Cashless Vending Machine

Abstract

This research paper presents the work done to design and fabricate a prototype of a cashless vending machine in Bhutan. The integration of GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology and bank account QR (Quick Response) code scanning into the vending machine's payment system for transactions using local payment applications is the approach taken for enabling a cashless payment system. A straightforward but efficient logic for the vending machine has been developed by integrating and testing a variety of hardware. There is one raspberry pi and touchscreen to be used as a user interface to select the product. When the selection is completed it sends the command to the Arduino uno which will determine whether to send the command to Arduino mega after checking the message received by the GSM module. If the Phone ID and message content matches as specified in the code, then it will transmit the command to mega. The Arduino Mega will turn the motor according to the command from raspberry pi once command is received from Arduino uno. There has been hands-on experience in designing and constructing a customized vending machine solution and it was possible to do this because of the availability of FABLAB CST in the college to get the final prototype.