Actuators
Control Signal + Source of energy = Movement
It can be Pneumatic / Hydraulic / Electric
Control > Driver > Motor
Initially, we considered building a spring-loaded contraption to eject garbage. When we proposed this idea to Angel Wong, a second-year ITP student, she burst out laughing. We opted for a fan instead.
We determined that we'd need a large garbage bin to create proper air suction.
We needed to connect the sensor reading to control a large shop fan's power. Our first attempt with a power switch tail resulted in concerning clicking sounds. We later learned this was outdated technology—modern solutions use an AC/DC Controller or Relay instead.
In our tests below, we used a light to verify the sensor and relay setup. The sensor's sensitivity impressed us, as it could detect subtle movements between fingers.