Design and Build of an Automatic Cat Litter Box Cleaner Based on Internet of Things with Weight Detection

Abstract

This research aims to design and implement an Internet of Things (IoT)-based Cat Litter Box that can automatically clean the litter box based on weight detection. The system uses an ESP8266 microcontroller as the main controller, which is connected to the Firebase Realtime Database and an Android application. A load cell sensor is used to detect the weight of the waste, while an infrared obstacle sensor functions to detect the presence of the cat. When the detected weight is ≤ 500 grams and no object is detected, a stepper motor controlled by a DRV8825 driver activates the cleaning mechanism, and an MG996R motor opens and closes the waste cover. The sensor data and system status are sent to Firebase and displayed through the Android application. Based on testing, the system worked properly. The device was able to perform automatic cleaning according to sensor conditions, display sensor data on the application, and send notifications when the detected weight exceeded 500 grams or when the infrared sensor detected an obstruction for a certain duration.