After a student noticed his grandmother often forgot whether or not she had taken her daily doses of medication, he decided to create a solution by combining his knowledge of Mechatronics with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). This is how, together with two other colleagues and two mediator teachers, he created “Pharmakos”, an automatic pill dispenser that releases it at the scheduled times and doses, according to the patient’s medical prescription.
The initiative was a finalist and a highlight for the Solve for Tomorrow popular jury in Brazil in 2024. “Based on the idea, they researched whether something similar already existed on the market and began to create the design. The first three prototypes were made of cardboard to test the mechanism. Then, they made the structure on a 3D printer to give greater precision to the mechanical movements. The electronic and programming parts came later,” recalls teacher Marcos Anibal Cunha, who is a mechatronic engineer and one of the project’s mediators.
The project required students to research programming and, with the mentoring offered by Solve for Tomorrow, they also interviewed the school’s nursing technician, who helped with practical tips and reinforced the importance of “Pharmakos” in helping to reduce medication errors.
What I see in students is that they think they are not capable. We have to work on encouraging them. We need to show them that it is possible to dream big, but with their feet on the ground, highlights Marcos Anibal Cunha.
How the automatic pill dispenser works
The prototype consists of a mechanical part that stores and moves the pills; an electronic part, which makes the mechanism move according to commands; and a programming part, which allows the schedules and quantities to be set for dispensing the medicines. The students already had experience with Arduino, an open-source microcontroller board that can be programmed to control electronic devices, such as motors and sensors. But they were looking for a way for the system to be accessed remotely. “They had to work with another microcontroller, the ESP32,” adds the educator.
The latest prototype has not been tested by users, but it has achieved functional results in pill-dispensing tests carried out at the school itself. With the automatic pill dispenser, it was possible to program the frequency, quantity of medication, and time and date of the start of treatment. The equipment also allows different settings for continuous or temporary medication. Two medications were tested to be dispensed at different times and doses, emitting audible alerts whenever this happened.
While these dispensers can help caregivers and patients manage medications, they are relatively expensive. Excluding the labor and time spent developing the project, each unit costs around R$500 (around US$85, which includes the materials and equipment used in the machine).
“To gain scale and be on the market, the project still needs more refined technology, and this has a cost. The students are very excited; they are talking about patenting and improving the system, but they would need an investment to continue. With the visibility the project has had in the press, a pharmacy chain is already wanting to talk to the team,” says the educator.
Before the prototype was ready, students had to assemble the device and design the casing.
Project success motivates students and teachers
Throughout the course, despite being focused on their studies and the vestibular (an exam to enter university), the students remained organized and motivated in the project. According to the teacher, an important part of this motivation came from the mentoring of Solve for Tomorrow. The methodology was key to the success of the project. “It is something that the students will always take with them. One example was the habit of keeping project records throughout the STEM project path. We often refer to these notes to know what has already been done and where we need to make changes. This encouraged teamwork and division of tasks. When responsibilities are assigned, the project goes better,” he says.
Cunha also highlights the importance of the program involving the school community. The principal, other teachers, and students contributed with suggestions, translated the project videos into sign language, and engaged in the popular vote. The school’s teaching assistant, Abraão Lacerda, also provided important support in the dialogue with the students. “After the students made it to the semifinals of Solve for Tomorrow, their joy was inexplicable. One of them even said during the mentoring session that he already felt like a scientist. So, I think it was hard work, but it was very good for them. And for us teachers, it was also excellent”, he says.
