“ IOT Based Sanitary Pad

Vending Machine”
Submitted by :-

ZOUKIA AKHTAR 0206EX211064

SONIYA SINGH 0206EX211060

NIGAR FATIMA KHAN 0206EX211031
AASHI RAI 0206EX211008
ANSHIKA JAIN 0206EX211010

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
in
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

GYAN GANGA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCES,

JABALPUR (M.P)
RAJIV GANDHI PRODYOGIKI VISHWAVIDYALAYA, BHOPAL (M.P)
DECEMBER-2024
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the Major Project
Report entitled “Sanitary Pad Vending
Machine” is submitted by Zoukia
Akhtar , Soniya Singh, Nigar Fatima
Khan , Aashi Rai and Anshika Jain
for the partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of degree of
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING in
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS
ENGINEERING from RAJIV GANDHI
PROUDYOGIKI VISHWAVIDYALAYA,
BHOPAL (M.P).

Prof. Parul Sharma

Prof. Ruchi Pandey
Guide HoD
Dept. of Electrical & Electronics Dept. of Electrical & Electronics
Engineering Engineering
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the Major
Project Report entitled “Sanitary Pad
Vending Machine” is submitted by
Zoukia Akhtar , Soniya Singh,
Nigar Fatima Khan , Aashi Rai and
Anshika Jain for the partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the award of
degree of BACHELOR OF
ENGINEERING in ELECTRICAL &
ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING from
RAJIV GANDHI PROUDYOGIKI
VISHWAVIDYALAYA, BHOPAL (M.P).

Internal Examiner
External Examiner
Date : Date :
 DECLARATION
We hereby declare that the project
report entitled “Sanitary Pad Vending
Machine” which is being submitted in
partial fulfillment of the requirement for
award of the Degree of Bachelor of
Engineering in Electrical & Electronics
Engineering to “RAJIV GANDHI
PROUDYOGIKI VISHWAVIDYALAYA,
BHOPAL (M.P.)” is an authentic record of
our own work done under the guidance
of Prof. Parul Sharma, Department of
Electrical & Electronics Engineering,
GYAN GANGA INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCES, JABALPUR
The matter reported in this report has not
been submitted earlier for the award of any
other degree.

Date:
Place : JABALPUR
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We sincerely express indebtedness to esteemed
and revered guide Prof. Parul Sharma of Department
of Electrical & Electronics Engineering for his
invaluable guidance, supervision and encouragement
throughout the work. Without his kind patronage and
guidance the synopsis would not have taken shape.

We take this opportunity to express deep

sense of gratitude to Prof. Ruchi Pandey, Head of
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
for his encouragement and kind approval. Also we
thank him in providing the computer lab facility. We
would like to express our sincere regards to him for
advice and counseling from time to time.

We owe sincere thanks to all the faculties in

Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
for their advice and counseling time to time.

Date: Zoukia
Akhtar
Place : JABALPUR Soniya Singh

Nigar Fatima Khan

Aashi Rai

Anshika Jain
 Table of Contents
Serial Title
Page no.
No.
1. ABSTRACT
2. INTRODUCTION
3. PROBLEM STATEMENT
4. OBJECTIVES
5. LITERATURE REVIEW
6. SYSTEM DESIGN AND
ARCHITECTURE
7. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
COMPONENTS
8. WORKING PRINCIPLE
9. IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS
10.APPLICATIONS
11.LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES
12.FUTURE SCOPE
13.CONCLUSION
14.REFERENCES
1. ABSTRACT
• The idea behind this machine is to have
an online payment for customers, as no
one is carrying cash with them, and has
access to an inventory of the product
to the vendor so that he can monitor
the machine online. This vending
machine is fully automatic with a touch
display, it includes an online payment
gateway like UPI, Debit Card, Credit
card, Net Banking payments.
• This machine uses a spring and free-
falling mechanism to dispense napkins.
This machine contains a total storage
capacity of 50, with 25 individual slot
capacities.
• The whole machine is controlled
using microcontroller, which is being
programmed to connect the razor
pay server for online payment
gateway and Mongo DB server for
vendor inventory.
• This machine is simple to operate, it
has QR based UPI payment option.
Once the online payment is
successful, then one can collect a
napkin. Once the product is
dispensed it will update the
inventory with all the details like
type, quantity, price, payment ID,
etc. to the database.
2. INTRODUCTION
In today’s world, women’s
cleanliness or hygiene is very
important and to be taken care of by
them. Women are still afraid or shy
of buying napkins from outdoor
shops, pharmaceutical stores, and
other stores. A permanent solution
to this particular problem is by
installing a napkin dispensing system
in different places like schools,
colleges, and public places. Talking
regarding menstruation is offensive
in many demo graphies and this
contributes to ignorance and
illiteracy during menstrual
management.
The result is that they have to miss
out on work, schools as well as their
daily other commitments. So there
is a need to make availability of
sanitary napkins to them, which can
be achieved by employing vending
machines with digitalized online
payment.
3. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Coin acceptors often jam up,
especially if a bill or other foreign
object is inserted into the coin slot.
When the coin box is full with the
coins, no more payment can be
accepted thus preventing another
purchase, for vending machines
using notes as a method of payment,
the notes must be in good condition.
The term the good condition refers
to the good shape of the notes, not
folded, and the original one. When
using notes with a bad condition
such as crumpled or dirty, the
vending machine cannot read the
note and then reject the payment ,
and the vendor won’t have clue
when the coin box will be full,
whether it’s a dummy note and
when the items need to be refilled,
this is the serious problems of coin-
based vending machines.
Nearly 23 million girls drop out of
school annually due to a lack of
proper menstrual hygiene
management facilities. A common
and significant challenge they face is
the ability to manage their
menstruation safely , comfortably,
and with dignity. In many
emergency contexts, women and
girls lack access to basic materials,
such as sanitary pads.
4. OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this sanitary
napkin machine is to overcome coin-
based mechanisms and provide
access to sanitary napkins at working
places like offices, shopping malls,
etc with digital online payment.
Maintaining vending machines is
difficult due to the maintenance of
inventory and refilling the items in it.
This machine provides the vendor to
monitor inventory through a
dashboard and sends a notification
to the vendor when the items in the
machine are less i.e, when items are
less than 5 it will notify the vendor to
refill the machine.
 This vending machine is designed
to solve :
• Lack of access to sanitary pads
• Inventory management system
• Payment method
5. LITERATURE REVIEW
Vending machines have a rich history that spans centuries,
evolving from simple mechanical devices to modern-day
automated, high-tech systems. Their journey reflects
advancements in technology, changing consumer needs,
and the increasing demand for convenience.
• Ancient Beginnings
The concept of vending machines dates back to ancient
civilizations. In the 1st century AD, Hero of Alexandria, an
engineer from ancient Greece, invented a device that
dispensed holy water in exchange for a coin. This early
example of a coin-operated machine used basic mechanical
principles to automate a function, laying the groundwork
for later developments in vending technology.
• 19th Century: The Rise of Coin-Operated Machines
Vending machines began to take shape as commercial
entities in the 19th century. In 1883, a British inventor,
Percy Spencer, developed the first modern vending
machine, which dispensed postage stamps in exchange for
coins. Around the same time, in America, vending machines
started appearing in public places, primarily selling
postcards, gum, and small novelties. These early machines
were relatively simple, but they sparked the commercial
potential for automated retail.
• In the 1880s, the first candy vending machines emerged in
the United States.
• Early 20th Century: Expansion and Innovation
By the early 1900s, vending machines became more
diverse in terms of the products they could dispense. The
first successful soda machine was introduced around 1920
and allowed users to purchase bottled carbonated
beverages. This was a significant innovation, as it catered to
the growing demand for convenience and self-service
retail.
During the 1930s, the U.S. saw the rise of vending
machines that offered a variety of goods, including peanuts
and candy. These machines were increasingly popular in
movie theaters, amusement parks, and other public
spaces.
• Mid-20th Century: The Vending Machine Boom
The 1940s and 1950s marked the golden age of vending
machines in the United States, with a boom in the
availability of snack machines, drink dispensers, and even
ice cream machines. The 1950s saw the introduction of can
vending machines, which revolutionized the way beverages
were dispensed, making it more efficient and increasing
product accessibility.
The introduction of electronic vending machines in the
1960s improved their reliability and functionality. These
machines could handle a wider variety of goods, from
snacks to hot meals, and began to incorporate coin-return
mechanisms and other advanced features.
• Late 20th Century: Digital and Cashless
Technologies
By the 1970s, vending machines began to integrate
more sophisticated technologies, including cashless
payment systems. These early machines allowed
customers to use tokens or credit cards for
transactions, paving the way for more seamless
consumer experiences. The 1980s and 1990s
witnessed the advent of touchscreen interfaces and
more complex vending options, including electronics
and video games, making vending machines even
more diverse in terms of product offerings.
• 21st Century: Smart Vending and Cashless
Payments
In the 2000s, vending machines continued to
evolve with the rise of the internet of things (IoT),
smartphones , and cashless payment systems.
Today, many machines accept mobile payments, QR
codes, and even cryptocurrency, making
transactions faster and more secure. Smart vending
machines are now capable of offering real-time data
about inventory levels, customer preferences, and
machine performance, providing better service and
operational efficiency.
6. SYSTEM DESIGN AND
ARCHITECTURE
The architecture integrates hardware and software
elements that work together to enable product
dispensing, payment processing, and monitoring via
Wi-Fi.

1. High-Level System Architecture Overview

At a high level, the architecture of the sanitary pad
vending machine consists of:
• User Interface (UI): Interface for users to select the
product.
• Payment System: UPI-based payment module for
processing transactions.
• Product Dispensing Mechanism: Hardware to
dispense the sanitary pads once payment is
successful.
• Microcontroller/Processor: Controls all the system's
operations and connects the different components.
• Wi-Fi Module: Connects the system to the internet
for remote monitoring and control.
• Sensors and Actuators: Monitors inventory and
interacts with the machine (e.g., IR sensors, motors).
BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THE
SYSTEM
User Interface

Microcontroller

UPI Payment Gateway

Wi-Fi Module

Dispensing Mechanism

Sensor

Power Supply
7. HARDWARE AND
SOFTWARE COMPONENTS

Microcontroller • ARDUINO

Wi-Fi Module • ESP8266

Motor • 12 volt DC
Payment •UPI PAYMENT- QR CODES
System

Sensor •PHOTOELECTRIC SENSOR

Power supply •220 VAC

Embedded •C/C++
Programming

MONITORING •HTTP or MQTT protocols

8. WORKING PRINCIPLE
• Microcontroller ( Arduino )
Purpose: Acts as the central control unit that coordinates all
operations of the vending machine.
Role:
– Receives input from the user interface and initiates the
dispensing process.
– Handles the UPI payment gateway communication.
– Controls the motor to release the sanitary pad after a
successful payment.
– Manages data from the sensors (e.g., product availability,
stock level).
Technology: The microcontroller processes the data and sends
control signals to other system components.

• UPI Payment Gateway Integration

Purpose: Provides a secure and efficient payment method for
users.
Role:
– User scans a QR code displayed on the machine, which is
linked to a UPI payment gateway (such as Google Pay,
PhonePe, etc.).
– The UPI system communicates with the server to verify the
payment status.
– If the payment is successful, a signal is sent back to the
microcontroller to trigger the dispensing mechanism.
Technology: QR code generation, API for transaction verification,
and communication protocols like HTTPS or REST API.
• Wi-Fi Module (ESP8266)
Purpose: Enables the machine to connect to the internet
for real-time monitoring and control.
Role:
– Allows for remote monitoring of the machine's status,
such as available inventory and transaction data.
– Sends alerts for inventory restocking or maintenance
issues.
– Updates the machine’s status to a cloud database,
where operators can monitor performance and
payment history.
Technology: Wi-Fi modules like ESP8266 or ESP32
communicate with the cloud server via MQTT or HTTP
protocols.

• Sensors and Actuators

Purpose: Monitors inventory levels and triggers product
dispensing.
Role:
– Sensors: Proximity or infrared sensors detect if the
product has been dispensed successfully or if inventory
needs to be refilled.
– Actuators: Motors or servos are responsible for the
physical dispensing of the sanitary pad.
Technology: IR sensors for detecting object presence,
stepper motors for precise movement control in dispensing.
• Product Dispensing Mechanism
Purpose: Delivers the selected sanitary pad to the user after
successful payment.
Role:
– Once the microcontroller receives a successful payment
notification, it activates the dispensing unit.
– The actuator motor moves to release the product from the
storage compartment and into the dispensing tray.
Technology: Servo motors or stepper motors for controlled
movement and precise dispensing.

• Communication Flow
The overall flow of communication can be broken down into the
following steps:
Payment Processing:
– The machine generates a QR code and displays it to the user.
– The user scans the QR code using their mobile payment app
(Google Pay, PhonePe, etc.).
– The UPI payment gateway verifies the payment and sends a
success notification to the microcontroller via the Wi-Fi module.
Product Dispensing:
– The microcontroller triggers the motor/actuator to dispense the
sanitary pad.
– Sensors detect if the product was successfully dispensed.
Remote Monitoring:
– The Wi-Fi module transmits real-time data about transactions,
stock levels, and machine status to the cloud server.
– The operator can access this data remotely to monitor the
system’s performance and manage inventory.
• Cloud-Based Monitoring and Alerts
Inventory Monitoring:
The Wi-Fi module can send real-time updates to a
cloud-based server or mobile application,
enabling administrators to track the stock levels.
When the inventory drops below a threshold,
alerts are generated for restocking.
Maintenance Alerts:
The system can detect if any malfunction occurs,
such as motor failure or sensor malfunction, and
send maintenance alerts to operators via email,
SMS, or app notifications.

• Security Considerations
UPI Payment Security:
UPI payments are secured using encryption and
tokenization. All transactions are handled via
secure APIs that ensure data privacy.
Data Encryption:
The communication between the microcontroller
and Wi-Fi module, as well as between the
machine and the cloud server, uses secure
protocols like HTTPS and SSL/TLS to prevent data
interception.
9. IMPLEMENTATION
DETAILS
1. Hardware Components

The hardware components are responsible for the physical

functioning of the vending machine, including product selection,
payment processing, and product dispensing.
• Microcontroller (e.g., Arduino/Raspberry Pi): The central
processing unit for the machine. It controls all the operations of
the system, processes input from sensors, handles payment
verification, and triggers the dispensing mechanism.
• Wi-Fi Module (ESP8266/ESP32): Provides internet connectivity
to the machine for handling online payment verification and
sending real-time data to a cloud server. This enables remote
monitoring of stock levels and machine status.
• UPI Payment Interface (QR Code Generation): A key component
that generates QR codes for UPI payments. The user scans the
displayed QR code using a UPI-enabled app (Google Pay,
PhonePe, etc.) for making the payment. The QR code contains
details about the transaction (amount and merchant ID).
• Motors and Actuators: The motor mechanism is responsible for
dispensing the sanitary pads after payment confirmation. This
could include DC motors or stepper motors that drive a conveyor
or servo mechanism to deliver the selected product to the user.
• Sensors (IR/Proximity Sensors): These sensors are used for
detecting inventory levels and confirming whether the product
has been successfully dispensed. They provide feedback to the
microcontroller to ensure proper operation.
2. Software Development

The software handles the operations of the machine, including

user interaction, UPI payment verification, and controlling the
hardware components.
• a) Microcontroller Firmware (Arduino)
Control Logic:
The microcontroller processes inputs from the user interface,
initiates payment requests, and controls the dispensing
mechanism. Upon receiving payment confirmation, it activates
the motor to dispense the selected product.
Code Workflow:
– The setup() function initializes all hardware components,
including the Wi-Fi module, sensors, and display.
– The loop() function continuously checks user inputs and
verifies the payment status. If payment is confirmed, it
triggers the dispensing process.
– Libraries for controlling the motor, Wi-Fi module, and
generating QR codes are included (ESP8266WiFi.h).
• b) UPI Payment Integration
QR Code Generation:
Upon product selection, the microcontroller generates a
dynamic QR code with the UPI payment details. The QR code
contains the merchant’s ID, transaction amount, and a unique
transaction reference.
Payment Verification:
After the user makes the payment using a UPI-enabled app, the
machine verifies the payment through the Wi-Fi module. The
microcontroller connects to the payment gateway (e.g., via
REST API) to check if the payment is successful. If confirmed,
the system proceeds to dispense the sanitary pad.
• c) Wi-Fi Connectivity (ESP8266/ESP32)
Cloud Integration:
The Wi-Fi module connects the vending machine to the
internet, enabling remote monitoring and status updates.
Data such as transaction history, inventory levels, and
machine health are sent to a cloud server or mobile app
using protocols like HTTP or MQTT. The system can send
alerts when inventory levels are low or if maintenance is
required.

3. Product Dispensing Mechanism

The dispensing system releases the sanitary pad after the

user successfully completes the payment.
• Motor Control:
After receiving confirmation from the UPI payment
gateway, the microcontroller sends a signal to activate
the motor or servo mechanism. The motor moves a
conveyor or tray that delivers the selected sanitary pad to
the user.
• Sensor Feedback:
Proximity or IR sensors detect whether the pad has been
dispensed successfully. If the product is not dispensed,
the system alerts the user and sends a signal to the
machine for maintenance.
4. Testing and Validation

a) Unit Testing:
Before full integration, each hardware component is tested
individually. This includes checking:
• Motor functionality (dispensing mechanism).
• QR code generation and payment gateway communication.
• Sensors for product detection and inventory feedback.
b) Integration Testing:
• Once unit testing is successful, all components are
integrated, and end-to-end tests are conducted:
• Verify the entire process: product selection → payment →
dispensing → inventory tracking.
• Test payment verification with various UPI apps to ensure
compatibility and security.
c) User Acceptance Testing (UAT):
• Simulate real-world scenarios to ensure the system meets
user expectations. Test the user interface for ease of use and
ensure that the payment and dispensing process is smooth
and error-free.
5. Deployment

Once the system is thoroughly tested, it can be assembled

and deployed in a real-world setting.
• Hardware Assembly:
Mount the motor, sensors, display, and payment interface in
the vending machine enclosure. Ensure all components are
securely connected to the microcontroller and Wi-Fi module.
• Remote Monitoring Setup:
Configure the Wi-Fi module to send periodic updates to the
cloud. This enables remote monitoring of the machine’s
transaction history, stock levels, and maintenance status.

6. Maintenance and Updates

• Cloud-Based Monitoring:
The machine sends data to a cloud platform for inventory
tracking and performance monitoring. The system can
alert administrators for maintenance, product refills, or
potential faults.
• Software Updates:
The Wi-Fi connectivity allows for over-the-air (OTA)
firmware updates to fix bugs, improve performance, or
add new features.
10. Applications
• The IoT-enabled feature ensures
that real-time and detailed report
is available online, regarding the
number of dispensed sanitary
pads and amount collected.
• The machine will instantly notify
whenever there is a shortage of
sanitary pads in the machine.
• Sanitary Napkin Vending machine
can be wall-mounted at the Ladies'
restroom facility at your premises
for easy and private access.
• Online payment-based sanitary
pad dispensing unit eliminates the
risk of infection.
• Women can check the
availability/unavailability of the
sanitary pads from the display unit
• Napkin loading on a spiral; eases the
process of
dispensing or adding sanitary pads
safely and securely.
• Contains QR-based UPI payment, can
pay amount
instantly using phone-pay or google pay.
• Vendor can have a complete inventory
of the
products in a vending machine
• UI, Database, and mechanism can be
extended to
other vending machines like snacks,
general goods,
baked goods, etc
11. Limitations and
Challenges
Connectivity Issues: The
vending machine relies on stable
Wi-Fi for UPI transactions and
inventory updates.
Payment Failures: UPI
transactions are generally reliable,
but issues such as server downtime,
network failures, or incorrect QR
code scanning could result in failed
payments, leading to customer
frustration.
Power Dependence: The system
is dependent on consistent power
supply.
Cost of Implementation: The
initial cost of setting up a vending
machine with advanced technology,
like UPI integration and Wi-Fi, can
be relatively high.
Maintenance and Restocking:
Regular maintenance of the
machine, such as ensuring products
are available and replenishing stock.
12. Future Scope
AI-Based Predictive
Maintenance : By incorporating
AI algorithms, the vending machine
could predict maintenance needs,
such as when a product might run
out or when the machine is due for
cleaning or servicing. This predictive
model can minimize downtime and
improve overall machine reliability.
Energy-Efficient and Solar-
Powered Vending Machines:
Future machines could be powered
by solar energy, especially in remote
or off-grid areas. This would reduce
energy consumption and
operational costs, making the
vending machine more sustainable
 Multi-Payment Options :
Expanding beyond UPI, vending
machines could integrate other
cashless payment methods like
mobile wallets (e.g., Paytm , Google
Pay), credit/debit cards, or even
international payment platforms,
further enhancing accessibility.
Customizable User
Experience : The vending
machine interface could be made
more user-friendly by incorporating
features like multi-language
support, touchless payment, and
personalized preferences, allowing
users to select their preferred
products more easily
13. Conclusion
The proposed system is the design of
the finished model for an IOT based
sanitary napkin machine with a
digital payment method and vendor
inventory system.
The controller unit was tested and
it’s working as expected, it’s able to
dispense napkins based on user
choice. Based on the results of the
research, it can be concluded that
this UI, database, and mechanism
can be extended to other vending
machines.
.
There are big opportunities for the
entrepreneur to make a business of
sanitary napkin using the vending
machine at public places. Moreover,
a good businessman not only has to
be good at finding business
opportunities with nice prospects
but also, should be able to standas a
solution to the stipulation of society,
including vital necessities
14. References
• "Vending machines: History,
technology, and applications" (2006)
by A. S. K. Sharma.
• "Sanitary Pads and Vending Machines:
A Public Health Intervention in
Schools" (2015) by P. B. Devi et al.
• "Exploring UPI Integration in Vending
Machines: A Case Study from India"
(2021) by A. R. Sharma.
• "Impact of Sanitary Pad Vending
Machines on Menstrual Hygiene
Practices" (2019) by P. Gupta et al.
• "Future Trends in Vending Machines:
Artificial Intelligence and
Sustainability" (2022) by M. J. Johnson.