Cost-effective Automatic Hand Washing System

Abstract

According to World Health Organization recommendations, people should wash their hands regularly, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. After that, people should avoid touching surfaces. Several hand sanitizer machines were released in markets. These devices are nothing new, but they all sharing the same problems: (1) They all are expensive and not all people were able to buy them in their houses; (2) They all use a sanitizer which is not as effective as soap and water. In this paper, an automatic and cheap hand washing system, based on soap and water, is designed and implemented using simple and low cost components. The proposed system has two parts: one should be connected to the main water faucet and another must be put nearby. This system keen on reducing any virus transmission, helping people to wash their hands properly without touching the water faucet and reduce rationalize water consumption. A microcontroller is used with some sensors and simple parts to build the system. A sensor will detect hands approaching and automatically allow liquid soap flowing. After 20 seconds, a sound will alert the person that the washing time has expired. Also another sensor will check hands approaching to the water faucet. If so, then the system will allow water flowing.