The Automated Drink The Automated Drink DispenserDispenser

Andy James

Brad Theophila

Kyle Wilhelm

OverviewOverview

Automates drink making processIntended for bar tenders and home bar

enthusiastsGraphical Computer InterfaceCustomizable Drink Set

How It WorksHow It Works

6 Bottle Carousel User specifies drink to be made Carousel rotates with gear and belt assembly

driven by a stepper motor - 360° of rotation Rotation controlled by detection through use of

photo interrupters Glass is pneumatically raised to push valves for

dispensing

Hardware SpecificationsHardware Specifications

Stepper Motor– 7.5° per step

Photo Interrupters Pneumatic Cylinder

– 5 lbs of force required– At least 2” of extension required

Glass– 7 oz.

Sensors/ActuatorsSensors/Actuators

Photo Interrupters– Two Interrupters

Outside Edge – calibration sensor – one detection hole

Inside Edge – bottle detection sensor – six detection holes

– Detection disc attached to rotation gear– Sensors placed end to end at outside rim of

detection disc

Sensors/ActuatorsSensors/Actuators

Stepper Motor– Gear/belt driven assembly– Gear ratio used to adjust rotational sensitivity

Must use small degree steps to accurately align with valve (60° between bottles, @ 7.5° this is only eight steps between bottles)

Rotation should be fast but fluid– Fast enough to satisfy user

– Fluid enough to prevent rotational stress of assembly

Sensors/ActuatorsSensors/Actuators

Pneumatic Cylinder– Push cylinder with spring return placed at static position

to line up with valves– Force needed measured to be 22 Newtons

Minimum of 5 lbs of driving force Must not overly stress assembly by using large amounts of force

– Depending on plate width, at least 1” extension Overshoot extension to 2”, guarantee valve closure Dampen excess extension using spring buffering

– Can also control maximum force applied to valve

– Motion needs to be quick without causing liquid to spill

User Interface FeaturesUser Interface Features

Dispense Multi-shot Drinks– Predefined or Custom

Dispense ShotsAdd/Remove Drinks from MenuAdd/Remove Known IngredientsDefine Bottle Contents

Add Drink InterfaceAdd Drink Interface

Make Drink InterfaceMake Drink Interface

Communications Communications SpecificationsSpecifications

Serial CommunicationCustom Protocol

– Messages sent to microcontroller– Acknowledgements sent back to PC, for every

message sent

Pseudo-Code for Drink Pseudo-Code for Drink Making Algorithm Making Algorithm

1. Send “CHECK_COMM” message to HC12

 

2. Poll for “COMM_ESTAB” acknowledgement from HC12

-If timeout occurs, notify user that there is a communication problem

 

3. Send “CALIBRATE” message to HC12, in order to set carousel to its initial position

4. Poll for “CAL_FIN” ackknowledgment message from HC12

Pseudo-Code for Drink Pseudo-Code for Drink Making Algorithm (Cont.)Making Algorithm (Cont.)

5. Send “MOVE” message containing bottle to move to

6. Wait for “MOVED_TO” acknowledgement from HC12

7. Send “UNITS” message containing number of units to pour from current bottle

8. Wait for “BOTTLE_POURED” acknowledgment from HC12

9. Loop back to instruction 5 until all instructions have completed

10. Send “RECIPE_COMP” message to HC12

11. Wait for “COMP_ACK” message from HC12-It would be possible for the user to initiate a bottle change at this point, or anytime after “COMM_ESTAB” is received, and no other instructions have been sent

Messages from PC to HC12Messages from PC to HC12Message Encoding Description

MOVE+<Bottle Number> 

Parameter Value Range: 1 to 6 (Corresponds to bottle

number)

%00110000 or$30

The POUR message instructs the HC12 as to which bottle to pour from. The software will expect a “MOVED_TO_BOTTLE” acknowledgment from the HC12 after this message is sent.  

UNITS+<Number of Units of Liquid> 

Parameter Value Range: 1 to 5 (Corresponds to a unit of liquid

~ ½ oz)

%01000000 or$40

The UNITS message instructs the HC12 as to how many units of liquid to dispense from the current bottle. The software will expect a “BOTTLE_POURED” acknowledgment from the HC12 after this message is sent. 

CHECK_COMM 

%01010000 or$50

The CHECK_COMM message is simply a message used to establish communication with the HC12. The software will be expecting an acknowledgment back from the HC12 after this message is sent.

RECIPE_FINISHED %01011111 or$5F

The RECIPE_FINISHED message informs the HC12 that the current recipe has completed, and all bottles have been poured from. 

FREE %01010001 or$51

The FREE message informs the HC12 that it should “free” up the stepper motor controlling the bottle carousel, so that the user can spin it around, and change a bottle(s). 

CALIBRATE %01010010 or$52

The CALIBRATE message is used to initiate a calibration sequence, for moving the carousel back to its starting position. This message will be sent after each FREE message, as well as upon startup of the system.

Messages from HC12 to PCMessages from HC12 to PCMessage Encoding Description

MOVED_TO + <Bottle Number> 

Parameter Value Range: 1 to 6 (Corresponds to bottle

number)

%01100000 or$60

The MOVED_TO_BOTTLE message informs the PC that the carousel has moved to the correct bottle, and the HC12 is waiting for the UNITS message from the PC.  

BOTTLE_POURED  

Parameter Value Range: 1 to 6 (Corresponds to number of

units)

%01100001 or$61

The BOTTLE_POURED message informs the PC that the current ingredient has been poured, how many units were poured, and also that the HC12 is waiting for another message. 

COMM_ESTAB  

%01110000 or$70

The COMM_ESTAB message informs the PC that the HC12 is receiving messages, and is ready to start receiving drink instructions.

COMP_ACK 

%01110001 or$71

The COMP_ACK message informs the PC that the HC12 is aware that the current drink recipe has completed. The HC12 will then listen for the “CHECK_COMM” message from the PC.

CAL_FIN %01110010 or$72 

The CAL_FIN message informs the PC that the HC12 has finished calibrating the carousel. 

InitializationInitialization

Microcontroller Startup– Jump to EEPROM– Listen for Communication from PC

PC Startup– Ping microcontroller until ready– Send Calibration Message

RecoveryRecovery

Microcontroller Recovery– PC will know– User will restart Microcontroller

PC Recovery– Microcontroller will finish current task

Restrictions, Conditions, and Restrictions, Conditions, and AssumptionsAssumptions

Bottle Contents Provided– Must be reasonably accurate

Must use specified serial port (COMx)Maximum Bottle Volume of 1LUse only the provided glass

Feasibility and ProblemsFeasibility and Problems

Have CarouselPossible Timing Issues

– Dispensing

GUI– Must be simple and easy to use– Also must be powerful

Structural Integrity

Testing StrategyTesting Strategy

Start by testing individual components– Photo Interrupters, Motor, Pneumatic Cylinder

Test stand alone parts of the GUI– Drink and Ingredient Database

Test communication link between PC and HC12

Test control of hardware from HC12

System IntegrationSystem Integration

Stages– Establish initial PC to microcontroller

communication– Rotation Hardware– Dispensing Hardware– Finalize PC to Microcontroller

Communications

AcquireGears, Beltand Photo

Sensor Plate Attach Gearsand Photo

Sensor Plateto Dispenser

Final Testing

Test Rotation

Test Stepper

AcquireStepper

Acquire andAssemble

MotorController

AcquireCylinder andCompressor

Test Cylinder

Acquire PhotoInterrupters

Test PhotoInterrupters

Assemble andAttach Lift

Plate

Test PhotoInterrupters

with Rotation

Construct andIntegrate Final

Assembly

AttachCylinder/Plate

and TestValve

Actuation

Design andConstruct

Fancy Base

ConstructTemporary

Testing Base

Write to SerialPort from PC

Write to SerialPort from

HC12

EstablishComm.

BetweenHC12 and PC

Create GUISkeleton with

BasicFunctionality

FullyImplement

GUI to Sendall Messages

to HC12

ImplementComplete

Serial Comm.Protocol on

HC12

TestFunctionalityof GUI, PCand HC12Together

ReadInterrupters w/

HC12

ControlStepper w/

HC!2

OperateCylinder w/

HC12

Questions?Questions?