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A simple demo for inspiration about interaction and device payment; a snack dispenser you can operate by texting it.
Basic idea is to automate a cheap kitchen snack/cereal dispenser such as:
by using a high torque servo like:
To trigger dispensing, people text a message to a number/short service, which in turn triggers the dispenser. Whilst we won't charge, someone could use a short service number that bills the appropriate amount for whatever the service is.
We can also use QR codes to automate the texting process, as a QR code can include a number and message to text; just take a photo and hit send:
We could just go to a URL instead, but the texting is the main interaction point of this demo.
Rather than play with gsm/telit modules/sim cards, the text itself can actually go to a standard text service bridge which in turn would fire off a URL callback. A service such as:
Either this API would call directly to an mbed, or more likely, update some known server which the mbed can query via ethernet/httpclient (easier to avoid firewall/routing). The mbed can then command the servo to dispense snacks!
Right, time to get ordering, and this basic mode of operation working...
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Any progress?
You've inspired me - I've just bought a cereal dispenser that I plan to use to dispense cat food automatically with a stepper motor to control the amount dispensed, an ultrasonic sensor to monitor the level, and twitter library to tweet me updates.