update 4

So as an update for the week, the group has left and gone to Ghana and I am back here (state side) to troubleshoot any problems they have. I am also currently working on a much more energy efficient model (utilizing sleep functions and what not). This next iteration of code might be able to be tested in Ghana before the group comes back. I have a presentation for RCOS today and I'm trying to figure out how to post it... I'm sure I'll think of something...

update 3

Hello again, and again, sorry for not updating in a while.

So progress is being made.  All the components have been assembled and we should  see some vending machines put up in Ghana in the next few weeks.

I have spent today(Thursday) assembling packets of electronics that will make it easy for travel and then easy to assemble as well.

The code for the Arduino currently:

·              * Registers when a purchase occurs.

·              *Registers when the machine is “low” (3 items or less)

·             * Registers when the machine is empty

·             *Registers when the machine is refilled.

·             *Send SMS for any scenario to multiple phone numbers

The hardware we are using also has place for a battery monitor so the arduino can send an SMS when its batteries need to be recharged. That code will be added shortly (as they are going to be deployed shortly).  As soon as that is done, I am going to update GIThub with the new code.

I am also working on a detailed  account of all the hardware components involved so the entire project can be easily duplicated.

Also in the past week, I worked on a project from last year that was a computer that received SMS and  sent the location of the nearest vending machine. It was a lot of frustrating work, and I hope that once it gets to Ghana it will be working again.

This past week has been busy, and I think the next few will be busy as well. I can't wait to get these machines out there and running!

Also:

Like TED talks? (Who doesn’t?) Here is one about Arduino, open source hardware, and the maker community. Enjoy!

http://www.ted.com/talks/massimo_banzi_how_arduino_is_open_sourcing_imagination.html?source=email#.T-vCzpkF-PV.email

Update 2

Welcome back!

Sorry I have not updated in a while, I’ve been busy with the project. Right now I have completed getting the computer to communicate with the arduino and a GPRS shield.

I ran into some problems over the past few weeks. First, the documentation on what will and will not work as a power supply for the GPRS shield were quite vague… different documents had different specifications, and I needed to make sure that the power supply I was using would work for sending SMS (text messages). I had found that the shield can be powered by the Arduino itself. Some documentation says that the GPRS shield may pull too much current, but I have not run into a problem, yet. I do have replacement Arduinos in case something goes wrong, but I don’t see that being a problem.

This leads me to another problem I ran into. The SeeedStudio GPRS shield does not work with an Arduino Uno. This was one of my biggest problems because I was hoping to try to use the UNO (my own personal board) for some testing (in case it did fry the board, I would fry my board rather than the research group’s board, an Arduino Duemilanove). I am not sure why it does not work with the UNO. I can get it to start to communicate, but once I start to give it any commands,  it says there are errors. I will be looking into possible solutions in the upcoming weeks(I believe that I heard somewhere that the Duemilanove is being discontinued).

I had to find a SIM card to work with the shield. I found an inexpensive ‘pay as you go’ with unlimited texting from AT&T which seems to work.  A problem I ran into was that I could receive texts, but I couldn’t send them, and I couldn’t see if I was actually transmitting anything. I was debugging and thought of two possible problems: 1) insufficient power. And 2) I was trying to send to the wrong number. After hours and hours of tampering, I found some commands that mentioned an SMS message center number. I was able to set the number into the shield, but that is something that will need to be changed when the machines are placed in Ghana.

Goals for the following week:

·     *           Get the arduino/shield to text as a ‘stand alone’ system (without needing a computer)

·     *           Find a battery to use…  with correct voltage and current, rechargeable, and can be adapted to connect to the arduino.

·      *        Combine the arduino and vending machine so have a working prototype.

·      *        Start documentation on assembly.

Other goals:

·      *       Put together a flash drive with all necessary programs and files to edit and download software on site.

·        *       Assemble wiring for easy assembly on site.

Update 1

Welcome to my Open Source Research Blog!

     My name is Thomas King and I am Junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I have recently been provided the opportunity to conduct some research through the Rensselaer Center for Open Source Software (RCOS).  RCOS strives to “…provide a creative, intellectual and entrepreneurial outlet for students to use the latest open-source software platforms to develop applications that solve societal problems.”(rcos.rpi.edu) 

But let me back up a second… What is open source?

     Open-source is usually used to describe software whose source code is free for anyone to use in whatever way they see fit. Whether you want to use the whole product, or you want to use some of the design for a particular section, you will not have to jump through hoops with copyright lawyers and such.

     Open-source does not just apply to software, though. It can also be an object or product that the designs are made free for the public to view or use to build the product.

A great example of the open source concept is the Linux operating system. Linux is a computer operating system (such as Windows 7 or Mac OS X) that is free to download, install, copy, edit in whatever way the user sees fit. This allows for “More Eyes” on the code to search for needed changes and improvements resulting in a better product.

(There is a great video on how Linux is built here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVpbFMhOAwE )

So what is my research about?

     I am currently working on a project with David Banks (www.davidabanks.org)  that aims to provide an open-source condom vending machine with the intended goals of “1) Provide a safe space for individuals (especially women) to purchase condoms; 2) Provide new entrepreneurial opportunities for Ghanaians; 3) Gain insight into mobile phone usage in "non-western" societies and; 4) Increase the use of condoms thereby reducing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. “

(More information can be found on the project http://www.davidabanks.org/condom-vending-machine/ )

     My personal role in the project is to provide open source code that will allow the vending machine to send a text message to owner of the vending machine to let him or her know when it needs to be refilled.  This will allow for a more efficient business. This will prevent a person from having to waste time checking vending machines that still have condoms in them and it will minimize the time a vending machine will be out of condoms.

     For this project I will be using the Arduino. The Arduino is an open-source microcontroller that is designed to be easy to use with both software and hardware. The Arduino community is very active, open and friendly when it comes to providing help with different projects which I think will be helpful for me as I design the software, as well as future users who wish to adapt or build upon my work.

     The Arduino will be acting as the ‘brain’ of the operations. It will tell gather information from sensors and instruct different peripherals how to act.

(More information on the Arduino platform can be found at http://www.arduino.cc/ )

This blog will be updated regularly with progress on my work with this project, as well as interesting news about other open source projects. Check back to learn more!