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:

• Dynamixel AX12 Servo

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:

• http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ - QR Code Generator, inc SMS compose version
• http://www.i-nigma.com/ - QR code reader app for Android/iPhone

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:

• http://www.txtlocal.co.uk/developers/

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...

Future Ideas

• Stock management/warnings/tracking
• Automatic tub dispenser
• Snack mixing!
• Sushi type conveyer belt or line-following robot
• Order from console, selector, coin slot