N-ABELD- NEW ARDUINO BASED ELECTRONIC LIQUOR DISPENSER

Don Doty

Eastern Kentucky University

OUTLINE

I. Introduction

a. Inspiration

b. Research

II. Problem Statement

a. Identifying the Problem

b. Set Goals/Requirements

III. Research/Considerations

IV. Proposed Solution

a. Physical

b. Electronics

c. Communications

IV. Results

a. User Interface

b. Video

V. Conclusions

VI. Future Plans

a. Tracking System

b. Inventory Management

Introduction

Motivation: Acquaintance having trouble finding skilled bartenders to employ in their new restaurant.

Project Elements:

1. Electronics – Components and circuits used

2. Communication – Interfacing necessary to pass commands from the user to the physical device

3. Physical – how the actual device is built.

Problem

Bartender duties: Take order

Mix and pour drinks

Must know recipes

Knowledge of drink ingredients

Clean

Chop Fruit

Serve drinks

The owner has access to a staff of waiters and waitresses who can:

Clean

Serve drinks

Take orders

The missing element is the knowledge and skill to quickly make the customers drink.

Research/Considerations

Arduino vs Programmable Logic Controller● Open Source

● More Versatile● Programming

options

● More configurationoptions● Lower source

voltage● Cheaper to implement

● Easier to use● Can directly drive most solenoids● More robust● Doesn't require programming

knowledge

Research/Considerations

Most solenoid valves require line pressure in order to operate. Energizing the coil will open a normally closed solenoid, and when the coil is no longer energized, the pressure from the line is used to close the valve. In order to avoid having to pressurize the lines, I chose to use gravity-feed capable solenoids.

Solenoid requirements:● Affordable● Food-safe● Normally-Closed● Gravity-feed capable

Research/Considerations

User Interface Options:

I. Hardware based

a) LCD with control panel

b) Touchscreen w/TFT display

II. Software based

a) Local software

b) Web-based interface

Arduino is an extremely flexible platform and will accommodate many different input and output devices that can be used to design a user interface.

Proposed Solution(Physical)

Upside down bottles with pour spouts feed tubes running into input of normally closed solenoid

Solenoid output feeds tubes that direct the liquid into a funnel

A cup holder placed underneath the funnel ensures that the cup is placed correctly

Proposed Solution(Electronic)

Because the Arduino cannot drive the solenoid directly, I must use an alternate voltage source and use NPN transistor as a switch.

The arduino's output pins are provide signal to the base of a Darlington TIP-120

Collector is connected to solenoid that is tied to +12v

When the arduino output pins send a high signal to the transistor's base, it conducts the +12v signal, causing the solenoid to open.

Proposed Solution(Communications)

A user interface must establish a line of communication between the user and the electronics performing the work.

Web interface relies on communication between:

I. Client and web server

HTML/PHP form data parsed and passed to MySQL database and/or to a C++ program

II. Web Server to Arduino

C++ program sends parsed data serially to the Arduino, running its own program

III. Arduino to electronics

Arduino pinout state determines solenoid status

Assumptions

Operating conditions: Windows PC

Executable responsible for setup Executable also called in PHP to send the data serially

Working Apache and MySQL servers The interface page builds itself from the data contained in the MySQL

database

Arduino serially connected to PC The program that communicates with the Arduino sends data through the

serial port

Results (User Interface)

Results (User Interface)

Results (Video)

Conclusions The n-ABELD system is a work in progress. It is far from

being finished. When I began this project, I realized that budget and time constraints would prevent me from completing it by the end of this semester. Rather than setting a goal of completion, I set my goal at a certain minimum level of functionality. In its current state, n-ABELD effectively establishes proof of concept. The goal of providing a reliable way to quickly mix and serve drinks has been met. Furthermore, the level of user friendliness offered by the interface surpassed my expectations.

Future of n-ABELD

Drink tracking – add a database to keep track of every drink the machine pours

User database Inventory management – Keep track of liquid

remaining in the bottle and notify user when levels are low

Different containers for the liquid – easier to fill, threads directly onto solenoid

Acknowledgements

www.javapackaging.com - cup image

www.learnersdictionary.com - funnel image

Arduino.cc – solenoid schematic and arduino image

www.directindustry.com - solenoid image

www.tri-plc.com - plc image