Development of an Automatic Solar-driven Hand Sanitizing System (AHSS) using Proximity Sensors

Abstract

Inception of COVID ’19 has brought new normal globally. Contagious nature of various infectious diseases necessitated frequent hand washing in order to reduce rate of contamination and community transmission. The need to contain the spread of COVID-19 necessitated the development of an Automatic Hand Sanitizing System (AHSS). The AHSS employed proximity sensor (IR) to sense the hand and actuate the 5V DC submersible pumps in charge of both water and sanitizer units of the AHSS. The DC voltage that powered the system was harvested from the Sun with the help of 5v Photovoltaic cell connected to a controlled charging circuit. The system responded to presence of user object within the active zone of the IR proximity sensors. This presence sends signal to the pumps to release either the Sanitizer/water. Evaluation based on Delay Time (DT), Average DT (ADT), True Positive (TP), False Positive (FP), Unable to Detect (UTD) and Accuracy (A) was conducted. The system was tested 180 times among students of School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji (FEDPOLEL). Results of evaluation indicate 12s, 180, 0.00, 0.00 and 100% for ADT, TP, FP, UTD and Accuracy, respectively. Accuracy of the designed AHSS was encouraging. An AHSS that can notify user about level of water and sanitizer, also test for presence of COVID-19 infection can also be designed and constructed.