Design and Implementation of an Arduino-Based Automated Color Sorting System
Abstract
This paper presents the design and implementation of a low-cost, Arduino-based automated color sorting system intended for educational and small-scale industrial applications. The architecture integrates a TCS3200 color sensor for spectral detection, an SG90 servo actuator for diverting items, a 1602 LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), for local feedback, and an acoustic buzzer for status indication, all orchestrated by an Arduino microcontroller. The sensing chain converts reflected RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) intensities to frequency, which are sampled and mapped to calibrated color classes; a rule-based decision layer then commands the sorting actuator. The system emphasizes modularity, reproducibility, and ease of calibration, detailing hardware interfacing, embedded firmware structure (setup/loop pattern), and version-controlled development workflows. Experimental trials on a benchtop conveyor mock-up demonstrate consistent classification of representative color sets and reliable actuation under typical lighting, with rapid cycle times suitable for introductory automation tasks. The results confirm that commodity sensors and open-source tooling can achieve robust, transparent color-based sorting while offering a clear path for future extensions (e.g., expanded color libraries, illumination normalization, and networked logging).
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