Team Members
Jason Vasko, Jay Lee, Victor Lu
Statement of Purpose
COVID-19 has significantly impacted the economic system of the world. Lots of physical stores have shut down in order to prevent the spread of the virus. As such, methods of minimizing contact while still allowing customers to purchase the goods they need and love have become essential. We are fans of boba tea; two of our team members are from Taiwan, so boba tea plays a big role in our daily lives. Therefore, we have decided to design a boba tea vending machine so that we can get delicious drinks and avoid the virus and minimize physical interaction at the same time. To achieve this goal, we will create a prototype vending machine that can make drinks on demand without any physical contact with the user.
Users can decide between boba milk tea or black tea using light sensors on the machine to detect customers’ inputs, so that they don’t have to physically touch anything to order a drink. After ordering their drinks, customers can put their own cup under the dispenser, and it will automatically fill the drinks they want into their cups. Not only do we achieve the goal of a physical contactless device, but we also reduce trash by asking the customers to use their own cups.
Background Research (V)
Economic analysis suggests that the bubble tea market is poised for significant growth post-COVID, but COVID concerns remain a significant threat to sales. Indeed, studies suggest that demand for bubble tea will continue to rise with the advent of new unusual flavors and wider awareness of the health benefits of tea as opposed to more traditional drinks like sodas. However, awareness of the dangers of COVID have led to decreased demand for the beverage. As such, designing solutions to problems posed by COVID is essential to the recovery of the bubble tea market. Indeed, COVID concerns have unearthed a high demand for touchless solutions in establishments from restaurants to grocery stores, so a touchless alternative to traditional bubble tea establishments serves to offer customers what they want and solve the problem of COVID transmission through contact with vending machines simultaneously.
Block Diagram / Flow Chart
System Overview
There are three light sensors and light emitting diodes in two borders respectively. Users can choose the drink and ratio of milk by putting their hands under the between the diodes and sensors. Inputs received by the machine will be indicated by a beep from the speaker. Users will be asked two questions. The First question asks which drink do they want. The machine can make milk, tea, and milktea. If the user selects milk or tea, the machine will make it right away. But if the user chooses milktea, the machine will further ask what ratio the user wants. They can choose a lot of milk, regular, and a little. After choosing the ratio, the machine will start to make the customized milktea.
Parts
Provide a list of parts that you may need for your project. You should include details such as the quantity, model number, purpose, vendor, and price (excluding taxes and shipping) for each part. This list may change as you work on your project.
Name | Model | Quantity | Function | Price and where to get from |
Arduino and Breadboard | Arduino UNO | 1 | To control the whole system | Less than 30$ From the supply center |
Submersible motors | 1528-4546-ND (Adafruit Industries LLC) | 2 | To suck and dispense black tea and milk | $2.95 each |
SG Servomotors (for bobas) | 1528-1075-ND (Adafruit Industries LLC) | 1 | To dispense bobas | 12$ each |
Photocell | 1528-2526-ND | 3 | To detect interaction with contactless “buttons” | 5.95$ each |
Laser Diode | 1528-1391-ND | 3 | To detect interaction with contactless “buttons” | $5.95 each |
Speaker | M2850-8B-0L03R | 1 | To indicate that an input was registered. | |
LEDs | 3 | To show what process the machine is in. | Already have them in our lab kit | |
Stand for the drinks | 1 | To prop the pipes and drinks | ||
Stand for sensors | 1 | To prop sensors and razor emitters | Should be in a U shape and longer than 14 inches | |
Cardboard | 1 | Show instructions to users | Find from garage rooms |
Possible Challenges
Designing the position of the pipes and the container is difficult because we have to make them as close as possible so that we can put milk, tea, and boba into the cup without moving the cup. In addition, we also need to make the structure more stable so that the pipes and the container of the boba won’t fall off, but since we also have to make them as close as possible, it is difficult to arrange their positions.
Programming Arduino is also another challenge for us. Although we have prior experience with programming, we are not familiar with syntax, functions, and usages in Arduino. Therefore, we have to learn it and we believe it will take some time to acquire enough knowledge to finish our project.
References
Prnewswire.com. 2022. Bubble Tea Market Demand to Surge with Rising Popularity of Unconventional Flavors at 8.8% CAGR through 2031: FMI. [online] Available at: <https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/bubble-tea-market-demand-to-surge-with-rising-popularity-of-unconventional-flavors-at-8-8-cagr-through-2031-fmi-877861468.html> [Accessed 14 February 2022].
Reportlinker.com. 2022. 2021 Bubble Tea Market Outlook and Opportunities in the Post COVID recovery- What’s next for companies, demand, Bubble Tea market size, strategies, and countries to 2028. [online] Available at: <https://www.reportlinker.com/p06107820/Bubble-Tea-Market-Outlook-and-Opportunities-in-the-Post-COVID-recovery-What-s-next-for-companies-demand-Bubble-Tea-market-size-strategies-and-countries-to.html> [Accessed 14 February 2022].
Restaurant Business. 2022. Customers Demand Touchless Experiences. [online] Available at: <https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/technology/customers-demand-touchless-experiences> [Accessed 14 February 2022].
"Bubble Tea Market: COVID-19 Impact Analysis and Forecast Growth, 2021 to 2028", Researchdive.com, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchdive.com/press-release/bubble-tea-market.html. [Accessed: 14- Feb- 2022].