Vendi
Smart Vending Solutions - Interdisciplinary Engineering Project
Led the development of a comprehensive smart vending machine project for UC Berkeley's Alpha Lambda engineering class. This interdisciplinary project integrated mechanical, electrical, and software engineering to create a custom vending machine designed for campus use, complete with a portfolio website showcasing the entire development process.
Project Components
- • Mechanical Engineering: Polycarbonate frame design, servo-controlled dispensing system
- • Electrical Systems: Arduino control board, sensor integration, power distribution
- • Software Design: User interface, inventory tracking, motor control algorithms
- • Web Portfolio: Team documentation, project gallery, technical specifications
Key Features
- • Custom vending machine with servo-controlled dispensing
- • Arduino-based control system with sensor integration
- • Real-time inventory tracking and management
- • User-friendly interface for product selection
- • Responsive web portfolio with project documentation
- • Team collaboration tools and development timeline
Tech Stack
- • Hardware: Arduino, servos, sensors, polycarbonate materials
- • Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, TypeScript, Vite
- • Styling: Custom CSS with dark theme, responsive design
- • Animations: AOS (Animate On Scroll) library
- • Deployment: Vercel hosting
Development Process
As project lead, I coordinated a 15-week development cycle following agile methodology:
- • Weeks 1-3: Planning & Research phase
- • Weeks 4-7: Design & Prototyping
- • Weeks 8-11: Implementation across all systems
- • Weeks 12-15: Testing & Refinement
Team Leadership
Led a multidisciplinary team of UC Berkeley engineering students, coordinating across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines. Managed weekly sprints, technical integration challenges, and ensured project deliverables were met on schedule.
Web Portfolio Features
- • Responsive design with mobile-friendly interface
- • Dark mode theme with red and gold color scheme
- • Interactive photo gallery showcasing development process
- • Timeline view of the engineering development process
- • Team profiles and project documentation
- • Technical specifications and system architecture
Impact
Successfully delivered a fully functional smart vending machine prototype with comprehensive documentation. The project demonstrated practical application of engineering principles across multiple disciplines and showcased effective team leadership in a complex technical project.
Note: This project was completed as part of UC Berkeley's Alpha Lambda engineering coursework, demonstrating interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world engineering problem solving.