BarBot
BarBot Project
As per the project announcement on the mailing list, the goal of this project is to create a robot capable of serving (some) cocktails. Some pictures of cocktail robots can be found in the [[1]] shown at open night on 2014-03-26.
Goal
To have a functional booze-serving robot ready to take to EM Fields at the end of August 2014.
Minimal functionality
- Make drinks from a combination of four or more spirits (six is better)
- To have some visibly moving part(s) - i.e. not the Bartendro approach where ingredients are pumped to a static glass via static tubes.
- For punters to be able to choose their beverage interactively some how
Stretch Goals
- Have options to add mixers (e.g. tonic water)
- Ice dispenser
- Make it look pretty
Fundamental sub-projects
- Dispensing ingredients
- Delivering ingredients to glass
- Post-processing: stirring / shaking etc. (stretch goal)
- Control software
- Database schema for storing recipes & system config info
- Real-time software control (motor control etc.)
- User interface (web-based)
- Ingredient set-up interface
- Recipe execution software (convert recipe into h/w control sequences)
- Power system 12V battery & mains operation
- Styling and flair
- Recipe collection
Project Management
Meetings:
See also:
Design Considerations
TODO: split this into a separate page
- timescales - in time for EMF camp?
- portability and power - bulky?
- reliability on uptime
- setup and teardown
- management of lots of drunken people
references
ebay
- http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bar-Wine-Accessories-/20687/i.html
- http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bar-Drinks-Equipment-/25362/i.html
Current Work
- Michael: investigate servo pinch valve
- this will be timed rather than measured so calibration of each valve is required per ingredient
- one valve per ingredient bottle
- Tower Pro SG90 9g Servo - have one for prototyping - DX bulk order - cheap
- laser cut mech
- 6mm soft silicon tubing - check HS consumables -
- find reliable local supplier
- for long lengths we don't need the nice stuff - just cheap plastic tubing is enough - need connectors though. http://www.wilko.com/fish/wilko-aquarium-airline/invt/0121966?VBMST=aquarium
- pets at home (expensive but local)
- Arduino servo control shield and code
- bottle interface
- cork/bung with hole - cheap pourers with silicone sleeve
- bottle is inverted
- bottle needs holder of course.
- Bottle holder: hose clamps/rapstraps, presentation aspects, changeability,
- Michael: investigate peristaltic pumps
- can be as cheap as pinch valves
- very controllable
- https://www.thingiverse.com/tag:peristaltic
- lasercut parts
- continuous rotation servos or steppers - can use single stepper and gearbox
- spills and mess, hygiene and cleanup
I now have 2 types of 6mm tubing: cheap plastic from wilkos and some more expensive silicone tubing from the Range -- Michael Erskine 1 April 2014
I have ordered a cheap 2l bottle fizzy drink tap from a HK ebay seller - these might be a cheap answer for carbonated mixers -- Michael Erskine 1 April 2014
- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261374586967?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261374586967
Purchases & Expenditure
| Date | Item | Price | Buyer | Supplier | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-03-28 | Optic measure | £12.00 inc. delivery | Mouse | Amazon | http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NI1TAS/ref=pe_385721_37038051_TE_3p_dp_1 |
| 2014-03-31 | Silicon Type Airline | £2.99 | Michael | The Range (NG23GZ) | http://www.therange.co.uk/algarde-6mm-silicone-type-airline/fish-tank-equipment/the-range/fcp-product/89501 |
| 2014-03-30 | Wilko Aquarium Airline (plastic) | £1.50 | Michael | Wilkinsons | http://www.wilko.com/fish/wilko-aquarium-airline/invt/0121966?VBMST=aquarium |
| 2014-04-01 | Carbonated drink dispenser | £1.98 | Michael | ebay HK seller | http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261374586967 |