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Cost-effective Automatic Hand Washing System

Article in Jornual of AL-Farabi for Engineering Sciences · June 2022

DOI: 10.59746/jfes.v1i1.10

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Journal of Al-Farabi For Engineering Sciences Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 2022

Cost-effective Automatic Hand Washing System

Sara Raad Qasim1, Noor Mukdam Diwood2, Yasameen Fawzi Azeez3

1’2’3
Computer Engineering Department, Al-Farabi University College, Baghdad, Iraq
[email protected]

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.

Keywords: Arduino UNO, COVID-19, IDE, IR, TIP120, WHO

:‫اﻟﺨﻼﺻﺔ‬

‫ ﺑﻌﺪ‬.‫ ﺛﺎﻧﯿﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻷﻗﻞ‬20 ‫ ﯾﺠﺐ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻨﺎس ﻏﺴﻞ أﯾﺪﯾﮭﻢ ﺑﺎﻧﺘﻈﺎم ﺑﺎﻟﺼﺎﺑﻮن واﻟﻤﺎء ﻟﻤﺪة‬،‫وﻓﻘًﺎ ﻟﺘﻮﺻﯿﺎت ﻣﻨﻈﻤﺔ اﻟﺼﺤﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤﯿﺔ‬
،‫ ھﺬه اﻷﺟﮭﺰة ﻟﯿﺴﺖ ﺟﺪﯾﺪة‬.‫ ﺗﻢ إطﻼق اﻟﻌﺪﯾﺪ ﻣﻦ آﻻت ﺗﻌﻘﯿﻢ اﻟﯿﺪﯾﻦ ﻓﻲ اﻷﺳﻮاق‬.‫ ﯾﺠﺐ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻨﺎس ﺗﺠﻨﺐ ﻟﻤﺲ اﻷﺳﻄﺢ‬،‫ذﻟﻚ‬
(2) ‫( ﺟﻤﯿﻌﮭﺎ ﺑﺎھﻈﺔ اﻟﺜﻤﻦ وﻟﻢ ﯾﺘﻤﻜﻦ ﺟﻤﯿﻊ اﻟﻨﺎس ﻣﻦ ﺷﺮاﺋﮭﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﺎزﻟﮭﻢ ؛‬1) :‫ﻟﻜﻨﮭﺎ ﺟﻤﯿﻌﮭﺎ ﺗﺸﺘﺮك ﻓﻲ ﻧﻔﺲ اﻟﻤﺸﺎﻛﻞ‬
،‫ ﯾﺘﻢ ﺗﺼﻤﯿﻢ وﺗﻨﻔﯿﺬ ﻧﻈﺎم ﻏﺴﯿﻞ ﯾﺪوي آﻟﻲ ورﺧﯿﺺ‬،‫ ﻓﻲ ھﺬه اﻟﻮرﻗﺔ‬.‫ﻣﻄﮭﺮا ﻏﯿﺮ ﻓﻌﺎل ﻣﺜﻞ اﻟﺼﺎﺑﻮن واﻟﻤﺎء‬
ً ‫ﯾﺴﺘﺨﺪﻣﻮن ﺟﻤﯿﻌًﺎ‬
‫ ﯾﺠﺐ ﺗﻮﺻﯿﻞ‬:‫ ﯾﺘﻜﻮن اﻟﻨﻈﺎم اﻟﻤﻘﺘﺮح ﻣﻦ ﺟﺰأﯾﻦ‬.‫ ﺑﺎﺳﺘﺨﺪام ﻣﻜﻮﻧﺎت ﺑﺴﯿﻄﺔ وﻣﻨﺨﻔﻀﺔ اﻟﺘﻜﻠﻔﺔ‬،‫ﯾﻌﺘﻤﺪ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺼﺎﺑﻮن واﻟﻤﺎء‬
،‫ ﯾﺤﺮص ھﺬا اﻟﻨﻈﺎم ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﻘﻠﯿﻞ اﻧﺘﻘﺎل أي ﻓﯿﺮوس‬.‫أﺣﺪھﻤﺎ ﺑﺼﻨﺒﻮر اﻟﻤﺎء اﻟﺮﺋﯿﺴﻲ واﻵﺧﺮ ﯾﺠﺐ وﺿﻌﮫ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻜﺎن ﻗﺮﯾﺐ‬
‫ ﯾﺘﻢ اﺳﺘﺨﺪام اﻟﻤﺘﺤﻜﻢ‬.‫وﻣﺴﺎﻋﺪة اﻟﻨﺎس ﻋﻠﻰ ﻏﺴﻞ أﯾﺪﯾﮭﻢ ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ﺻﺤﯿﺢ دون ﻟﻤﺲ ﺻﻨﺒﻮر اﻟﻤﺎء وﺗﻘﻠﯿﻞ ﺗﺮﺷﯿﺪ اﺳﺘﮭﻼك اﻟﻤﯿﺎه‬
‫ ﺳﯿﻜﺘﺸﻒ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺸﻌﺮ اﻗﺘﺮاب اﻟﯿﺪﯾﻦ وﯾﺴﻤﺢ ﺗﻠﻘﺎﺋﯿًﺎ ﺑﺘﺪﻓﻖ‬.‫اﻟﺪﻗﯿﻖ ﻣﻊ ﺑﻌﺾ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺸﻌﺮات واﻷﺟﺰاء اﻟﺒﺴﯿﻄﺔ ﻟﺒﻨﺎء اﻟﻨﻈﺎم‬
‫ ﻛﻤﺎ ﺳﯿﻘﻮم ﻣﺴﺘﺸﻌﺮ آﺧﺮ ﺑﻔﺤﺺ اﻷﯾﺪي‬.‫ ﺳﯿﻨﺒﮫ اﻟﺼﻮت اﻟﺸﺨﺺ إﻟﻰ اﻧﺘﮭﺎء وﻗﺖ اﻟﻐﺴﯿﻞ‬،‫ ﺛﺎﻧﯿﺔ‬20 ‫ ﺑﻌﺪ‬.‫اﻟﺼﺎﺑﻮن اﻟﺴﺎﺋﻞ‬
.‫ ﻓﺴﯿﺴﻤﺢ اﻟﻨﻈﺎم ﺑﺘﺪﻓﻖ اﻟﻤﯿﺎه‬،‫ إذا ﻛﺎن اﻷﻣﺮ ﻛﺬﻟﻚ‬.‫اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻘﺘﺮب ﻣﻦ ﺻﻨﺒﻮر اﻟﻤﺎء‬

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Journal of Al-Farabi For Engineering Sciences Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 2022

1. Introduction 2. The Proposed System

To prevent infection with any virus or bacteria, The block diagram of the proposed automatic
people must wash their hands regularly beside hand washing system is shown in Figure 1. A
other conditions according to World Health microcontroller is completely controlling the
Organization (WHO) recommendations. system. When a human’s hand approaching the
Washing hands in the right way is an important soap liquid, it will automatically flow and then
issue and not all people are committed to it. the water faucet also will flow to make a lather
Many studies were established to shed light on and help in washing the hands easily. After 20
this topic. Some studies found that 63% of seconds and if the hand detection system
students washed their hands, 38% used soap, and recognizes an imminent approach of the hand to
32% washed with soap for more than 5 seconds, the water faucet, then the water will flow again
but only 2% washed their hands with soap for much longer than the first flow in order to wash
more than 10 seconds [1]. the hands thoroughly from soap. This algorithm
is performed with the help of sensors, motors,
Another study found that only 3% of people are buzzer and water solenoid valves.
washing their hands correctly or maybe some of
the top 1% are doing it wrong [2]. In 2013,
Michigan State University researchers make
another study and found that 7% of women and
15% of men didn’t wash their hands at all, and
the men who did wash, half never used soap,
whereas 22% of women skipped the soap. The
observations found that only 5% of sample
people washed their hands long enough, and
with soap, to kill the germs that cause diseases
[3].
All the results of these studies were gross. There Figure 1. Block diagram of the proposed
were many times in which people need to wash automatic hand washing system
their hands. And now with the spreading of
COVID-19, there must be more attention for this 3. System Design Components
topic. Many companies tried to focus on this The components that used to build the proposed
subject and produce an automatic hand sanitizer hand washing system are:
devices. These devices were very expensive and
it is difficult for people to get those [4]. Another • Arduino UNO Microcontroller
issue with these machines, they based on using a • Infrared Sensors
sanitizer for cleaning the hands, which will only • Mini Aquarium water Pump
work if it contains at least 60% alcohol. • Water Solenoid Valve
According to the Centers for Disease Control • TIP120
and Prevention (CDC), alcohol- hand sanitizers
• 1N4148 diode
may help in reducing the amount of germs and
• Buzzer
bacteria on the hands, but they do not kill all
types of bacteria, especially if the hands have
3.1 Arduino UNO
dirt and grease, so should not be used to replace
hand washing with soap and water [5][6].
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Journal of Al-Farabi For Engineering Sciences Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 2022

Arduino is an open and free source electronics This quiet water pump (R385) can be used to
platform based on a combination of hardware water plants, or make a small fountain, and many
and software, shown in Figure 2. Over the years, other projects that concern with water flowing. It
it is used in thousands of projects, from simple has a filter inside, works with a sound-level
objects to complex instruments. All Arduino under 30db and can stick to any smooth surfaces.
boards are completely open source, allowed The R385 can operate normally when it is
users to build projects independently and adapt provided with a voltage between 6 to 12 Volt DC
them according to their needs. Its software (IDE) and a current between 0.5 to 0.7 Ampere but it
is also an open source, and it can be installed in delivers its maximum operating-values when the
windows and many operating systems [7]. power is at the upper end of the aforementioned
ranges (see Figure 4) [9].

Figure 2. Arduino UNO

Figure 4. Mini Aquarium water Pump
1.2 Infrared Sensor
An infrared sensor is an electronic device that 3.4 Water Solenoid Valve
emits in order to sense the surrounding stuffs. It Water solenoid valve is used to control the flow
can measure the heat of an object and/or detects of fluid. There are two outlets in this valve as
its motion. It contains two parts: a transmitter shown in Figure 5. Normally, the valve is closed.
which contain a LED that emits infrared light, as When 12V power supply is applied to the two
shown in Figure 3, and a receiver which contain terminals (the + and - terminals), the valve will
either a photodiode or a phototransistor. When be open and water can push through in only one
the infrared light falls on the photodiode, the direction [10].
output voltages and the resistances will be
changed in proportion to the magnitude of the
light received and therefore the current passes
through it will be less or more [8].

Figure 5. Water solenoid valve

3.5 TIP120 Transistor

Figure 3. Infrared sensor TIP120 is an NPN Darlington transistor. It can
switch loads up to 8Ampere with a maximum
3.3 Mini Aquarium water Pump voltage of 60Volt and continuous current of
5Ampere. This makes it very suitable for many
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Journal of Al-Farabi For Engineering Sciences Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 2022

electronics like controlling solenoids, motors,

and high power LEDs. TIP120 has three pins
(see Figure 6): (1)Base used to turn the transistor
ON or OFF by controlling the biasing of it,
(2)Collector is normally connected to load and
the current flows in through the collector,
(3)Emitter is normally connected to ground and
the current drains out through it [11].
Figure 8. The buzzer and its pins
3.8 Other Supportive Components
In order to connect the above components
together, some supportive parts are required.
These components, shown in Figure 9, include
breadboard, jumper wires, 12 volt power supply
and 1kΩ resistor.

Figure 6. TIP120 Transistor

3.6 1N4148 diode

1N4148 diode is a standard silicon switching-
signal diode which allows current flow through
only one direction (flow from the Anode to
Cathode), as shown in Figure 7. It is one of the
most popular diodes because of its
characteristics, fast switching, low cost and
dependable specifications. It is very useful in
switching applications and protecting devices
[12]. Figure 9. Supportive Components

4. System Connection and Programming

Figure 7. 1N4148 diode The system complete connection will be
explained by the following steps:
3.7 Buzzer First the connection is performed and established
A buzzer is a small efficient component that add by preparing the GND and VCC from the
sound features to projects. It is small and microcontroller, Arduino UNO, on the
compact two pins structure (positive and breadboard with -ve pin of the power supply.
negative), hence can be easily used. It is widely Two IR sensors, sensor 1 controls the action of
used in most electronic applications [13]. Figure the soap liquid parts (pump 1 and solenoid valve
8 shown the buzzer and its pins. 1) whereas sensor 2 controls the action of the
water faucet parts (pump 2 and solenoid valve
2), will be connected to Arduino. They have
three pins: (VCC and GND) both are connected
with connection 1, OUT 1 is connected with
digital pin (0) and OUT 2 is connected with
digital pin (1) as shown in Figure 10.
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Journal of Al-Farabi For Engineering Sciences Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 2022

The buzzer is also connected to arduino. It gives

a sound whenever the 20ms is finished so that
the people can start washing their hands, with
water, from soap lather. Buzzer’s positive pin
will be connected to digital pin (5) of Arduino
UNO and negative pin of it will be connected to
GND. Figure 13 shows the connection of the
Figure 10. IR sensors connection buzzer.
The water pump (R358) must be connected to
the solenoid valves using small water hoses. It
has two pins: GND is connected the main GND
in connection 1, the second pin is connected with
the +ve pin of its own solenoid valve, the -ve pin
of its own diode and the +ve of the 12V power
supply as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13. Buzzer connection

The -ve pin of the power supply is connected

with the main GND in connection 1. Figure 14
shows the complete connection of the system.

Figure 11. Water pump connection

Two TIP120 transistors are used as switches to

turn the water solenoid valves ON or OFF.
TIP120 has three pins: base is connected to
Arduino digital pins (6 and 7) through 1k
resistors, collector is connected to the -ve pin of Figure 14. System full connection
its own solenoid valve and the +ve pin of its own
diode, emitter is connected to the common GND Final step is the programming of the hand
of connection 1 as shown in Figure 12. washing system. It is performed in IDE platform
that assist to logically connect the hardware
components with the software.

5. Result and Discussion

After operating project software, the proposed
device worked and performed its task properly.
The link in [14] shows the system operation and
performance. The system allows an automatic
soap liquid flow whenever a hand approaching it
Figure 12. TIP120 and solenoid valve and after 20 seconds and only when a hand is
connection detected, the water will flow also automatically
27
Journal of Al-Farabi For Engineering Sciences Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 2022

without any need to touch the water faucet. Both Provide

The liquid soap water as only
automatic flowing, of soap liquid and water, proposed adjusted and 24
as need hands
system water
were done only when the hands is close to the approach
device so that a frugal water consumption will be
also presented. The proposed algorithm will 6. Conclusion
make sure to wash the hands for 20 seconds to This paper provides a cost-effective approach
get rid of all bacteria and germs as the WHO based on automatic hand washing system. In the
recommended. In these days, there is a high current situation, the spreading of coronavirus
demands for a methods for reducing COVID-19 infection must be completely prevented. The
transmission; the proposed system may proposed system represents a good way to
contribute a little something to prevent the protect people from being infected by COVID
spread of the virus in crowded places and 19 and any virus. Even in daily life, the project
hospitals. can be used to protect against all kinds of germs,
Based on the proposed system performance, and bacteria, especially in public outgoing, and any
after gathering some samples of automatic hand future similar global pandemics.
sanitizers in the markets; a comparison between
specifications of these marketer sanitizers and 6. References:
the proposed system is presented in the table [1] Drankiewicz, D. and Dundes, L., 2003
below. The comparison was based on several .handwashing among female college students. Am J
Infect Control,Vol. 2, pp.67-71.
points in terms of capacity, sterilization material,
sanitizing method and price. [2] Lee, B. Y., 2018 .Study Shows How Bad People Are
As noticed, the specifications of the proposed At Washing Their Hands. From
https://www.forbes.com /sites/brucelee
system had a preference over the rest, as its /2018/06/30/study-shows-how-bad-people-are-at-
capacity is subject to change according to need, washing-their-hands/#2b0223fa2481 (view at 8
its price is cheap, and the sterilization material is Sep. 2020).
optimal (washing with soap and water
[3] Michigan State University Study, 2013. From
programmed for at least 20 seconds) according https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT45b7NLYC
to the WHO recommendation. Q (view at 9 Sep. 2020).

[4] Automatic hand santizer devices with their prices.

Table 1. A comparisons between the proposed Available online: https://www.amazon.in/Dolphy-
system and the marketer systems Automatic-Hand-sanitizer-
Hand Dispenser/dp/B07KYMFDNK (accessed on 27
Sanitizing
sanitizer Capacity Sanitizing Price
(in ml) Material Method (in $) September 2020).
system
Provide [5] Soap vs. Hand Sanitizer. Available online:
alcohol as https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2020/04/soap-vs-
[15] 1000 alcohol 24
hands
sanitizer (accessed on 27 September 2020).
approach
Provide
[6] Which Is Best: Hand Sanitizer or Soap and Water?
alcohol as
[16] 8000 alcohol 81.37 Available online:
hands
approach https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/four-
65.85+ steps/wash/which-is-best-hand-sanitizer-or-soap-
Provide gel
sanitizing 2.99 and-water (accessed on 27 September 2020).
[17] 1000 as hands
gel shippin
approach g [7] Getting Started with Arduino. From
Provide https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Introduction
alcohol as (view at 12 Sep. 2020).
[18] 1000 alcohol 107.24
hands
approach

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Journal of Al-Farabi For Engineering Sciences Vol. 1, No. 2, Jun. 2022

[8] IR Sensor Module. From

https://components101.com/sensors/ir-sensor-
module (view at 12 Sep. 2020).

[9] Mini Aquarium Water Pump, (2020). Available

online: https://www.ardunic.com/product/DC6-
12V-MINI-Aquarium-water-Pump (accessed on 16
October 2020).

[10] Water Solenoid datasheet. From

https://www.amazon.com/12V-Plastic-Water-
Solenoid- Valve/dp/B07SB3SGDY (view at 16 Sep.
2020).

[11] TIP120 datasheet. From

https://components101.com/transistors/tip120-
pinout-datasheet-equivalent (view at 17 Sep. 2020).

[12] Buzzer datasheet. From

https://components101.com/buzzer-pinout-
working-datasheet (view at 19 Sep. 2020).

[13] 1N4148 Diode datasheet. From

https://components101.com/1n4148-diode-pinout-
equivalent-datasheet (view at 20 Sep. 2020).

[14] System operation, 2020. Available online:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvWDJ5A1tic
.

[15] Touch-free Hand Sanitizer. Available online:

https://www.globalsources.com/Automatic-
soap/Automatic-induction-alcohol-sprayer-
1177699181p.htm#1177699181 (accessed on 13
December 2020).

[16] Automatic Hand Sanitizer Machine 8 Liters Alcohol

Based. Available online:
https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/automatic-
hand-sanitizer-machine-8-liters-alcohol-based-
22285761588.html (accessed on 13 December
2020).

[17] CLL Touchless Automatic Soap Dispenser Pump

1000ml Wall Mounted Shower Gel Liquid
Shampoo Sanitizer Dispenser. Available online:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSC2QMV/ref=d
p_prsubs_2 (accessed on 13 December 2020).

[18] Awesome Automatic Sanitizer Machine Fulante

Induction Disinfection,. Available online:
https://hotratedproduct.net/awesome-automatic-
sanitizer-machine-fulante-induction-disinfection-
1000ml-hand-sanitizer-sterilization-wall-mounted-
hand-sanitizer-sensor-non-contact-sterilizer-
shower-spray-13-11-26cm-2019/ (accessed on 13
December 2020).

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