could have a false floor in each recess and when any weight is put on it a microswitch is pressed down?

...R

micro switch might a bit risky because the object to be placed is about 20kg - 50kg. I afraid the weight might damage the switch.

7

I afraid the weight might damage the switch.

Not if the switch is mounted correctly, in a recess.

Use common sense in the construction.

8

teohchiawei:
micro switch might a bit risky because the object to be placed is about 20kg - 50kg. I afraid the weight might damage the switch.

That leads me to think you are out of your depth and need to find someone to help you who has some mechanical engineering nous.

...R

9

18 feet - almost 6 meters tall - how are you going to get the objects in there in the first place?! I'm quite tall myself but even so can't manage that height without ladders or so.

10

Depending on the variety of sizes and shapes of the objects that can be placed in a container, an infrared beam break or proximity sensor, ultrasonic, or something similar may work and may be relatively simple to install.

11

wvmarle:
18 feet - almost 6 meters tall - how are you going to get the objects in there in the first place?! I'm quite tall myself but even so can't manage that height without ladders or so.

I might be causing everyone misunderstand with the picture I posted. The picture is just an transliteration of how the cabinet looks like. The unit we are going place in the cabinet is like this

And the actual cabinet looks like this

12

I see. That's a big difference.

So it's the same unit everywhere? They slide in using those ears on the side?

13

wvmarle:
I see. That's a big difference.

So it's the same unit everywhere? They slide in using those ears on the side?

something like that, those ears are the handle while caring out or in. I was thinking of using the car park solution. But I still want to listen to all of you, if any better solution.

14

confused ? you bet ! 'transliteration ? " yeah, had to stop and look that one up.

I would start with the premise that any physical contact devices can be damaged.
also physical devices can fail from use or poor manufacturing.

also, like the beam/break, any single point detector misses 99.99% of the rest of the space.

look at your refrigerator door. or car door. it has a switch that senses when the door is open or closed.
simple button. very easy to put 100 or so into one Arduino with some supporting chips.

car park is often a metalic object detector. the presence of the metal object being a car.
this too could work

a simple ceiling mounted IR beam/break could work. item placed might break the beam or reflect it. could be problematic

also a ceiling mounted ultrasonic distance detector.

some from of load cell could be used to monitor the weight of the shelf. as long at the items have enough weight, it might work. more expensive and more electronics and more elaborate, but more informative.

a 'barn door' The floor could be hinged in the front and be sprung in the back. weight on the shelf has it sitting on the stops, but pressed the switch when it has weight. not a load cell, but anything that weighs enough would activate the switch.

you did not say if this was a school project and if there are other requirements.