Smart Pill Reminder Using ESP8266MOD, NTP Clock, and Integrating It With the Blynk Platform

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)

e-ISSN: 2395-0056

Volume: 12 Issue: 07 | Jul 2025

p-ISSN: 2395-0072

www.irjet.net

Smart Pill Reminder Using ESP8266MOD, NTP Clock, and Integrating It With the Blynk Platform Vaishnavi S. Malusare1, Avani A Karawade2, Aditi G. Kudale3 123UG Student, School of Mechatronics Engineering, Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, Maharashtra,

India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------

Abstract - Coming from a household where family

remote acknowledgment, which improves accessibility [10].

members needed regular reminders to take their medicines on time, I often found it challenging to manage this task, especially when I wasn't around. To address this issue, we created a Smart Pill Reminder system. This device helps people take their medications on schedule without needing someone else to remind them. The system uses an ESP8266 microcontroller with a real-time clock connected via NTP (Wi-Fi), a buzzer, an LCD, and a push-button, all controlled through the Blynk IoT platform. Users can set multiple daily alarms through the Blynk app, receive audio-visual reminders, and confirm they took their pills using either a physical button or a virtual button in the app. The system also tracks missed or confirmed doses, improving health compliance and providing peace of mind for caregivers.

This device is perfect for people who need regular reminders without relying on caregivers. It combines basic electronic parts with cloud control to provide a budgetfriendly, dependable, and scalable solution for daily medication management. The design focuses on modularity, remote operation, and ease of use, making it ideal for both home and healthcare settings.

2. LITERATURE AND SYSTEM REVIEW Current systems for pill management mainly rely on alarm clocks or smartphone apps, and they offer limited feedback options. Recent trends include using automation and IoT to improve usability.

Key Words: Smart Pill Reminder, ESP8266MOD, IoT (Internet of Things), Blynk App, NTP (Network Time Protocol), Medication Adherence, Remote Monitoring, Embedded Systems, etc.

2.1. Embedded Systems and IoT The Smart Pill Reminder uses an embedded system architecture that is mainly built around the ESP8266MOD microcontroller. This Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller provides wireless connectivity and serves as the brain of the system, processing inputs and carrying out scheduled tasks [1][2]. Embedded systems like this work well for real-time control applications because they consume little power, are reliable, and integrate easily with various peripheral devices. The project takes advantage of IoT (Internet of Things) features by connecting the microcontroller with the Blynk IoT platform [10]. Blynk allows users to create a custom mobile interface to set up multiple medication alarms using Time Input widgets. The platform communicates over the internet with the ESP8266, allowing remote access, real-time updates, and two-way communication between the user and the system. This mobile-based control improves usability, making the device accessible from remote locations and providing a smooth user experience for setting schedules and interacting with the system.

1. INTRODUCTION The Smart Pill Reminder is a microcontroller-based embedded system designed to automate medication reminders using IoT features. Its main goal is to provide scheduled pill alerts without needing human intervention, which helps users stick to their prescribed medication routines. The system centers around the ESP8266MOD microcontroller, which includes Wi-Fi for smooth connection to the Blynk IoT platform [1][2]. Users can set several daily alarm times through the Blynk mobile app with Time Input widgets, allowing for flexibility and remote scheduling [10].

The system continuously tracks the current time, synchronized using the Network Time Protocol (NTP), so there is no need for an external Real-Time Clock (RTC) module [9]. When the current time matches a scheduled alarm, the ESP8266 activates a buzzer and shows a notification on a 16x2 LCD screen, reminding the user to take their medication [3]. A push-button linked to the system lets the user manually acknowledge and stop the alarm. There is also a virtual button in the Blynk app for

© 2025, IRJET

|

Impact Factor value: 8.315

2.2. Time Management with RTC Conventional embedded timing systems often rely on dedicated hardware modules like the DS3231 Real-Time

|

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal

|

Page 544

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume: 12 Issue: 07 | Jul 2025

www.irjet.net

e-ISSN: 2395-0056 p-ISSN: 2395-0072

3. Methodology

Clock (RTC) to keep accurate time [4]. However, this project takes a more efficient and modern approach by using Network Time Protocol (NTP) over Wi-Fi. The ESP8266 connects with global time servers through the internet [9]. This approach ensures that the system works with high accuracy and stays updated automatically, even during power cycles or resets. By removing the need for a physical RTC chip, the design lowers hardware complexity, reduces costs, and cuts down on potential points of failure.

This leads to a more reliable and maintainable system.

Moreover, NTP-based synchronization ensures consistent timekeeping across multiple devices when scaled, improving system uniformity and reliability.

The Smart Pill Reminder system was created utilizing the ESP8266MOD (NodeMCU) as the microcontroller because of its Wi-Fi features [2]. An I2C LCD with 16x2 resolution was utilized to show alerts, a buzzer for sound notifications, and a push button for confirming pill intake [3]. The Blynk IoT application was chosen to remotely establish pill alarms and track pill consumption via a smartphone[10].

The hardware was set up on a breadboard, linking the LCD, buzzer, and button to the ESP8266. Code was developed in Arduino IDE [11] to retrieve real-time data through NTP [9], match it against user-defined alarms from Blynk, and activate the buzzer and LCD notification at the appropriate moment. The alarm can be disabled using either the physical button or a virtual button in the application [10].

2.3. Acknowledgment Mechanisms

Blynk was set up with Time Input widgets (V0–V2) for alarm configurations, a virtual button (V3) to verify pill consumption, a label (V4) for system updates, and a terminal (V6) to record instances of pills taken or skipped [10]. The system underwent testing in actual conditions for reliability, timing precision, and strength. After validation, it was encased in a compact housing for everyday use

Fig. -1: Image with Pushbutton (manual)

4. KEY FEATURES 4.1. Ease Of Development

Fig. -2: Image with Pushbutton (application)

Fig. -3: Display 1 (LCD)

A key part of any reminder or alert system is making sure the user has acknowledged the notification. To suit different user needs, the Smart Pill Reminder uses a dual acknowledgment system. A physical push-button attached to the device lets local users stop the buzzer and confirm pill intake right away. For remote or less mobile users, a virtual button in the Blynk app offers the same function on a smartphone [10].

Fig. -4: Display 2 (LCD)

This dual-input approach gives users more flexibility and ease of use. It allows the system to work well, no matter how close the user is to the device. It also improves accessibility for elderly or disabled users who might need user control operations

© 2025, IRJET

|

Impact Factor value: 8.315

Fig. -5: Display 3 (LCD)

|

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal

|

Page 545

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume: 12 Issue: 07 | Jul 2025

www.irjet.net

e-ISSN: 2395-0056 p-ISSN: 2395-0072

4.3. Real Time Cock via NTP

Fig. -6: Display 4 (LCD) The Smart Pill Reminder system takes advantage of the simplicity and flexibility of the Arduino IDE [11] and the ESP8266MOD microcontroller [2]. This makes it ideal for rapid prototyping and real-world deployment. The Arduino programming environment, along with widely available libraries for LCDs, Wi-Fi connectivity, and Blynk IoT integration, allows developers to quickly implement key functions such as scheduling alarms, synchronizing real-time clocks, and triggering alerts. This ease of development significantly shortens the system's iteration and debugging cycles, which helps with efficient deployment in real-world healthcare settings.

Fig. -10: Multiple alarms using Blynk Application Traditional embedded systems often rely on external hardware modules like the DS3231 RTC. However, this project uses Network Time Protocol (NTP) to get accurate real-time data over Wi-Fi [9]. This reduces the number of components and hardware complexity while improving time accuracy and reliability. The system automatically updates from global time servers, ensuring consistent operation even after power cycles without needing manual resets or battery-backed RTC chips.

4.2. IOT Platform Integration

Fig. -7: Pill taken Notification (via button or app)

4.4. Dual Acknowledgment Mechanism To improve flexibility and accessibility, the system includes a dual-mode acknowledgment mechanism. There is a physical push-button for local confirmation and a virtual button on the Blynk app for remote acknowledgment [10]. This ensures users can interact with the system regardless of their location, making it suitable for elderly users, patients with mobility issues, or situations involving remote caregivers. The combination of tactile and cloud-based inputs boosts user engagement and system effectiveness.

Fig. -8: Pill missed Notification

Fig. -9: Take Pill Notification

5. Future Research Directions

Integrating the Blynk IoT platform enables real-time mobile interaction and remote configuration. Blynk offers a drag-and-drop interface to create customized mobile dashboards without complicated coding [10]. This allows for easy integration of features like Time Input widgets, virtual buttons, and live status displays. As a result, user interaction becomes simpler, and there is no need for separate mobile app development. This makes it accessible for both developers and end-users.

© 2025, IRJET

|

Impact Factor value: 8.315

Future work may include adding audio output for voice alerts, sensor-based pill detection, or a mobile notification/logging system to enhance compliance tracking. Additionally, incorporating AI-based user behavior analysis could help predict missed doses and send preventive reminders. Integrating with healthcare databases or platforms might allow physicians to monitor patient adherence remotely and adjust prescriptions as needed.

|

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal

|

Page 546

International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume: 12 Issue: 07 | Jul 2025

www.irjet.net

6. Market Analysis

e-ISSN: 2395-0056 p-ISSN: 2395-0072

[6] Allied Market Research, “Smart Pills Technology Market to Reach $7.5 Billion by 2030,” PR Newswire, 2023.

[Online].

Available: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/Smart-pillstechnology-market

The global rise in chronic illnesses, aging populations, and a greater focus on preventive healthcare is increasing the demand for medication adherence solutions. According to Allied Market Research, the global smart pill market is expected to reach $6.8 billion by 2030, growing at a rate of 18.9% per year [6]. This growth comes from the need to reduce medication errors, improve patient compliance, and lower hospital readmissions due to missed doses.

[7] Allied Market Research, “Smart Pills Market Expected to Reach $650 Million by 2025,” [Online].

Available:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/pressrelease/smart-pills-market.html [8] Grand View Research, “Smart Pills Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report 2030,” [Online].

Available:https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industryanalysis/smart-pills-market

Smart pill reminder systems are part of a larger group of digital health and IoT medical devices. These systems are gaining popularity in home healthcare, elderly care facilities, and remote patient monitoring setups.

Affordable, Wi-Fi-enabled microcontrollers like the ESP8266 make these systems accessible for widespread use, especially in developing countries where continuous caregiving is hard to find.

[9] NTP.org, “Network Time Protocol (NTP),” [Online].

Available: http://www.ntp.org [10] Blynk Inc., “Blynk IoT Platform – Documentation,” [Online]. Available: https://docs.blynk.io

IoT solutions such as the one developed in this project are especially useful in urban middle-class households. In these homes, family members are often away for work, leaving senior citizens unsupervised during the day. The ability to monitor and remind patients remotely with mobile apps like Blynk fills an important gap in medication management.

[11] Arduino, “Arduino IDE – Open-source Software,” [Online]. Available: https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

Emerging trends suggest integration with wearables, voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home, and AI-driven analytics. This makes the field highly scalable and a promising area for innovation and entrepreneurship.

7. References [1] Wikipedia contributors, “ESP8266,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

[Online].

Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP8266 [2] Arduino, “NodeMCU ESP8266 – Tech Specs,” Arduino Official Store.

[Online].

Available: https://store.arduino.cc/products/nodemcu-esp8266 [3] Embedded Robotics, “5 Simple Steps for Programming ESP8266 NodeMCU 12‑E,” [Online].

Available:https://www.embeddedrobotics.com/programming-esp8266 [4] SparkFun Electronics, “WiFi Module – ESP8266 (4 MB Flash),” [Online].

Available: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13678 [5] Wikipedia contributors, “ESP32,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

[Online].

Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP32

© 2025, IRJET

|

Impact Factor value: 8.315

|

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal

|

Page 547