FIFO (First In First Out) is an attachable smart fridge system designed to reduce household food waste through automated inventory tracking and gamified reminders.
Developed by an 8-person engineering team at USC Makers, FIFO combines computer vision, a vision-language model, barcode scanning, sensors, and a shared database to track food entering and leaving the fridge.
The system is paired with a Unity/C# companion app that visualizes expiration dates and uses streak tracking and avatar customization to encourage users to reduce food waste.
Machine Learning & Computer Vision: Python, Detectron2, OpenCV, Google PaliGemma VLM, Roboflow, COCO
Game & Mobile: Unity, C#, React Native, Figma
Backend & APIs: Firebase (Firestore + Authentication), Flask, OpenFoodFacts, Gemini, ngrok
Hardware & Communication: Raspberry Pi Camera, Ultrasonic Sensor, NEMA 14 Stepper Motor, MQTT
Infrastructure: Cloud GPU
FIFO uses an RPi camera and ultrasonic sensor to capture fridge activity, with a stepper-motor-driven system that moves the camera across the fridge. MQTT communication synchronizes the electrical subcomponents.
The mechanical assembly uses a 3D-printed camera movement system with a timing belt, gears, guide rod, and linear bearings, along with an attachable LCD screen mount and battery pack holder.