{"id":9944,"date":"2025-04-03T22:11:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T01:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solvefortomorrowlatam.com\/pratica\/estudantes-criam-maquina-que-ajuda-a-tomar-remedios-na-hora-com-a-dose-certa\/"},"modified":"2025-04-28T19:19:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T22:19:46","slug":"estudantes-criam-maquina-que-ajuda-a-tomar-remedios-na-hora-com-a-dose-certa","status":"publish","type":"pratica","link":"https:\/\/solvefortomorrowlatam.com\/en\/case\/estudantes-criam-maquina-que-ajuda-a-tomar-remedios-na-hora-com-a-dose-certa\/","title":{"rendered":"Students create a machine that helps people take medicine at the right dose and time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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)<\/a> 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 \u201cPharmakos\u201d, an automatic pill dispenser that releases it at the scheduled times and doses, according to the patient\u2019s medical prescription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The initiative was a finalist and a highlight for the Solve for Tomorrow popular jury in Brazil in 2024. \u201cBased on the idea, they researched whether something similar already existed on the market and began to create the design. The first three prototypes<\/a> 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,\u201d recalls teacher Marcos Anibal Cunha, who is a mechatronic engineer and one of the project\u2019s mediators<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project required students to research programming<\/a> and, with the mentoring offered by Solve for Tomorrow, they also interviewed the school\u2019s nursing technician, who helped with practical tips and reinforced the importance of \u201cPharmakos\u201d in helping to reduce medication errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Through the STEM project, young people were able to put their knowledge into practice to create an innovative solution.<\/em>
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\n Eureka moment! <\/h5>\n

According to the teacher, the original idea was to test it out with cardboard and then assemble the <\/span>automatic pill dispenser <\/span>using acrylic pieces. But during the tests, the pills started to get stuck. So, after analyzing the system, improving the design, and doing research, they realized that it would be better to produce something custom-made. So, they decided to print the structure using a machine owned by one of the students\u2019 brothers, and the entire mechanism became more precise. \u201cThe prototype was developed according to the need to adapt the mechanisms and electronic equipment, such as the on and off button, controls and LCD screen. The structure emerged as needed,\u201d explains the teacher.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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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.
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How the automatic pill dispenser works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> microcontroller board that can be programmed<\/a> to control electronic devices, such as motors and sensors. But they were looking for a way for the system to be accessed remotely. \u201cThey had to work with another microcontroller, the ESP32,\u201d adds the educator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo 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,\u201d says the educator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n