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Programmatically Controlled Juicer

Posted by timothy on from the wink-wink-juice-nudge-nudge dept.

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."

8 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. 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!

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    -- Please insert another quarter
  2. 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

  3. 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
  4. 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.

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    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  5. 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...

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    ---- Take the Space Quiz!
  6. 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
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    Bacardi + slashdot = negative karma.
  7. Re:Too mechanical ? by drsquare · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Industrial Revolution called, they want their Luddism back.

  8. 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!