Techie Stuff

The Inebriator is powered by an Arduino Mega 2560 Microprocessor Project Board- Arduino is an open source electronics prototyping platform (http://arduino.cc/)

A Hitachi HD44780 compatible display is used to allow display drink information, coupled with a couple of buttons to navigate the menu.

A stepper motor is used to drive the drinks shelf, with acceleration and deceleration to allow high speed without spilling.

A DC motor is used to operate the optics.

All mixers are in plastic bottles in a cool box, each bottle has two pipes, one that is hooked to the gas tank (70% Nitrogen and 30% Carbon Dioxide), and the other goes from the bottom of the bottle to a valve. When the gas tank is opened (through a regulator) the bottles are pressurised to a low safe pressure. When 12v is applied to the valve it opens, and the pressure causes the liquid to flow through the pipe and ultimately into the glass. Each mixer has its own valve and individually controllable. There is also a cut off valve for the gas supply.

A force sensitive resistor is in place to detect the presence of a glass to prevent accidental operation.

An RFID sensor is integrated to allow operators with a valid RFID token to get at admin functions such as priming of the mixers, and prevent inebriated users from accidentally causing chaos.

There is a small cluster of RGB LEDs in the drinks tray to allow for illumination of the glass and is further used to indicate running and completion of dispensing a cocktail.

There is also a small cluster of RGB LEDs in the top of each optic to illuminate each spirit.Control System
 

95 comments on “Techie Stuff

  1. Pingback: Indagadores |Seguridad informatica |Seguridad en internet » Inebriator servidores de seguridad de todos los cócteles

  2. Pingback: The Inebriator - Arduino Cocktail Machine | JSN

  3. Would it be possible for you to go into more detail about how you are measuring the amount of liquid to add in? With both the mixers and straight alcohol?

    • Mixers are on a pressurised system, open the electronic valve and they pour, to control the amount dispensed we calibrate it so we know how long it takes to pour 100ml, divide by 100, gives us how many milliseconds to pour 1ml, we then multiply out the pouring time from there. It’s surprisingly accurate. Slight disadvantage is that liquids of different viscosities pour at different rates, so I will be adding into the menu system a mechanism to calibrate each mixer individually.

      The optics are simpler, we timed how long it takes to pour a full shot. We timed how long it takes for the motor to move the actuator into position, and simply switch on the motor for that length of time. Additionally we timed how long it takes to pour half a shot (12.5ml) with a bit of trial and error, so that we can also dispense half shots when required.

        • The optics are metered at 25ml, the have a chamber in them of this volume, so how full the bottle is will only alter the speed this fills so will not affect the dispensed amount.

          The mixer bottles are pressurized to about 5psi, via a pneumatic regulator. Our test so far prove the pour rate to be linear.

          • would it be worth developing one that measures out an ounce in squirtfuls?

            not a word, but i suppose that’s the best way to describe it, would be better for accuracy when it comes to certain shots/mojitos etc.

            3 ounces = 3 touches kinda thing or if the touch is prolonged simply keep adding ounces.

  4. This project is very well executed. Kudos. Could you elaborate on the hardware used with the stepper motor system to move the drink glass? I can drive a stepper, but I don’t know where/how to get a good track system to use it with.

    • Thanks, essentially its just a 5mm timing belt, wrapped around a timing pulley in the carriage. The timing belt is fixed and tensioned at either end of the machine.

      • Any insight as to why you went with this method as opposed to threaded rods or something else? I saw the video of your V2 axis on youtube, did you decide to stick with the same method?

        Awesome project, especially making it look great as well.

        • Thread rod would transfer more power, but are usually slower (regular thread) and more expensive. You could do it with a ball screw bearing, but they are really expensive.

  5. Hi ! Über nice robot you got here !
    We are also automatising a beer brewery with friends.
    Maybe you’d like to use peristaltic pumps to be really precise on volumes ? (but may be too slow for usage ?) We use it a lot in biology.
    Keep going it’s fuckin’ great :)

  6. Thanks! Yeah, we have a peristaltic pump that we tried, and it would be too slow. Perfect on the other hand for adding dashes of Tobasco to Bloody Mary’s!

  7. Awesome stuff, could you elaborate on where you sourced the filled compressed gas bottle and how the mechanism that activates the optics works? Thanks!

    • Thanks Mike, Gas is from BOC (UK). Linear actuator is made from some aluminium box section, 12v DC motor, and a rack and pinion.

  8. if you ever produce a how to video i would really be interested in getting a shared link to see your amazing work. Bloody Fantastic job here guys!

  9. Great work on this machine! Would you be so kind to share the electronics schema with us? I would like to extend this build with more possibilities.

    • It’s all controlled by the arduino, I just loop through checking the state of the buttons (it currently doesn’t use interrupts) and update the display for the current selected cocktail, when selected it calls out a function for that cocktail. I’m currently re-doing the console on a .netmf board though as I’m a little more proficient in object oriented languages like Java and .NET, the new system will load the cocktails from an XML file on an SD card rather than being hard coded. Hopefully there will be an update in the coming weeks with the new improved console system. The ultimate aim is to use an Android tablet using the Android ADK.

      • Been designing a machine very similar to this with friends and yours has been a great source of ideas. Ours revolves instead of sliding as we have limited room and this way multiple glasses can be used as long as the number of bottles is limited.

        Were planning on getting the thing running from an android tablet too, any news on how that’s going?

      • I was about to suggest using a WiFi enabled board for tablet / smart phone control, but it looks like you’re heading in that direction. How cool would that be, to order your drink without even having to go up to the machine?

  10. I want one of these. Where can i buy one? Or can you post up complete list of plans and parts so i can build my own? This is an awesome idea I want one.

  11. You sir, are a genius! This is an awesome project for an Arduino, it beats the hell out of my gate that tweets :)

    I hope you will be fully documenting and publishing a how to.

    Great project, nice work!

    Grant

  12. Pingback: Inebriator, an Arduino-powered robot, is your personal bartender | Digital Trends

  13. Have you given any thought to how you might be able to add Tonic or Seltzer to the mix? Nice to be able to do a gin and tonic or similar drink.

  14. Pingback: Inebriator – DIY Robot Bartender To Make Your Cocktails In Glowing Style | Hardware Sphere

  15. Hi! This is a great project! It’s very good!

    I’m student of Enginnering of Electronic and Telecomunications, and i have a similiar project but it for other things.

    Were i can’t fine or buy, the bootle dispenser? For vodka, wisky, run…

  16. Badass. You mention optics – but I’m not clear on what this means. Do you have a chamber for the alcohol to fill in (in 25ml increments) that you detect optically?

    I’m thinking weight might be a good way to measure pour volume. A small load cell under the cup – measuring tare weight. Despite the different viscosities of the liquor the weight per ml should be identical.

  17. Pingback: Coqueteleira Geek! «

  18. This is awesome. I’m looking for a project to do similar to this. What would you say the estimated price was for this? Ballpark estimate is fine. I just need an idea.

  19. Hello, i am from Venezuela, i am a student of engineering and i’m interested in make a proyect as you for my class of control, but i want ask you something before please may you can tell me a easier and cheaper way to dispense the liquid into the glass? Thanks i hope you can reply me. see ya.

  20. Very great work you did there, congrats!

    Would you mind tell us which stepper motor you used ? And did you connect it through an e.g. EasyDrive or did you connect it directly to the Arduino ?

  21. Can you tell me why you went with the trolly system? A design I have been thinking about would keep the cup stationary. This would result in less moving parts (less maintenance, less chance of something breaking).

  22. Is the x axis belt system just controlled by a stepper motor and controller? If so what type of motor and controller did you use? Also where did you find the medal rods that guide the platform?

  23. Hi I was just wondering what the outside dimensions of the frame are and what type of material did you use? steel or aluminum angle?

    thanks

    • Sorry, we are not releasing a detailed parts list, not yet at least. Many parts were recycled from other objects and we haven’t found suitable replacements yet.

  24. Pretty cool proyect! I was just wondering why using gas to pressurise the bottles? Is not enough using gravity valves… Can you be more precise about the specific valves you used? Thanks!!!

    • Wouldn’t work gravity fed with the coolbox on the floor. Could perhaps be used if mixer bottles we’re mounted in the machine.

  25. Brilliant project! Did you use a brusehed or brushless DC motor? As for the stepper motor to move the carriage I assume it is a 12V. Am I right? Thanks !!

  26. At first, congratulations for that amazing machine! You don’t know how many days I’ve been wondering about it! kkkkkkkkk
    I’d like to know if you wrote any article or something about the Inebriator. I’ve already read that you won’t release the code or schematic design and I do really agree with that. But, at least, could you say which book, articles or papers you studied by?
    Best regards from Brazil!!

  27. Since when is 60psi a safe pressure? haha
    Getting great feedback its quite an interesting read!
    PS stuck in China for only another week so we need to go out for a few when im back, not seen you all in ageeeesss. x

  28. Do you have a feedback so if an error or fault occurs in the system it stops the machine, like if the glass dont move under a bottle how do you know and how do you stop it? Thanks !!

    • There is some error detection, when an error occurs all the bottle lights change to red so we know it needs attention. We are adding more error checking in v2.

      • what happens when the lights turns red? does it stop the whole system. how does the error detection in your system works? maybe you are using infrared sensors to check the position of the glass? thanks

  29. Very nice project you guys have here,
    what kind of elektrocilinder do you guys use (to push the “bar butlers”)
    i can only find very expensive one’s that can push 180 kilo’s

  30. Hey, nice project!!

    I try to rebuilt it for me. Which stepper motor did you use? I read about 12V. Do you know the holding torque or the current? Which stepper driver did you use? EasyDriver 4.4?

    Thanks a lot.

  31. Hi guys!
    At first nice job.
    But i have one question:
    How did you solve the rails with the slide? Did you construct that at your own?
    greetings

  32. hi,
    how many strokes does the linear actuator have or did you build your own?
    most of them which are for sale in online stores are much more for a heavy duty that you dont need for such a small amount of weight.
    thanks

    • It’s a rack and pinion set up in a home made rig, it’s made from bits we had lying around, we are currently looking for something to replace it as we have been unable to find a supplier of similar parts.

  33. Awesome! Did you have to add extra memory storage to your Arduino to hold all of that code (code and drink recipes) ? Do you have the model number for those solenoid valves anymore? They look awful nice, not like the ones that are coming up for me on ebay.

    Great attention to detail!

    • Originally all the code was on the arduino mega, if I recall correctly I think it was about 30k, and it ran a basic menu on an lcd, there was about 15 cocktails all hard coded. Now we have a Fez panda 2 running all the highlevel cocktail code and menu system etc (which is in the console with the VFD), which then sends commands to the arduino over a serial connection. On the fez panda the cocktails are stored on the sd card in xml.

  34. does the firgelli l12 linear actuator good enough for your needs? where did you sourced the timing belt and pulley ?

    thanks

  35. I will change the pouring engine and not using valves but rather use normal “pressure up” tot measures”. Maybe rotate the bottles and press the bottle down towards a fixed platform. But I love the futuristic look! Well done guys!! 10 /10

  36. I Fucking love this machine.
    Cant wait for V2.
    PLEASE PUT VIDEO V2 INCLUDING COOL MUSIC.
    It makes me feel good!
    You are awesome. XOXO

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