DEVICE FOR AUTOMATED CONTROL OF EXPIRATION DATES OF FOODSTUFFS, STORED IN REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

One of the main problems of storing food (especially perishable) in refrigerators is compliance with their expiration dates. To solve it, it is necessary to constantly monitor and promptly notify food consumers about the approaching expiration of these deadlines. At present, this problem is solved mainly manually by checking the expiration date information printed on food packaging visually or using a hand-held scanner. At the same time, time is spent on checking, there is a high probability of untimely consumption of the food product or even its spoilage, which leads to certain financial losses. Today, given the development of Internet of Things technologies, it is possible to simply and cheaply automate the process of monitoring the expiration dates of food products stored in refrigerators and having a corresponding label on the packaging. Since 2021, Russia has introduced mandatory labeling of dairy products using the 2D Data Matrix code, which allows you to obtain data on expiration dates from the Chestny Znak state labeling and tracking system. Currently, the industry is already producing smart household refrigerators that can be connected to the Internet to transmit various information to the user. However, the common disadvantages of the known designs of smart refrigerators are their high cost, design complexity and the impossibility of working with 2D Data Matrix code labels applied to food packaging. A solution is proposed in the form of a stand-alone wireless smart device that allows you to simply and economically implement automatic notification of users about the approaching expiration date of food stored in the refrigerator, thereby eliminating the possibility of untimely consumption and spoilage. The proposed device does not require structural changes to the equipment of the refrigerator, has a low cost and ease of installation and use, and allows you to turn an ordinary refrigerator into a smart one.