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Programmatically Controlled Juicer

An anonymous reader writes "The Juicer is a wirelessly controlled, programmable juice maker which will mix each ingredient of a recipe to the exact proportions every time. The Juicer will take a recipe selection serially via either the keyboard or the wireless remote and dispense the juices into the cup below. Force and Photo sensors are incorporated to control the precise pouring. Wireless communication is controlled with two microcontrollers operating at a frequency of 433 MHz. All of this is housed by a big red frame custom made from 4130 steel."

136 comments

  1. Start Monday Morning off Right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    This thing looks pretty frikkin' sweet. So I could put oranges in one slot, a grape fruit in the other, and pour vodka and ice in the third, and it would make me a fresh squeezed "breakfast smoothie?" I'll take two!

    1. Re:Start Monday Morning off Right... by kootsoop · · Score: 2, Interesting

      What you want is "Pipe Dream" http://innovexpo.itee.uq.edu.au/2003/exhibits/s358 144/, a final year engineering project.

      :-)

      --
      "Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get" - Jerry Avins
    2. Re:Start Monday Morning off Right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      No. What you need is this. RoboBar

    3. Re:Start Monday Morning off Right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Check out the video. Is in wmv format.

  2. Um by jim_v2000 · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's more of a juice mixer than a juicer. I had envisioned something that took fruit and turned it into juice. This was a bit of a let down.

    --
    Don't take life so seriously. No one makes it out alive.
    1. Re:Um by h4rm0ny · · Score: 4, Funny


      And he looks like this.

      --

      Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
    2. Re:Um by William+Robinson · · Score: 5, Funny
      LOL.

      While we are at jokes, dunno whether this will get modded as offtopic...but could not help without posting this joke.

      Bill worked in a pickle factory. He had been employed there for a number of years when he came home one day to confess to his wife that he had a terrible compulsion. He had an urge to stick his penis into the pickle slicer. His wife suggested that he should see a sex therapist to talk about it, but Bill said he would be too embarrassed. He vowed to overcome the compulsion on his own.

      One day a few weeks later, Bill came home. His wife could see at once that something was seriously wrong. "What's wrong, Bill?" she asked. "Do you remember that I told you how I had this tremendous urge to put my penis into the pickle slicer?" "Oh, Bill, you didn't." "Yes, I did." "My God, Bill, what happened?" "I got fired." "No, Bill. I mean, what happened with the pickle slicer?" "Oh... she got fired too."

      Pretty soon we will see jokes about juice mixer.

    3. Re:Um by drsquare · · Score: 1

      Hey, 50 years ago called, they want their re-worded 'bacon slicer' joke back.

    4. Re:Um by h4rm0ny · · Score: 1


      Hey, 50 years ago called, they want their re-worded 'bacon slicer' joke back.

      Remember - jokes timed for 25 year cycles are also timed for 50 year cycles.

      --

      Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
    5. Re:Um by mangu · · Score: 4, Insightful
      This was a bit of a let down.


      Same here. I was expecting something like Rube Goldberg's wet dream, what Q builds for 007. I had a mental image of a big thing with several bins containing different fruit. Each would be peeled, cut, squeezed, centrifuged, or whatever is needed to be done to get juice from that particular fruit. Don't forget the combination drill press + bandsaw with robotic feed for the coconuts. The thing should measure the exact amount of juice from each fruit, getting more if needed. Since the amount of juice comes in discrete amounts, the leftover juice would be stored in separate containers, with the date automatically recorded.


      And then, after finally loading that huge page, (congrats to the Cornell server for holding up to the /.ing) what does one get? A measly three plastic jugs on a cheap metal frame... Doh!

    6. Re:Um by cgenman · · Score: 1

      I had been hoping for a library of juice bottles managed by a Lego Mindstorms robot. The recipies would be controlled via a slashdotted website, and it would have competitions for the most ridiculous yet good drink recipe. Every day the site visitors would submit recipes and vote on them, and the owner of the machine would have to drink the one voted up and report on how it tastes (or one of the top 5, if the one voted up is a dupe / near dupe). Alcohol should definitely be involved. An additional Mindstorms robot would be required to put in the parasol.

    7. Re:Um by bhtooefr · · Score: 1

      Hmm... wouldn't be hard for someone to get a BASIC Stamp or a Lego Mindstorms robot to feed fruit and veggies into one of those Jack LaLanne Power Juicers (long weekend, too many infomercials), now, would it? One arm to grab the stuff, another to hold the cap (in fact, the cap could be PART of that arm...)

      Now, your system would handle the juice amounts after that juicer, but no Rube Goldberg machine needed for the actual juicing...

    8. Re:Um by SidV · · Score: 1

      And it's got a bleeding rubberband "Feedback" device to keep the valves shut.

      You'd think they would at least engineer it with proper valves to avoid that.

      Speacially after dishing out the extra cash for the "Poland Spring" bottles over the generic.

      Completely underwhelming.

    9. Re:Um by op00to · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hey, the jerk store called, and they're running out of you!

    10. Re:Um by MerlinTheWizard · · Score: 1

      Yeah, same here. This juicer sucks. ;-)

    11. Re:Um by donutello · · Score: 1

      What's the difference? You're their all-time best seller!

      --
      Mmmm.. Donuts
    12. Re:Um by fm6 · · Score: 1

      A programmatic juicer would be really impractical -- it would actually be more difficult to operate than a regular juicer. Not that an elaborate device that just mixes fruit juice is a model of practicality either. People who design stuff like that should be forced to watch Brazil over and over, until they grasp the concept that technology is not an end in itself!

    13. Re:Um by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah???!!! Well I slept with your wife!!!

    14. Re:Um by op00to · · Score: 1

      Oh yeah... well I had sex with your wife!

  3. Damm it I wanted to buy one! by 2bitcomputers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I read that story and the first thing I think is, COOL I am buying one. Then I RTFA and find out its just some bored Cornell students with no jobs and too much free time on their hands. Thanks again Slashdot!

    --
    -- Please insert another quarter
    1. Re:Damm it I wanted to buy one! by odano · · Score: 4, Informative

      Its just the BarMonkey without the alcohol (and therefore the fun)

    2. Re:Damm it I wanted to buy one! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No company would want to sell something like this -- if they even came close, you'd be downloading only "approved" recipies off their website. Recipies over serial link? Schemerial think, more like! That's why this stuff is so cool - you want one yourself, go make one lazy arse! They've included all the schematics you need!

    3. Re:Damm it I wanted to buy one! by SidV · · Score: 1

      Dude Bar Monkey 5.0 Kicks ass.

      v 5.0

      Though, what's with that dudes shirt.

      Neil Diamond called, he want's his shirt back.

  4. But... by Fyz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will this be the kind, benign wireless juice making machine, or the bad-mouthed, citrus-raping kind?

    1. Re:But... by KC9AIC · · Score: 2, Funny

      We can only hope they don't have a companion DiVX player that will put in used sour cream...

      --
      HAHAHA DISREGARD THAT, I EAT COOKIES
  5. Too Much Exercise by CleverNickedName · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Juicer will take a recipe selection serially via either the keyboard or the wireless remote and dispense the juices into the cup below.

    Is this a design flaw, or is it specifically aimed at the type of people who always leave their TV-remotes beside the TV?

    --


    Unfortunately, I am not Wil Wheaton
  6. Watching the juice all day by bosz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hmmm wireless. Now I only need someone (or something) to bring the juice to me.

    1. Re:Watching the juice all day by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not me! I'll just put the whole damn thing next to the recliner!

      ... Now only if I could automate the excretion process ... I *hate* missing my stories!

  7. Too mechanical ? by nbharatvarma · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Mod me down, but I don't really approve mechanized perfection. Somehow making juice with exact proportions everytime frightens me.. There's got to be a little human in it. Juice may be a small thing now, but as we go on trying to make perfect stuff using machines and not with human hands... Kind of reminds me a little like Stepford's Wives.

    --
    ... and I shall strike upon thee with great vegeance, furious anger and a slightly positive karma.
    1. Re:Too mechanical ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      That's why version 2 is going to have a PRJG (Pseudo-Random Juice Generator).

    2. Re:Too mechanical ? by HyperChicken · · Score: 5, Funny

      There's got to be a little human in it.
      Soylent juice?!
      --
      Free of Flash! Free of Flash!
    3. Re:Too mechanical ? by Trurl's+Machine · · Score: 2, Funny

      Mod me down, but I don't really approve mechanized perfection. Somehow making juice with exact proportions everytime frightens me.. There's got to be a little human in it. Juice may be a small thing now, but as we go on trying to make perfect stuff using machines and not with human hands... Kind of reminds me a little like Stepford's Wives.

      How very true. Especially when you think that life itself is imperfect and some of the ingredients might accidentally arrive to the mixer in not-so-perfect-condition. It happens rarely but it happens and while a human bartender (or, say, your Significant Other) might detect that immediately when preparing your drink ("sweetheart, when exactly did you prepare this orange juice and are you sure it was this century?"), the machine will just pass it on as usual.

    4. Re:Too mechanical ? by nacturation · · Score: 2, Funny

      Somehow making juice with exact proportions everytime frightens me.. There's got to be a little human in it.

      A little human in your juice? WTF kind of juice are you drinking?

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    5. Re:Too mechanical ? by Walkiry · · Score: 1

      > Mod me down, but I don't really approve mechanized perfection.
      > Somehow making juice with exact proportions everytime frightens me..

      foreach my $ingredient (@ingredients) {
      $ingredient *= ((rand(10) + 95)/100);
      &add($ingredient);
      }

      There ya go, slashdot to the rescue!

      --
      ---- Take the Space Quiz!
    6. Re:Too mechanical ? by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Insightful

      quite a lot of people buy premixed juices that are mixed to perfection.

      maybe you're trolling, fishing for karma or whatever.. but your keyboard was not made by human hands either and is 'perfect' in that sense - the change happened 100+ years ago so get on the train already.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    7. Re:Too mechanical ? by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "Juice may be a small thing now, but as we go on trying to make perfect stuff using machines and not with human hands.."

      Uh, what's so scary about this? I ask because I'm making a rather risky assumption here that you drink cola or other bottled beverages.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    8. Re:Too mechanical ? by drsquare · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The Industrial Revolution called, they want their Luddism back.

    9. Re:Too mechanical ? by telstar · · Score: 1
      "There's got to be a little human in it."
      • That's where the Jesus Juice comes into play.
    10. Re:Too mechanical ? by dlZ · · Score: 1

      I have to agree and disagree with this. When I buy juice from the store, it's premixed and perfect, which is what I want. Same would go for soda, beer, pretty much most beverages.

      When I make smoothies at home, on the other hand, I like to do it myself. I like the fact that they're never quite exactly the same. I do measure, but never worry about it being perfect, use fresh fruit which has variety in size and flavor, and then try odd combinations on top of it. Now I really want a smoothie.

      --
      rm -rf ./evidence @ punkcomp
    11. Re:Too mechanical ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I went from a electric coffee grinder to a hand-crank conical burr grinder.

      I went from a electric coffee maker to a french press.

      I still heat the water on the stove (gas) but I am able if and when the electric goes out to still have coffee. I have to wake up twenty minutes earlier to make coffee but it is well worth it. I make 24 ounces for half as much as Starbucks charges for 20 ounces.

      I make most everything from scratch-now if only I cooked more.

      Also I play acoustic instruments and, yes, I can play in the dark.

  8. Google sez... by Froe · · Score: 3, Funny
    The Juicer is... the same machine that is also running the marathon for two reasons: to get an extra paycheck next year.

    Google Talk id 200

    1. Re:Google sez... by madaxe42 · · Score: 1

      Google says: The Juicer is... easy to use, has excellent handling and response. comfortable and inviting interior; superior towing and cargo-hauling versatility.

    2. Re:Google sez... by Froe · · Score: 1
      Especially the interior of the rum bottle is inviting.

      But be careful: The Juicer is not the most effective nutrition management in flower growing. 209

  9. Wireless Bartender - Only $299 by DanteLysin · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Wireless Bartender. Yes, even you can host coolest parties. Wireless Bartender not only comes with a comprehensive list of drinks, but allows you to create new and exciting drinks.

    Coming to a frat party near you.

    1. Re:Wireless Bartender - Only $299 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Man I don't know what kind of fancy-ass frat parties you're going to. At the last one I went to they were using a garden hose and a funnel as a beer bong.

    2. Re:Wireless Bartender - Only $299 by Mr+Europe · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And combine it with a breath analyzer. The machine makes a drink which keeps you steadily at 1.5 o/oo drunk. And makes you wake sober in the morning with limiting the alcohol at late hours.

    3. Re:Wireless Bartender - Only $299 by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      " Wireless Bartender not only comes with a comprehensive list of drinks, but allows you to create new and exciting drinks."

      Blech. It's tea sucks!!

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    4. Re:Wireless Bartender - Only $299 by Delora · · Score: 1

      Let's connect this thing to /dev/random Always a new surprise drink.

      --
      This signature intentionally left blank.
  10. Ob Simpsons by LarsWestergren · · Score: 2, Funny

    Prof Frink: "Finally, the perfect recipe for mixing juice. It turns out the secret ingredient is... love!? Who's been tampering with this thing?"

    --

    Being bitter is drinking poison and hoping someone else will die

    1. Re:Ob Simpsons by M0nkfish · · Score: 1

      Must get juicer... Drink juice... won't get chest pains from answering the phone anymore.

  11. It would be great... by cowboy76Spain · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... if it also distillated them :-)

    --
    Why can't /. have a rich-text editor? Editing your own HTML is so XXth century.
  12. Obligatory... by xanthines-R-yummy · · Score: 4, Funny
    From the "Ethics" Section:

    "Again, safety was always a concern from the start. We did not compensate anyone's health, reputation, or employment during our creation of the Juicer."

    Safety? What was their test drink? The Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster?

    Sorry, couldn't resist. Just saw the movie!

    1. Re:Obligatory... by Deltaspectre · · Score: 0

      *smirk*
      The imagery of a lemon wrapped ina gold brick was amusing. It was EVEN more so amusing after seeing the lemon powered thinking cap. XD

      --
      My UID is prime... is yours?
    2. Re:Obligatory... by cloudmaster · · Score: 1

      We did not compensate anyone's health, reputation, or employment

      Compensate? Do researchers normally pay anyone's healty, reputation, or employment in some form? :)

  13. Seems self defeating. by zwilliams07 · · Score: 3, Funny

    A juice machine that mixes juice for you. I could see some applications towards commercial places selling "custom juices." But its pretty damn self defeating idea for personal use. Most people that have juicers are trying to get healthy, whats the point if you sit on your ass and make juice from the couch?

    Humanity is too fixated on making physical activity easier and less stressing on the body. Seems like a bad idea. Next thing you know there'll be a WiFi robot that takes dumps for you.

    1. Re:Seems self defeating. by Walkiry · · Score: 2, Insightful

      >Next thing you know there'll be a WiFi robot that takes dumps for you.

      No no, there'll be a WiFi robot that takes dumps from you...

      --
      ---- Take the Space Quiz!
    2. Re:Seems self defeating. by smchris · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I could see some applications towards commercial places selling "custom juices"

      That's what I thought. There must be about 25-50,000 juice bars in the U.S. They typically seem to have two or three employees. So I figure 25-50,000 machines sold in the U.S. alone if it can knock down one employee per shift.

      What's that worth? Not exactly theoretical science but not such a dumb entrepreneurial student project to laugh at.

      Of course, that's talking about 25-50,000 people who can't even sling juice for a living then, but that's the automation biz, right?

    3. Re:Seems self defeating. by bcattwoo · · Score: 1
      There must be about 25-50,000 juice bars in the U.S.

      I think you have mistakenly extrapolated some small part of California to the rest of the country because there is no way there are even close to 25,000 juice bars in the U.S. Even the ubiquitous McDonalds only has about 13,000 restaurants nationwide.

      That said even if there were only a few thousand juice bars to be sold to there still could be a profit to be made. A beefier, commercial version of the juicer would need to be produced and could probably sell for quite a bit more. Realistically you would probably want to sell/license the juicer to someone that specializes in manufacturing and marketing restaurant equipment.

    4. Re:Seems self defeating. by cloudmaster · · Score: 1

      I've gotta crap right now. It'd sure be handy if a robot would take care of that, so I could keep working... I'm glad that's the next thing, so I don't have to wait for a bunch of useless inventions between the "computer controlled solonoids which have surely never been seen before" and the "robot that takes a crap for me".

  14. I know it's for fun and learning but... by art6217 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Are these cans suitable to contain fat and acids that might be in the juice (as opposed to usual minear water)?
    Ditto for the white paint? Is the latter highly water--resistant and washable?
    Can the whole appliance be easily cleaned, including the valves?
    Is the electrical circuit insulated properly to work in a device that might spill liquids?
    Anyway, whether it is ready for a long, safe and reliable use or not, it's an interesting project for fun and learning. Mixing scents instead and transmitting them by pipes to some 4--channel fans would perhaps make a nice scent and wind card :D

    1. Re:I know it's for fun and learning but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In a way I think these people are missing the whole problem with juicers, they're a PITA to clean, and this thing doesn't look to be any different.

      I wonder if version 2 will be easier to clean, and maybe have a nice GUI. I wonder if it runs Windows and crashes if it will start spitting out Curacao.

    2. Re:I know it's for fun and learning but... by cloudmaster · · Score: 1

      So you're the one who bought those Glade "scent stories" things. I was wondering who in the heck that was... :)

    3. Re:I know it's for fun and learning but... by art6217 · · Score: 1

      No, I did not know that such thing exists even, it was just a joke ;)

  15. What if someone hacks your juicer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You could have a worm that makes the juicer produce crap.

  16. Like human drummer vs Drum machine by spineboy · · Score: 1
    I agree with you wholeheartedly. Mechanized stuff - food, music, etc is boring.

    Ever listen to a drum machine that plays precisely on time - sounds incredibly boring. Humans change their timing, intensity, etc - this introduces variability, which makes it more interesting and emotional. Drum machines now have been improved so that variability is incorporated into the machines rhythms, making it sound better.

    Humans need variability - at least where the senses are involved.

    --
    ..........FULL STOP.
    1. Re:Like human drummer vs Drum machine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Humans need variability - at least where the senses are involved.


      Exactly. I am sure that my my girl friend would agree on that. Especially for sex.
  17. reminds me of... by sometwo · · Score: 2, Informative

    the barmonkey: http://www.barmonkey.net/

  18. WOWOWOW!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is just an INCREDIBLE contraption!!! That juicemaker is just teh bomb!

    And I'm glad to see that /. brought us this exclusive piece of news first. Now just sit back and watch the NYT, CNN etc. follow.

  19. nice to see the poster did not RTFA by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

    The atmel controller is NOT running at 433mhz. the wireless link is transmitting at 433mhz. the controllers are they typical OTS 20mhz controllers and this could easily be done with any 4mhz pic.

    There really is nothing too complicated with this setup, elegant use of a manufacturered bottle/container that solves one of the engineering problems, but the rest of it is fairly basic in design and implimentation.

    It certianly would add a tad bit of "coolness" at a party, but as far as being "food grade" and not grossing out some people by the exposed troughs that carry the "juices" to the cup. Hoses attacted to the bottles would be cleaner and have a higher acceptance lever with some of the more "picky" people in this world.

    On a side note, it would have been easier but not cheaper to get older pepsi or coke pre-mix containers with fittings. add CO2 to all the containers and a few of the food grade solenoids from a post-mix dispenser and you would have something highly sanitary and sanatisable, hold much larger amounts of "juice" and sustain a long life.

    Outside the CO2 regulator you could get everything you need for around $300.00 including a filled 25 pound CO2 cylinder.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:nice to see the poster did not RTFA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought it was odd that a juicer was more powerful than the computer I'm posting this on.

    2. Re:nice to see the poster did not RTFA by bsquizzato · · Score: 1

      Read the bottom chart where it talks about costs. They say it cost them $48.50 to make this, and they had $1.50 to spare. Perhaps they had a $50 budget on this?

      Also, was this some sort of project or did they really just make this all for their own enjoyment?

    3. Re:nice to see the poster did not RTFA by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      I did see that, and is a great hack for a class project. but building it for real you really want to look at items that are really for that use.

      all stainless steel and non reactive piping and connectors is very important. Screwing up with aluminim or Brass/copper will poison everyone eventually because of the acidic reaction carrying that metal into the drink and then the drinker.

      That is why commercial drink dispensers are all stainless and teflon tubing+conectors. not poisioning ourself or your guests is a good thing.

      I was also mentioning new prices. If I scrounged I could have came up with everything for $50.00 no CO2 but put the containers high on the shelf and let gravity do the job. but CO2 gives you the advantage of nothing spoiling because of the lack of oxygen, set all the cylinders in a tub surrounded by ice, or run their output tubing through an icebath in a large cooler (teflon food grade tubing is dirt cheap) and you are golden.

      Also, if you want a bit of Pizazzaz... fill one cyl with nothing but water 2/3rd the away full. bringthe cyl up to 30PSI with CO2 and then have 2 friends shake it while the CO2 is connected. After 5 minutes you will have a cyl full of Fizzy water now you can dispense your juice with a bit of seltzer.

      I personally do this for family gatherings and parties. we make our own pop. I put 1 gallon of apple syrup, 1 quart of cherry syrup and 1/2 cup sugar in a cylinder, fill it 1/2 way full of HOT water and shake to mix. Fill it to the 2/3rd mark and then seal it and then we shake it for 10 minutes. Voila the party has our special candy apple Soda Pop that you can not buy anywhere. it's always a hit and we usually run out of the 7 gallons we bring by the end of the day.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    4. Re:nice to see the poster did not RTFA by cloudmaster · · Score: 1

      7 gallons? Shaken? Isn't that, like, 56+ pounds of fluid? Seems like a bit of a hassle to shake for 10 minutes or better... :)

  20. I have to ask... by spagetti_code · · Score: 4, Insightful
    What does it take to get a story rejected around here?

    I'm sure to get modded down/censored, but I really want to know? A story about a machine for pouring juice?!?!?! I mean come on... Stuff for nerds, stuff that snores.

    Hows about we just pop over to see what Computerworld has on the boil...

    • New N1 grid s/w from Sun
    • Virtualization code directly added to windows
    • "A Pragmatic Approach to Implementing ITIL Using ProactiveNet" - jeeze, I'm not really sure what *thats* about, but it sure does sound more interesting that mixing juice.
    And what about google news Sci/Tech?
    • Astronaut comments on NASA delaying flight
    • Life on mars
    • Tiger
    Nope - I'm a loyal slashdotter, and I think I'll stick around to see if soommmethinggggg goooooooodzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzz zzzZZZZZZZzzzZZ ZZZzzZZZZzzZZZZzzzZZZZ
    1. Re:I have to ask... by NanoGator · · Score: 0, Troll

      "I'm sure to get modded down/censored, but I really want to know? A story about a machine for pouring juice?!?!?! I mean come on... Stuff for nerds, stuff that snores."

      Try resubmitting those stories with a verbal reach-around about Google.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    2. Re:I have to ask... by BCW2 · · Score: 1

      Timothy is back, only mindless crap or anti-Bush posts allowed.

      --
      Professional Politicians are not the solution, they ARE the problem.
    3. Re:I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Excuse me, but not the same things are interesting to everyone. This, is really, really, interesting to me. Hardware hacking! Making your own tech-stuff! I love it!
      • # New N1 grid s/w from Sun
      • # Virtualization code directly added to windows
      • # "A Pragmatic Approach to Implementing ITIL Using ProactiveNet"
      I seriously couldn't imagine anything more dull.

      You think this story is dull? Then don't read it and please, please don't comment on it - I didn't read, let alone comment, on the stories you mentioned. I prefer more wheat, less chaff, when reading posts, thank you.
  21. Fruit Fucker 2000? by Jerk+City+Troll · · Score: 1, Funny

    So, is it like this thing?

  22. Roomate just did this. by joey_knisch · · Score: 1

    My roommate just made a drink mixer using a basic stamp and 4 aquarium pumps. It worked pretty well and now we are working on version 2.

    Version 2 will be controlled by parallel port and could scale up to 12 bottles.

    1. Re:Roomate just did this. by Jim_Callahan · · Score: 1

      I came up with a similar system. It involves a complex system of cleverly sized "measuring cups" and "Measuring spoons" and a "bottle of 151 rum". It gets the juice just right every time.

      --
      ...it's really a sad day for America when we require a goddamn ACT OF CONGRESS to make our DVD players work properly. ~
    2. Re:Roomate just did this. by joey_knisch · · Score: 1

      Your user interface is far too complex. Although fine under normal operating conditions, your system becomes unreliable once the user is shitfaced.

  23. Aesthetically Pleasing? by cno3 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Moreover, it cost less and allowed us to spend more of the allotted budget on making the frame structure more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

    I was going to comment on how close they came to this goal, but then based on some of the case mods I've seen, the torn-label Poland Spring bottles and electrical tape contraption does seem to come pretty close to a geek's idea of eye-candy.

    Now if only they had spent a little more to line the insides of the plastic bottles with blue neon...

  24. Interface it with the sauce machine by imevil · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hervé This (a molecular gastronomer) built a machine which, given the ingredients and a formula, makes the sauce. You can make mayonaise (the formula is H\E) or meringues for example. Of course you have to know the formula.

    http://www.chemsoc.org/chembytes/ezine/2003/burke_ oct03.htm

    "Meanwhile, This is working with the Institut für Micromechanik in Mainz, Germany, on a prototype of a machine that makes dishes from a 'calculus of recipes'." -- The machine exists now.

  25. Juice dispenser by Sunspire · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've got one.

    Not only is it wireless, it makes an instant but highly detailed examination of your taste buds, a spectroscopic analysis of the metabolism, and then sends tiny experimental signals down the neural pathways to the taste centres of the brain to see what is likely to be well recieved.

    However, I'm not quite sure why it does this, because it then invariably delivers a cupful of liquid that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike orange juice.

    Last time I ever buy something from Sirius Cybernetics Corporation.

    --
    It's like deja vu all over again.
  26. Re:Let the flaming begin by Lil-Bondy · · Score: 0

    'if you have nothing good to say... dont say anything' (didnt your mother always tell you?)

    --
    Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. - HHGTTG
  27. I need new glasses. by porkchop_d_clown · · Score: 1, Funny

    I looked at the headline and read "Programmatically controlled Juror".

    1. Re:I need new glasses. by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      They've had those for years. Why do you think they reject anyone during jury selction who doesn't sit around watching daytime television?

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  28. That's great, but can it crush ice? by aybiss · · Score: 2, Funny

    Otherwise how does it make a Margerita? :-)

    Re the post on Juicer virii, it could be kind of cool if, say, your date ended up with a triple vodka on the rocks rather than whatever non-fun thing she had requested.

    That's if she didn't run out the door after seeing how incredibly geeky you were whilst showing her your collection of smoothies. :-D

    --
    It's OK Bender, there's no such thing as 2.
  29. These guys are on to something! by parasonic · · Score: 0

    Finally, someone produces a machine that does one of the four primary functions of a woman. However, it does not run Linux and leaves room to be desired. (The final two are to clean and cook, I'm just waiting for that firmware.)

  30. Wireless is pointless here by Ancient_Hacker · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's the point of having a wireless link-- eventually you have to go to it to get the drink. What it needs is a radio direction-finder and a throwing arm. Caps for the drinks too.

  31. Programmatically? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't you mean a "Programmable Juicer"?

  32. Possible upgrade route? by AndersBolager · · Score: 2, Funny

    When the 'Drink' button is pressed it makes an instant but highly detailed examination of the subject's taste buds, a spectroscopic analysis of the subject's metabolism, and then sends tiny experimental signals down the neural pathways to the taste centres of the subject's brain to see what is likely to be well recieved. However, no-one knows quite why it does this because it then invariably delivers a cupful of liquid that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea. (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy entry on "Nutrimatic Drink Dispenser")

  33. This is why EE's aren't ME's by goneutt · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I'm looking over the article and there's a bunch of "FCC compliance" stuff, but nothing about NSF or FDA (yes, I ran a find) compliance. I wouldn't worry about these guys for too long, though they may be expelled for poisoning the faculty through negligence in design.
    Standards and Trademarks The Juicer is in compliance with FCC rules concerning Radio Frequency Devices located in Part 15 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. We operate at a frequency of 433 MHz and transmissions are in bursts less 10% duty cycle.
    We used Poland Spring 2.5 gallon spring water containers to hold our juices. We understand that they hold the patents and trademarks associated with their bottled water.
    We also use solenoids and force sensors which are patented by Guardian Electronics and CUI respectively.
    The Juicer is created for private personal use only and will in no way be commercialized and thus, should not infringe on existing patents.

    Overall, not a bad report, compared to some I've seen(and written). And no, that aluminum mixing trough ain't kosher. Acid+Aluminum = funk
    --
    Bacardi + slashdot = negative karma.
    1. Re:This is why EE's aren't ME's by mangu · · Score: 2, Informative
      The Juicer is created for private personal use only and will in no way be commercialized and thus, should not infringe on existing patents.


      Hmmm, I don't think so. Patent law does not allow anyone to build any patented device without a license, no matter what the purpose. Otherwise, you could use a patented device as part of some machine which you don't sell, but use to create something else you sell.


      that aluminum mixing trough ain't kosher. Acid+Aluminum = funk


      Aluminum has no problem with the acids found in food, otherwise we wouldn't use so many aluminum pots and pans. It's sodium hydroxide that cannot come in contact with aluminum. But the open through raises one question: how often do they wash it? Think dust, flies, cats, etc.

    2. Re:This is why EE's aren't ME's by goneutt · · Score: 1

      I use ANODIZED ALUMINUM pots and pans... the unreactive heavy aluminum oxide coating makes for a better item (if not teflon coated). Tomatoes and long cooking things can pickup funk.

      Also, think about the time variable in the juicer. If you load the machine and run through everything in 20 minutes you probably won't have a chance to pickup funk. But if a two hour wait shows up, then you'll have dried juice and the acid etch.

      nice bit on the patent law observation.

      --
      Bacardi + slashdot = negative karma.
    3. Re:This is why EE's aren't ME's by gekkotron · · Score: 0

      The parent says: Acid+Aluminum = funk

      And, as Heinlein says, "Real funk is not pretty."

      But that may not be a bad thing, as George Clinton explains: "Funk will sit and sit and never go sour."

  34. Jumping the Shark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Slashdot and High Tech in General perform Dual Shark Jump!

  35. But.. by FidelCatsro · · Score: 1

    I dont like Juice with Bits in it !

    --
    The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
  36. How does it work? by Kosi · · Score: 1

    From looking at the pictures, I was completely unable to comprehend where to put the fruit inside this juice maker and how it would get the juice out of the fruit. Someone here willing to give me some enlightenment?

    1. Re:How does it work? by EnglishDude · · Score: 1

      They don't use fresh fruit - they're using store brought bottles full of juice. The machine just automatically opens the valve to let the juice out and into the cup.

  37. sensors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Force and Photo sensors

    So it could, like, be programmed to only make juice for good-looking Jedi?
  38. It's about time by TardisX · · Score: 1
    --

    Command attempted to use minibuffer while in minibuffer
  39. Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    As with all people who are technically-minded, these people wouldn't understand design aesthetics if it fucked them in the ass with a rusty fence post.

    This juicer is ugly as sin.

  40. That's not a juicer!! by IdJit · · Score: 1

    It's a friggin' dispenser. Nothing on this contraption actually squeezes the juice out of fresh fruit, veggies, or anything. All this thing does is measure and pour liquid from three jugs.

    Now THIS is a juicer!

  41. especially if... by CdBee · · Score: 1

    With the right mix of chemicals, maybe it could make LSD as well. As long as you don't mind completely missing Monday and Tuesday...

    --
    I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
  42. This offends my religion by Jim_Callahan · · Score: 1

    The orange catholic bible CLEARLY states that no machine shall be made in the likeness of a human mind. I demand that they remove this awful progammable electronic abomination and replace it with a clean, environmentally friendly mentat immediately. Seriously, guys, how many Butlerian jihads is it going to take for you guys to get the point?

    --
    ...it's really a sad day for America when we require a goddamn ACT OF CONGRESS to make our DVD players work properly. ~
  43. Ok, enough with the Hitchiker Line.... Sheeesh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How many times must we post about the Nutrimatic Drink Dispenser.....

    Man, You'd think something important was just released regarding the HGTTG.

    The only thing I know of was a Movie that was a pale ghost of the original book.......

  44. If it's from freshmeat I'm ordering it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But Fruit Fucker From Freshmeat just sounds so wrong

  45. 4130? I doubt it by mangu · · Score: 1
    All of this is housed by a big red frame custom made from 4130 steel


    I can see it's red, but why 4130? For that kind of frame they should use 1010 steel, also called "mild" steel. 4130 is steel containing 1% Molybdenum and 0.3% carbon, it's a very high strength steel, with a high resistance to shock.

  46. Wow? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow...a vending machine...

  47. What about their freedoms? by Covener · · Score: 1

    I haven't RTFA'ed, but what doesn't the baseball players union have something to say about their juciers being programatically controller?

  48. Bah consistency.. by frankrachel · · Score: 1

    That's why I prefer the local sub shop or pizzeria to say a Subway or Domino's. I don't want the exact same thing each time. I want the preparer's mood to play into it. Sometimes you get some extra meat, sometimes some more toppings (sometimes less too). Variation spices things up.

    1. Re:Bah consistency.. by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 1
      I want the preparer's mood to play into it.

      Um, no thank you. What if the preparer is angry at the world that day?

      Or horny?

  49. "Look, the sky is falling!" by Thranduil · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wireless communication is controlled with two microcontrollers operating at a frequency of 433 MHz.

    The last thing I need to explain to my older neighbors is that my juicer crashed their wireless weather station.

  50. I'll buy one when it can respond to ... by eck011219 · · Score: 1

    tea - Earl Grey, hot.

    --
    It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
    1. Re:I'll buy one when it can respond to ... by aiabx · · Score: 1

      I know we have global warming and world hunger and all that crap, but I've always been bugged by the fact that JLP couldn't just say "Tea" and the computer would know he wanted "Earl Grey, hot".
      -aiabx

      --
      Just this guy, you know?
  51. Troll!?! by porkchop_d_clown · · Score: 1

    I mean, not funny, maybe, but troll?

    If I wanted to troll, I would have said:

    "This juicer is a clear example of how Bill Gates is trying to extend his domination of the western world by replacing simple, open source technology with buggy, insecure, proprietary tech."

  52. What about tea? by generationxyu · · Score: 1

    I have a feeling it will produce something almost, but not entirely, unlike tea.

    --
    I mod down pyramid schemes in sigs.
  53. I've seen better out of an ITT by web_boyo_in_sac · · Score: 1

    Cornell's letting these guys get away with this PoS? I've seen better out of an ITT Seriously, these guys made a scalable serial controlled bar mixer, sort of the same design here, but it hooked up to a PC running software to mix drinks, so it was quite a bit more impressive, especially since adding a new type of alcohol or mixer was as simple as a new module being built and a number set on it with dip switches, then adding the drink in the software. Last I saw of it, they were working on adding a shaker. By comparison this "big red" sucks.

  54. As seen on TV by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's only a matter of time before Ron Popeil starts hawking this device with "FREE CAN OF SPRAY ON HAIR WITH EACH PURCHASE!"

  55. Even though they're EE's by kilodelta · · Score: 1

    They still don't understand that 430MHz is right int he middle of the amateur 70cm band.

    That 'other stuff' they're filtering out with the pins are probably amateur transmissions, or could even be wind profiler radar because those are in teh 70cm band too.

    I sent them email explaining this. They really don't want an RDF team tracking them down, reporting them to the FCC and then getting a NAL for several thousand dollars.

    We'll see. I would have expected more of EE's.

  56. Are you sure about this? by cr0sh · · Score: 1
    Patent law does not allow anyone to build any patented device without a license, no matter what the purpose. Otherwise, you could use a patented device as part of some machine which you don't sell, but use to create something else you sell.

    I have always understood that as long as you don't intend to sell or profit off of the device in question, you were free to build it. This is one of the tradeoffs for the right of a patent, the "open sourcing" of how to build your invention, so that while you have a monopoly to build and sell the invention, others can only build copies or near copies in the quest to better the invention, thus allowing them to patent the improvement and/or new invention resulting from yours. In many cases, you need to build the real thing before you can improve upon it, and patents spell out everything needed to do this. You, as an inventor/experimenter, however, can't just build and sell the patented invention. Furthermore, if you patent your improved device, your patent must reference other prior work in the art, either that which is unpatented (and thus you need to provide documentation from where it originated, perhaps references to magazine or other articles), or if it is patented, references to those patents and numbers.

    I don't know about using such an "invention" to build other things - this may in fact be true...

    Do you have any links or other documentation to back your assertion up? I am not saying you are wrong, I just have been under the impression that this wasn't the case, and I would like to be educated further on it if I am wrong.

    Thanks...

    --
    Reason is the Path to God - Anon
  57. Call me USian... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    but that's the first time I've seen anyone use per mille in the wild. The character reference is
    ‖
    but darned if slashcode allows it.
  58. Just one question by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

    How many hours does it take to clean the damn thing? Yeah, that's what I thought. That's the problem with juicers in general -- it takes significantly longer to clean them out than it does to make juice. So unless your getting continuous use out of it, it's not worth it. While this might work well in a restaurant setting, you don't want one in your home.

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  59. Juicing@Home by hpxchan · · Score: 1
    "Wireless communication is controlled with two microcontrollers operating at a frequency of 433 MHz."
    Imagine a Beowulf cluster of... juicers?
  60. A Real Automated Bartender by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you want to see a real automated bartender, see http://www.ecs.umass.edu/ece/sdp/sdp04/ganz/. These guys put a lot of time and money into their design, and it rocks the one from cornell pretty hard. I saw it in action last year, and it was sweet.

  61. Dude, get an Allen-Bradley PLC... by denobug · · Score: 1
    Or get any other PLCs, and a few control valves, you can do the exact same thing.

    It will cost a little bit more, but look on the bright side, you got a certified machine that you can use legitimately in business, less time in maintaince, and most important, it actually will last awhile.

    You know, as cool as some of our senior project looks, sometimes it can really be done fairly quickly (I mean take half a weeks time). This got to be one of the top ten things that our professor don't tell use in school!

    I'm off the soap box, you can mod me down now.

  62. Want to meet Fruit F*****s in *your* area? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nah, more like this Fruit Fucker.

    (It ain't goatse... but on the other hand, it ain't work-safe either).

  63. Oh please... by vyke4lyfe · · Score: 1

    God forbid they research more important things like AIDS research or cold fusion.

    1. Re:Oh please... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      think those are a little outside budget

  64. The Boiler Mixer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A couple of Purdue students did something really similar to this a few years ago called the BoilerMixer. It was pretty cool, you could select your drink on an LCD from about a hundred different preprogrammed drinks and it would pour you the exact proportions of your choice. It was all microcontroller based. The project info is on this site: http://shay.ecn.purdue.edu/~dsml/ece477/Webs/S03-G rp02/documents/finalPresentationSlides.pdf