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Build an automated Pill Machine.. your expertise.. is there any parts we have miss — Parallax Forums

Build an automated Pill Machine.. your expertise.. is there any parts we have miss

LBCLBC Posts: 3
edited 2012-08-16 07:33 in General Discussion
We purchased the basic stamp discovery kit RECENTLY, with LCD Termnial Appmod and DS1302 chip, & DS1302 time keeping chip.

We are working on building an automated pill machine. Basically, it works like an alarm clock, when the desired timing is reached, the LED would light up and at the same time turns the motor. From your expertise, would there be any PARTS that we would be missing from the list?

I am really sorry for the trouble but because we are new to these materials and please do tell us if you know any.

We look forward to hear from you soon..

Regards
LBC

Comments

  • Jim the HermitJim the Hermit Posts: 79
    edited 2012-08-15 10:43
    I would use some kind of sensor(s) to check if the pill loaded correctly into the dispenser/cup/thing. And perhaps another to see it's pill reservoir is empty or not
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-08-15 10:47
    And of course accessibility to the pills in case of unit failure, especially if the pills are life savers!
  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2012-08-15 15:18
    And, depending on what kind of motor you use something to control it and keep track of where it is.(encoder)
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2012-08-16 01:46
    Depending on what these pills are and what they are treating one thing that might be missing is a serious concern over reliability.
    If the thing fails in odd ways and ends up over dosing or under dosing it's user you are going to be feeling very bad.

    A while back a young friend of mine with diabetes ended up in hospital with seriously wrong blood sugar levels. In the hospital they discovered that her new blood glucose meter was way out of calibration.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2012-08-16 07:33
    ... So start testing by dispensing M&M's and Skittles before you place these in hospital ER's. Not a big leap here, but half the forum participants will warn you off from starting; due to legal liabilities that need not be applicable with a little thought.

    So, in addition to timing, and dispensing, maybe you want to sense if payload is present or not, and try to determine (a likelihood) if the item was delivered and obtained in the proper time frame.

    Also, consider what happens if each part of the system doesn't work (power loss, mechanical failure, software failure, operator failure, not enough pills, too many pills, etc).

    Good luck on this, it sounds like a fun project.
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