The objective of our machine is to automate the process of creating an ice cream sundae. The user will put a bowl of ice cream on a large turntable and will input to the computer which toppings and the amount of each topping he or she wants. The turntable will then position the bowl under stations where the toppings will be applied and finally return a delicious custom-made sundae to the user.
The user will have four toppings to select from: sprinkles, candy M&M's, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. The Handy Board will first ask the user how many scoops of sprinkles they want. After the user presses the quantity button up to three times to specify the number of scoops of sprinkles, they will press a button to advance to the next option. The computer will then ask the user how many scoops of M&M's they want, followed by quantities of chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
After inputting the requests, the turntable will rotate the bowl under the dry topping chute where sprinkles and M&Ms will be dispensed by a mechanism similar to a gumball machine. After the dry toppings are dropped on the ice cream, the turntable will rotate the bowl under the chocolate sauce pump where a solenoid will be used to squirt the desired amount of sauce from the pump on the ice cream. Next, the turntable will rotate the bowl under the whipped cream canister where a solenoid will press the nozzle on the container for the desired number of puffs of whipped cream. Finally, the turntable will return the bowl to the user and ask for the next order.
This machine could be implemented with a soft-serve ice cream machine and a bowl dispenser to produce made-to-order ice cream sundaes from a vending machine. Using similar technology to dispense bowls such as those used to release individual cups in coffee vending machines, two extra stations could be added to our turntable, allowing one station for the bowl dispensing, and another to fill the bowl with ice cream. We think that this machine could also be very helpful in an ice cream shop. Even though we do not plan on implementing it in this way for our project, it could be programmed to make multiple sundaes at once, with all stations operating at the same time. This way, orders could be submitted from the register and transmitted directly to the machine. Thus, it would continue manufacturing sundaes continuously until all orders were filled.
Picture of our Final Prototype (missing whipped cream can)
