Abstract

Medication non-adherence is one of the major challenges in healthcare, especially among elderly individuals and patients with chronic diseases who rely on regular drug intake for effective treatment. To address this issue, a smart pill box with acoustic signal integration has been developed to assist users in maintaining consistent medication schedules. The proposed system functions as an intelligent reminder system that produces a specific sound alert at the prescribed time, reminding the user to take the correct dose. The design combines a microcontroller, a sound sensor, and a timing unit to monitor pill retrieval events. When the pill box remains unopened within the assigned period, an acoustic signal continues to play until the box is opened, ensuring that no dose is missed. This audio-based feedback mechanism proves to be more effective than traditional visual or text-based alerts, particularly for elderly care, as it draws immediate attention even from users with limited vision or technical literacy. The system captures and analyzes the sound patterns of lid openings and pill movements to verify successful medication actions. It also prevents false triggering by comparing real-time acoustic data with pre-defined sound signatures. The design emphasizes low power consumption, portability, and user-friendly operation, making it suitable for home and hospital environments. The smart pill box ensures precise adherence by integrating time tracking, alert control, and event logging into a compact design. Experimental results show reliable detection of medication events, timely alert generation, and high user response accuracy. This innovation provides a low-cost, non-invasive, and efficient solution that bridges healthcare technology with daily living needs, supporting both independent users and caregivers in maintaining medication discipline. The proposed system ultimately enhances treatment effectiveness and promotes better health outcomes through intelligent and sound-based interaction.