Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Automated Seasoning Dispenser (ASD) |
Elliott Robinson Pawel Michalski |
Kristina Miller | appendix2.zip design_document4.pdf final_paper1.pdf presentation1.pdf proposal1.pdf |
|
| ## Problem It is a hassle to collect and combine the precise amount of each seasoning required in a recipe, leading many to just eyeball amounts. Sometimes, this can create new and exciting forms of existing recipes. However, laziness in the kitchen can also lead to inaccurate tasting recipes and may even ruin the dish depending on which seasonings were misused. ## Solution Overview Our solution is to create an automated system for dispensing precise amounts of each dry seasoning required in any particular recipe. The user can simply input the amount of each seasoning that their recipe requires using our UI, and the product will make use of augers to precisely dispense the exact amount specified. The product will be able to hold salt and pepper, which can easily refilled and replaced by the user at will. ## Uniqueness Currently, there are a couple of products on the market that allow the user to dispense select amounts of spices; however, most of these products do not automate this process. The user must twist dials to dispense fractions of tablespoons at a time. For a large recipe, this can prove to be very tedious. Our low-cost solution will allow for varying amounts of each spice to be dispensed at a time, saving the user from having to manually twist dials tens of times. The recently released TasteTro is similar to our design; however, it does not allow the user to refill their spices. Once you run out of a certain spice, you have to buy one of their pre-filled cartridges. Also, the Tastro costs $270, which makes it unaffordable for a large number of potential customers. Our design will allow the user to refill our reusable cartridges, which allows for a more economical product. ## Solution Components ### Power AC/DC converter for wall power Custom designed Buck Converter for stepping down voltage levels for motors ### Control Unit Microcontroller handles interface with LCD Display, physical push buttons, seasoning level sensor, and motors Level Sensor to determine if seasonings need to be replaced or refilled LCD Display and push buttons to allow the user to configure the amounts of each seasonings to dispense. ### Dispenser unit Augers + Motors for dispensing powder seasonings Custom storage bottles for holding seasonings ## Criterion For Success The ASD will allow the user to choose exactly how much of salt and pepper to dispense, and will then dispense those amounts precisely after the program is run. |
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