IOT Based Medicine Monitoring and Assisting Device (MVP Ready) - Pillora
Why Pillora??
A significant number of elderly patients and individuals with chronic illnesses fail to adhere to prescribed medication schedules. This results in missed doses, accidental overdoses, or double dosing—putting their health at serious risk. Traditional pill organizers lack dynamic alerting, adherence monitoring, or caregiver communication features, making them ineffective in ensuring real-world compliance.
Relevance and Importance
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50% of patients with chronic diseases in developed countries do not take medications as prescribed. In India, this challenge is amplified due to caregiver shortages and the increasing number of elderly people living independently. The need for a reliable, smart, and connected solution that bridges this healthcare gap is urgent and widely relevant.
Background Information
Medication adherence tools have traditionally been mechanical or time-based (e.g., pillboxes with timers), offering no real-time feedback or remote oversight. As patients age, cognitive decline further reduces their ability to manage medicines effectively. In the context of telehealth and IoT advancements, a smart pillbox offers a timely and scalable solution.
Previous Related Work
Devices such as MedMinder and Hero Health offer similar solutions but are expensive, subscription-based, or not tailored for localized needs. Research in journals such as JMIR mHealth and IEEE Access validates the impact of smart medication systems on adherence and care quality.
3D Modelling and Printed Model
The project will deliver a fully functional smart pillbox prototype, Pillora, featuring 8 medicine compartments with individual LED and buzzer alerts, a 1.8″ TFT display, Wi-Fi connectivity, and reed switch-based lid detection. The system will enable remote alarm triggering, 10-minute snooze functionality, and cloud-based adherence logging. Targeted performance includes < 2W power consumption, > 95% alert delivery accuracy, and < ₹1,500 production cost per unit. Deliverables also include a dashboard for caregivers, API documentation, hardware schematics, firmware codebase, and a report on usability trials with elderly users.
Current Stage
We are currently in Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Stage 6 an exciting phase where our idea has taken full shape as a working prototype. We’re putting it through its paces in real-world conditions, testing every detail, and collecting valuable feedback. This is where we fine-tune, fix, and polish until it’s ready to make the leap from prototype to a market-ready product.