Idea:

BarBot is an automated machine that will be designed to mix various ingredients to create a cocktail based on user input. The user will select the type of cocktail through a user interface (mobile app). The Barbot will wait for a cup to be placed underneath the dispenser, after which it will then dispense the exact measurements of the ingredients into a glass. The prototype will include a precise liquid dispensing system, an interactive user interface, and an aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing design.

Project Objectives:

1. Design and implement a precise liquid dispensing mechanism capable of accurately measuring and pouring ingredients into the glass.
2. Develop a user interface (app) that allows users to select their preferred drink from a set database.
3. Integrate sensors to detect whether there is a cup placed under the dispenser before the liquids are poured to avoid spillage.
4. Create a stable and modular frame for the BarBot, ensuring the system is durable, safe, and easy to maintain.
5. Test the prototype thoroughly for accuracy, reliability, efficiency, and especially LEAKS!

Block diagram:

Prototyping:

1. Movable cup: Our first idea was to have various drinks lined up at a certain height, which would pour the required drinks down onto a cup that moves along the entire path of the drinks using a conveyor system. The design was extremely elegant but the scope of this project didn’t fit our budget, time-frame, and technical expertise. 

2. Single output drink dispensation system: Our second idea was to have various liquids being poured into one collective output spot, so the cup didn’t have to move. Instead, all the liquids would be dispensed, in the right quantities, directly into the cup. This was easier to produce given our resources and after finding some designs online, we had a good idea of what our final project would look like. We made a paper prototype (40% scale of the actual project) out of foam sheets based on these references, which we hoped to implement in our final project. We didn’t have time in the end to create this desired frame, but it was still a cool idea that we would have loved to do.

Reference	Paper Prototype

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