Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Smart Snack Dispenser |
Adam Kramer Elinor Simmons Eric Nieto Gonzalez |
Surya Vasanth | proposal1.pdf |
|
| Team Members: - Eric Nieto Gonzalez - Elinor Simmons - Adam Kramer # PROBLEM One common problem many people face is difficulty in controlling snack portions, which can lead to overeating and unhealthy eating habits. Mindless snacking, especially when working, studying, or watching TV, often results in consuming more than intended. Similarly, there seem to be no machines handling this issue within the current market, leaving individuals to rely on willpower alone or resort to ineffective portioning methods such as manually separating snacks into smaller bags. Without a structured approach, people often struggle to regulate their intake, leading to issues such as weight gain, unhealthy eating patterns, and difficulty in maintaining a balanced diet. # SOLUTION The smart snack dispenser addresses this issue by allowing users to set portion sizes and control snack intake. By offering a structured approach to snacking, it helps users develop healthier eating habits, prevent overindulgence, and manage calorie intake more effectively. This solution is particularly beneficial for individuals trying to maintain a balanced diet and/or are tracking their food intake. The machine will offer a specific set of 10 snacks. This includes M&M's, Skittles, Goldfish, Almonds, Cashews, and others. The machine will also plug into a wall outlet. The solution will include the following subsystems: - Motor Subsystem: There will be a motor for each snack implanted so that the user can ask for that specific snack, allowing for it to be dropped down to be given to the user. - Light Sensor/ Computer Vision Subsystem: There will also be a sensor for each snack as well to detect when the stock of each respective snack is running low. This will then be relayed back to the LCD Screen to inform everyone that one is running low. - PIR Subsystem: This will take care of the machines dropping mechanism and ensuring that there is a tray the user is providing for their needed snacks. It will be a PIR sensor to detect if there is a tray present. - Touchscreen LCD Display Subsystem: This will be the UI that allows the user to place their goals, access their profiles, and display crucial information. This will show things like date, time, type of snacks, and nutrition for that person to keep a log. - RFID Subsystem: This will scan each person's ID to access their own personal nutritional goals and data. This way the machine can be used within like a family instead of just one person. Therefore, the machine will also have data on each person's nutrition. - Portion Control Subsystem: This will make sure that the correct portion is being dispensed. - Software Subsystem: This will handle all of the internal features. These will include a "lockout" system that will prevent the user from dispensing any more snacks once a set daily calorie limit is hit. There will also be a recommendation system to recommend a more sufficient snack if needed, the displaying of the date, time, type of snacks, and nutrition for that person to keep a log. There will be two modes offered as well. One is a casual mode that will just allow the user to pick whatever snack they want and choose a portion, this will not implement the lockout system. The other mode is the main mode which will provide a user a snack after choosing if they are in need of something that will, for example, help give them more energy or they want something with more protein. # SUBSYSTEM 1 The Motor Subsystem is responsible for the snacks being dispensed correctly and no issues arising. Design: - Code the motors in the micro controller and ensure each functions properly with their respective snack. - Create a format where only a certain amount of snacks gets dispensed with no issues. Components: - A motor per snack that will be in the machine. # SUBSYSTEM 2 The Light Sensor Subsystem is responsible for checking the amount of snack present. It will also tell us when the snack on each one is running low. Design: - Code the light sensor where we know the depth of each snack container and then reduce the amount by a little. - This will then allow us to detect when a snack is running low when that previous depth as been reach once more. Components: - A light sensor per snack that will be in the machine. # SUBSYSTEM 3 The PIR Subsystem is responsible for checking if a tray is present or not. Design: - Code the PIR sensor in the micro controller and check when there is a tray present or not - This can be done where we detect the light coming back soon since in the presence of a tray, it should not take long compared to nothing being present. Components: - One PIR sensor for the dispensary. - Design the dispensary in a way that drops the snacks without blocking the PIR sensor. # SUBSYSTEM 4 The Touchscreen LCD Display Subsystem is responsible for displaying all the needed information to the respective user. Design: - Code the LCD display to work properly with the rest of the sensor as mentioned. - Create a solid user interface as well where the user can interact with the display. - Display needed nutritional facts as well and constraints on the user if needed. Components: - One Touchscreen LCD display - A memory to save all the data that will be implemented # SUBSYSTEM 5 The RFID Subsystem is responsible for checking in each user and locate their respective data. Design: - Code the RFID system so that it functions properly with the user tags Components: - RFID reader - RFID tag tag per user # SUBSYSTEM 6 The Portion Control System will make sure the correct portion is being dispensed. Design - Create a frame that will hold the weight sensor. - Code so that the weight sensor readings are read on the LCD and apply correct units. Components - Weight sensor # SUBSYSTEM 7 The Software Subsystem will handle all of the internal features. Design: - Code the lockout system, the recommendation system, date, time, type of snacks, nutrition log. Components: - The ESP32, so we can have access to WIFI # CRITERION FOR SUCCESS Our project will be considered successful if it meets the following testable criteria. 1. The weight sensor is accurate with a 5% tolerance 1. The motor system dispenses the snack with minimal issues (motor doesn't jam and snacks don't get stuck while dispensing). 1. The user interface works properly and the internal software systems work at the appropriate times. 1. Both sensors for refilling and checking if a container is present are working properly. 1. Snack is dispensed in at most 3 seconds after the user chooses the amount of snack. |
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