Build Your Own Wireless Beer Pitcher Monitoring System 184
Willy K. writes "Technology comes to the rescue when disaster strikes and your pitcher runneth dry. These Cornell students have rigged up beer pitchers that wirelessly advertise to the central serving station when they are empty, prompting alert wait staff to bring another round." Add a few steins and you're all set.
Now all you need... (Score:5, Funny)
I see an FCC problem here.. (Score:5, Informative)
Amateur radio does not mean unlicensed. Getting a license is very easy. Check with your local ham radio club for details or visit http://www.arrl.org/
No FCC problem (Score:3, Informative)
Re:No FCC problem (Score:3, Informative)
73 de N6MOD
Re:I see an FCC problem here.. (Score:4, Informative)
Many hams seem to not understand Part 15 [arrl.org] which allows unlicensed operation in almost ANY part of the spectrum. In particular, there are only a very few specific frequency ranges where "intentional radiation" governed by part 15 is not allowed. This simply means that you are building a device which is intended to be a transmitter as opposed to being one accidentally. Computers, for example, transmit accidentally and are therefore goverened by part 15.
There are also specific ranges, such as those used by wireless phones and 802.11b, where there are bands set aside with specific restrictions on power, antenna size, etc.
Even if there is no such range in the 430mhz band one can still use that band as long as you restrict the field strength of your transmitter to 200 microvolts/meter measured at a distance of three meters from the antenna. From a practical perspective this is a transmitter that if placed inside a small building probably would not radiate significantly beyond the walls of the building.
Part 15 transmission should not intefere with licensed transmissions and hams are very protective of their hard won spectrum space. Thus hams seem to frequenly speak out against unlicensed usage even when it might not be warrented as they have experienced significant inteference and spectrum space loss over the years. While it doesn't necessarily sound like this is inappropriate use of 430mhz, whenever you are operating close to ham bands it would behove you to be sure you are operating within the bounds of the law. Not becuase "it's the law", but because hams are very protective and self-policing and you are more likely to get a complaint than if you are in one of the specific part-15 ranges.
On the other hand, the comments on here that suggest it's no big deal to cause interference seem to reflect the general ignorance of slashdot in regards to radio/electronics. Before you start talking about "leaky transmitters" sic, and rules you have never read, perhaps you should go read a book or two on the subject.
Re:MOD PARENT UP! (Score:1)
MOD UP PARENT? It's MOD PARENT UP.
I do agree about the karma whoring though.
One word: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Now all you need... (Score:3, Funny)
ALCOHOL ABUSE!!
Another improvement (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Now all you need... (Score:2)
Who's up for a game of Tapper [shockwave.com]?
Hahahaha (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hahahaha (Score:2)
I've ordered pizza at one bar, the owner said it was cool as long as we got enough for the staff.
In taverns, I find.... (Score:3, Funny)
Wow something useful (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Wow something useful (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Wow something useful (Score:2)
Re:Wow something useful (Score:3, Funny)
That wouldn't be a problem at the bar where I hung out in college.
Re:Wow something useful (Score:2)
As a former bar manager, I think you'd be more concerned with how these devices would survive all your drunken customers.
How is this so different? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:How is this so different? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:How is this so different? (Score:1)
I've got a system... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I've got a system... (Score:2)
Re:I've got a system... (Score:2)
People drink beer?!? (Score:1, Funny)
Why just the other day my chauffer took a wrong turn off of the freeway and pulled me past this run down little liquor store where this shabby looking man (who by the way was driving a Pontiac! A PONTIAC!!!) who hadn't shaved for a couple of days was walking out with a bottle of Johnny Walker Re
Re:People drink beer?!? (Score:1)
Thought so -- you're a bloody ENGLISHMAN! Pooh!
Re:People drink beer?!? (Score:2)
Plagiarisim (Score:5, Informative)
Hmmm (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Hmmm (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Hmmm (Score:1)
Re:Hmmm (Score:2)
"In the life-or-death field of bar tending, seconds count." - sounds like a pitch for ER meets Cheers.
I have an idea... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:I have an idea... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I have an idea... (Score:1)
Re:I have an idea... (Score:2)
Dupe? (Score:4, Funny)
All one beer. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Dupe? (Score:2)
yeah you had dem awwitge!
;)
complicateed? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:complicateed? (Score:1)
Overkill? (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm not denying that their idea works, it just seems there is probably an easier (or at least cheaper) way.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Measure weight (Score:1)
It's not really that simple, though. You'd need some sort of force sensor in the bottom of a pitcher, like a spring. The problem is that the force would change all the time: when you lift and lower the pitcher (think of the force on your feet in an accelerating elevator), when it bangs on the table, when it tilts, etc. You could add some sort of timer to make sure t
Re:Messure weight (Score:2)
Re:Overkill? (Score:2)
Re:Overkill? (Score:2)
You could use an electro-optical fluid level sensor (such as shown here: http://www.gemssensors.com/electrooptical.htm) but it would most certainly bring the total cost of the project higher. (Gems Sensors cost between $20-$300+ at Digikey)
Re:Overkill? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Overkill? (Score:3, Interesting)
They had a 2D accelerometer that could measure in X and Y directions, but used a pitcher to force a given plane of tilt (determined by the handle/spout axis) and just looked at the X reading, ignoring Y.
They should use both measurements and put it on regular drinking glasses as well -- the same device would work on a pitcher, glass, or most drinking containers no matter what orientation (within the X-Y, or horizontal plane) it was mounted. Their system needs the "X" axis o
Re:Overkill? (Score:2)
Do you really believe that the FDA would allow mercury anywhere near something that's going to be consumed...DOH!
No, sensible (Score:2)
Excuse me, but... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Excuse me, but... (Score:2, Funny)
Beer Pitcher? (Score:3, Funny)
Unlicensed amateur radio operation! (Score:5, Informative)
They needed a frequency in an unlicensed or research/experimental band.
Re:Unlicensed amateur radio operation! (Score:5, Informative)
They didn't illegally use 70cm. There is a specific allocation for 433MHz for low power equipment. Radiometrix, and a bunch of others all make perfectly legal transmitters for this allocation.
I believe the 433MHz is secondary or teritiary use. The Europeans equivalent is 419MHz
K4JCW
That's what I get... (Score:2)
73 de KD4MAB
I'm sorry sir you're bladdered... (Score:4, Funny)
Could this be modifed to:
We used the a priori knowledge that when a punter is full the punter's bottom is parallel with the ground..... There is a direct correlation between the maximum angle the punter has reached and the volume still in the pitcher.
Could be a good way to easily tell when you've had to much
Tips (Score:5, Insightful)
This is nice for personal parties when there's a lot going on but it's not encouraging to patrons who busted their ass all day and now get to watch the waitresses or whoever sit in the back getting paid to watch the beer indicator.
When I worked as a host for birthday parties at a kid's pizza place, the pitchers where the excuse to keep myself visible to the parents and active in the party in order to get a larger tip. You fill the pitchers before they become empty and while you're doing that you talk to the parents and see what else you can do for them.
In the food business that's the way it works. The more involved with the customers you are, the better the tip. So although a nice novelty, it could have a negative impact on the tip for those who use it to try to make their job "easier."
Ben
Re:Tips (Score:2)
Not really. Whenever you don't have something else to do, check the monitor. If someone needs a refill, go do it. No need for constant monitoring.
Re:Tips (Score:2)
If the beer pitcher is wireless, why can't the monitor be wireless too? The waiter/waitress could just carry around a "pager" that lit up a table number when the pitcher was empty. No sitting around. No lack of visibility. Just more efficient. (Granted, I'm sure there are drawbacks...to actually implement this thing you'd have to do more market analysis)
Now if some restaurant actually gets this, the first thing to do is figure out how to trick it. Then you can call
Re:Tips (Score:2)
Maybe you should learn how the US system works. Most serving staff are paid minimum wage but are assessed taxes based on an expectation of how much they will receive in tips which is in turn based on their total sales. The way this generally pans out is that their wage pays the tax bill and the tips are what they live on. If you don't tip then they served you for free.
In reality, calling it a
Your rights online? (Score:5, Funny)
If you're in the US (Score:2)
There's also a beer drinking indicator called a "tab." It's this piece of paper that keeps track of how many drinks you've had and how much you owe the place.
Ben
Re:If you're in the US (Score:2)
Re:If you're in the US (Score:2)
US only, where freedom is about taking pictures of your naked pow's.
God, what a wonderful country, I'm eagerly waiting for my greencard from the lottery.
My Wireless Beer Pitcher Monitor (Score:2)
If I see it's empty, I fill it.
Ben
This is useless... (Score:5, Interesting)
The most annoying though is guys in the toilet in some bars that are there for the sack of tips. I mean really I know how to wash my hands, and dry them to. The're only reason as far as I can see is to basically squirt soup on my hands and after washin my hands to dry with paper towels, and then for me to give a tip for a task I could have completed in half the time if I had done it by myself. In fact I consider very tacky for a bar to do this, it insults the intellgence and cleanliness of its clients.
Re:This is useless... (Score:4, Funny)
I think I've figured out the problem. You're not getting drunk enough. That guy in the bathroom is there to let you know which one of the two sinks you see is the real one.
Hmm... (Score:5, Funny)
Well, I guess that's definitely a step forward from the (now) antequated "Plug-in Beer Pitcher Monitoring System." Sure, you can get around the bar if you bring an extension cord, but don't spill your beer on any open leads. Drunk geeks make excellent ground connections.
old news (Score:1)
Had to know this was coming (Score:5, Funny)
Why is drinking automatically bad? (Score:3, Interesting)
1. Accept responsibility in making engineering decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment. We realize that our project could appear to be unsafe because it encourages drinking and the continuation of purchasing beverages.
Why must everything involving alcohol (at least in the US) automatically assume at one point or another that drinking = bad? All this does is let you (or rather, the wait staff) know your pitcher is empty for a refill. I fail to see how it "encourages" excessive drinking (which is implied). When I go to a restaraunt and the waiter/waitress asks if I'd like a beer, is he/she "encouraging" me to drink excessively? Is he/she "encouraging" me to drink excessively when asking if I want another beer when my current beer is almost empty?
Re:Why is drinking automatically bad? (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously though, engineering firms have to consider things like this. It's common practice, and it's the reason that most people think as highly of engineers as they do. If your firm is selling this to a marketing firm, you should inform them of any ethics issues like this. In this project they're not
Re:Why is drinking automatically bad? (Score:2)
Perhaps because it actually is?
I'm aware that this may sound inflammatory, but technically alcohol is a hard drug -- ie: you get physiologically (?) addicted to it. Even though it is a socially accepted drug, my guess is that it causes more trouble than all other drugs combined, with the exception of perhaps nicotine/cigarettes. So a 'caveat emptor' is definitely in place...
The on
Something on the mind (Score:2, Funny)
Guesses for next subject - Barf Bags, Taxi Rides Home, Diet Trends?
Re:Something on the mind (Score:2)
Solid! (Score:5, Funny)
That chic is hot! (Score:5, Funny)
Now we know the true intentions for the beer pitcher project!
*shameless pickup line* Hot chic...if you read this, email me!!!! I like beer too!
Re:That chic is hot! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:That chic is hot! (Score:2)
I'll give you a hint (and save you the 1:43s it took me), her middle name is Elsie and I hate public directories. A quick email to eem24 might get you a date, but I highly highly doubt it.
--D
An alternate solution... (Score:4, Informative)
The same problem can also be solved by measuring capacitance of the glass across the remaining fluid. (I don't really understand this, but I'm believe it's fairly simple.)
The article references this, in fact.
http://www.merl.com/projects/iGlassware [merl.com]Alert Staff (Score:1)
If the wait staff was alert, then you wouldn't need the pitcher to tell them it was empty!
Stealing Japanese technology... (Score:1)
The Japanese version does not require batteries in the glasses or pitchers.
Hah (Score:2)
#define end }
OMFG. Are these guys for real? What's next:
#define procedure void
Or better yet := =
#define
#define = ==
Re:Hah (Score:2)
I kinda like their defines in this case. It makes it a bit more human readable, even if it's really unorthadox. Not that I'm gonna go change how I program, but it's always good to see someone else's art at work
Re:Hah (Score:2)
More jobs going down the tube (Score:2, Funny)
Re:More jobs going down the tube (Score:2)
Umm, since it is usually the same person that walks around making sure everyone's mug is full and actually filling the mugs this will result in zero job losses. What it WILL result in is more efficiency and less time wasted by staff walking around looking for empty mugs to fill.
Accounting for vagueness (Score:3, Insightful)
The time thing is probably the most important-- maybe prioritize based on previous purchases or your local ABC laws, etc.
The next step (Score:2, Interesting)
Oh the possibilities...
My pitchers don't need batteries... (Score:2)
I need a beer. (Score:4, Funny)
Now all we need is method and apparatus, er, that is, a solenoid-operated tap controlled through a command line utility that works in most UNIX shells, so we can refill our pitchers or glasses from our keyboard. It might look something like this:
(It would be similar to the Pizza Party [beigerecords.com] utility advertised in another of /.'s stories posted tonight [slashdot.org], except it would refill beer instead of ordering pizzas. The -b option would use a flat text file to map beer names to tap numbers for maximum convenience.)
Then, we could create a beer glass or pitcher monitoring daemon, beerd, which would invoke refill every time the pitcher empties, sending as the -b argument the name of the beer with which beerd was originally invoked.
I can see it already: U.S. Patent #287542384328092840234, Method and Apparatus for Refilling a Beer Pitcher or Glass Through a UNIX Command Line Utility, and U.S. Patent #234823084932842843492, Method and Apparatus for Providing a GUI Frontend to the Beer Refilling Command Line Utility. (The GNOME version would be called Geer, the KDE version would be called Keer, RMS would insist that names of beer should be changed to GNU/Guinness, etc.) And, needless to say, U.S. Patent #234823084932842843493, Method and Apparatus for Automatically Invoking the Beer Refilling Command Line Utility, After Optionally Displaying a Dialog Box that Reads, "Are You Sure You Want Another Pitcher, You've Already Had Ten Beers Tonight?" With The Yes And No Buttons Moving Around So The Drunk Can't Click On Them.
Then, we'll sue Darl for infringing on our patents when he's drinking his depression away after SCO crashes and burns. (What a waste of perfectly good beer.)
And as if this isn't enough, we'll invent Pay Per Drink, a system whereby you get a keg of Guinness and a tap installed in your home for free, and when you activate the tap, a charge will be made to your credit card through the Internet. Brings new meaning to DRM. But to make IRC conversations with your friends across the globe more interesting, you could download ebeerd, the Extended Beer Daemon, which would allow your friends to "buy you a beer" through the Internet, which would be dispensed through the tap at your house. Then, you can buy all your friends a round, from the comfort of everybody's home, with a single click. (GUI frontends for GNOME and KDE should be forthcoming for this one, as should a Jabber plug-in.)
Hmmmmmmmm... All this talk about beer, I need to get me a drink. Lucky I have some Guinness around. :-)
Guinness. Because friends don't let friends drink Lite Beer.
(Astute readers might notice that a long time ago, I didn't like Guinness and made a lot of posts where I said so. In fact, for a while, my sig even said something to the effect of, "George Killian's Irish Red. Because friends don't let friends drink Guinness." So what's changed? I discovered the difference between Guinness Stout and Guinness Draught. I stopped drinking Stout, started drinking Draught, and that fixed the problem. Now I drink at least a pint every night. Oh, and by the way, Irish Red [killians.com] is really, really good!!!)
Not all angles are covered... (Score:2)
Clearly these folks haven't ever seen a beer pitcher fly out at about 360 degrees from a drunken frat boy's hand.
Coffee was first by 12 years (Score:2)
finally good use of technology (Score:3, Funny)
Better Brazilian Beer Bringer (Score:2)
Or so I assume. I can't really remember that part of the night very clearly.
Re:Better Brazilian Beer Bringer (Score:2)
Slashdot effect with beer pitcher? (Score:2, Funny)
Wireless-shmireless (Score:4, Insightful)
The cheapest thing to add, it would remove the irritation of having to catch the waiter's eye, and allow the waiter to know, everyone is fine without constantly looking at all tables.
Airplanes had this for years, but I'm only aware of one restaurant, where such a system is in use.