Smart Micropantry: Enhancing Food Accessibility through Embedded Sensing and Automation

Abstract

Community micro-pantries provide critical access to food for individuals experiencing food insecurity, but their distributed and volunteer-managed nature makes it difficult to monitor usage, food safety, and inventory. In this work, we present Smart Micropantry, an embedded sensing system designed to enhance accessibility and reliability of community pantries. Our system integrates weight, environmental, and access sensors with a low-power microcontroller, enabling continuous monitoring while remaining energy-efficient. The design supports wireless data transmission for real-time updates while maintaining robustness in outdoor environments. We implemented and deployed the Smart Micropantry system in a real-world setting, demonstrating its ability to track pantry usage patterns, detect changes in inventory, and monitor environmental conditions relevant to food safety. Our evaluation shows that the system can provide accurate, reliable measurements at low power cost, making it sustainable for long-term operation. Insights from deployment highlight both technical performance and opportunities for community engagement, as the system can inform restocking schedules, identify potential food safety risks, and improve equitable access. This work demonstrates how embedded sensing and ubiquitous computing can extend beyond traditional laboratory settings into grassroots community infrastructure. Smart Micropantry offers a scalable model for integrating low-cost, low-power sensing into public resources, ultimately contributing to improved food accessibility and community well-being.