UAE: Students develop trash tracking app that can detect if street bins are full or empty – News

The app will be trialled by sustainability organization Bee’ah in its waste collection system

A smart litter tracking app that detects when street bins are full and empty was awarded at the Innovate for the Future Hackathon organized by SoiLAB (Sharjah Open Innovation Lab) at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) won the highest award.

The app, developed by three students at the University of Sharjah, will be trialled by Bee’ah in its waste collection system. It provides real-time data to bin collection trucks so they can stop only at bins that need to be emptied.

Thus, the app saves time, gas and money, and also contributes to sustainable development.

The 10-day event in partnership with Intel, Sheraa, Wisdom House and the Ministry of Economy provides a platform for university students, engineers, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts to work together to create breakthrough and impactful solutions .

SoiLAB’s engineers held workshops to help expand participants’ skills in areas such as coding, 3D printing, 3D modeling, team building, and design thinking. Over 100 participants registered for the hackathon, but only 20 were selected to form teams to create innovative projects.

Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTIP, commented: “The Hackathon reinforces SRTIP’s main mission of incubating and supporting innovations that simplify modern life. It also underscores SOILAB’s role in allowing budding entrepreneurs access to cutting-edge tools and environment in which to develop and test their innovations. I congratulate each team on their achievements.”

The other four runners-up also showcased some amazing applications during the hackathon.

One such project is a smart pill organizer designed to help elderly patients keep track of their medications independently. It is basically a medicine chest with different chambers for storing medicines. Each box is only opened when a specific medication needs to be taken.

Another team demonstrated a unique smart refrigerator technology that uses an app to monitor and view contents so users can know what needs to be replaced without opening the refrigerator.

Then there’s a team developing smart glasses for people with low vision or blindness. Via a phone app, the glasses measure the distance between the user and any obstacles in front of them, and activate an alert if one is nearby. It also has a panic button that can send a message to a designated person along with the user’s location.

Yet another team demonstrated an intelligent system for helping stray animals, such as cats. The innovator has created a cat house that can be placed on different streets. It has a smart food delivery system that provides each cat with the amount of food it needs while also providing warmth inside regardless of the weather outside.

The goal of the hackathon is to foster an innovative spirit and encourage participants to innovate and become successful entrepreneurs. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds, making the hackathon a unique collaborative experience. These teams work together to create groundbreaking projects that address real-world challenges.