As an educator working at a public library, I preserve my eyes peeled for attention-grabbing makes use of of the Raspberry Pi. From the place I sit, the Trivia Vending Machine challenge out of Dallas, Texas, is among the most inventive and attention-grabbing makes use of of those wonderful gadgets. Using a Raspberry Pi to exchange the coin field on a meals merchandising machine is a stroke of genius by Greg Needel and his group. The potential makes use of of this concept are far-reaching. Check out this short YouTube video to see the Trivia Vending Machine in motion.
The unique Trivia Vending Machine centered on science questions, however you may construct a Trivia Vending Machine with any questions—historical past, civics, literature, and so forth. The most participating makes use of will likely be in the event you encourage college students to jot down their very own questions—and reply every others’ questions. And take into account this: Instead of disbursing meals, the merchandising machine might disburse coupons to native companies. One approach I earn a dwelling is by instructing guitar classes, and I’d gladly donate a guitar lesson as a coupon for a Trivia Vending Machine. However, a scholar should rack up an appropriate quantity of factors to earn one among my guitar classes.
Stretch your creativeness somewhat additional. Would it’s doable to have logic puzzles for college kids to unravel to get meals (or coupons) from the merchandising machine? Yes, that may not be troublesome to create. Maybe Sudoku puzzles, Wordle, KenKen, Sokoban, or another puzzle. Students might play these puzzles with a contact display. How about chess? Sure, college students might clear up chess puzzles to get meals (or coupons).
Did you discover within the video that the unique Trivia Vending Machine is massive and heavy? Designing a smaller one—maybe one-third the scale that matches on a rolling cart—might make for simpler transport between colleges, libraries, museums, and maker faires.
The within a Trivia Vending Machine consists of stepper motors. You can purchase these used on the internet. An online seek for “used vending machine motors” turns up the Vending World and the VendMedic web sites.
If you’re a member of a makerspace, inform your fellow members in regards to the Trivia Vending Machine. It’s an open invention, not patented, so anybody can construct it. (Thank you, Greg Needel.) I think about the coding for such a tool is just not too troublesome. It can be beautiful if somebody might create a GitHub repository of such code—and possibly some accompanying explanatory screencasts.
Although the Trivia Vending Machine didn’t win an award within the Red Bull Creations contest, this invention continues to be award-worthy. Someone ought to observe down Greg Needel and provides him an appropriate prize. What ought to that award appear like? It may appear like $25k or $50k. I say three cheers for Greg Needel and his inventive group. They took the Raspberry Pi within the path that the inventors of this pc supposed—a tinkerer’s delight. Bold and exquisite. Bold, stunning, and open. Could you ask for something extra?
One very last thing. The Trivia Vending Machine was created a number of years in the past with an early Raspberry Pi mannequin. Current Raspberry Pi computer systems are a lot quicker and extra responsive. So, any lags within the interplay you discover within the above-mentioned video now not exist on in the present day’s Raspberry Pi fashions.
Oh, I would like a kind of sweet bars so dangerous. I’m smacking my lips collectively. Remind me; what number of factors do I must earn to get a Snickers bar? Whatever it takes. I’ll do no matter it takes.