An Open Source Coffee Machine 99
An anonymous reader writes "The Open Source Coffee Machine [video link] is a recycled coffee machine, controlled by a PC running Beremiz, and using some MicroMod CANopen I/O nodes from Peak-System. This machine have been prepared by Peak-System and Lolitech for SCS-Paris-08 exhibition. It served free coffee during four days at Peak-System's booth, and has been donated to IUT of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France, so that students can have fun practicing automation."
Re:Why? (Score:3, Insightful)
It's not the home type machine. This looks more like the vending machine that you see in a public place where you put in money and select the type of coffee. the machine dispences a paper cup and then makes one cup of coffee, trea, hot chocolate or whatver.
The real purpose of the machine is to reach people how to write software that controls machines. it purposly uses some interface that are used on factory floors
They could have used as a teaching device a machine that bends tubing to make automotive or aircraft parts but then you have to teach the students not only how to program but about tube bending machines. Coffee they already understand so you can get right into teaching programming.