Eco Buddy: A Novel Robotic Platform for Automatic Waste Classification using Computer Vision and IoT

This paper presents the design and implementation of Eco Buddy, an automated waste classification system combining IoT and computer vision.The platform integrates an ESP32 microcontroller, Raspberry Pi 5, and sensors for real-time waste detection and sorting.Using TensorFlow Lite, the system achieves 95% accuracy in distinguishing between aluminum cans, plastic bottles and anomalies.The platform includes an IoT dashboard for monitoring and a gamified rewards system to promote recycling.This cost-effective solution demonstrates the practical application of robotics in environmental sustainability.