Career Episode 3: Design Coin Operated Water Dispenser

Career Episode 3 discusses the development of a microcontroller-based water dispensing machine that dispenses water when a coin is inserted. The report covers the objectives, distinctive activities, identified issues and their solutions, and project review. The author's contribution to the project is also highlighted.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 3

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Design Coin Operated Water Dispenser
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Leader
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
In public places, water availability is very crucial and hence, I targeted the public sector
for developing a system that will allow dispense of water through inputting proper coin. I
developed the system that could be used in public for dispensing the water after entering proper
coin as per the set budget and dispense the necessary amount of water. I developed a system that
can be operated within 5V and that will be constantly supplied within the system and an object
will be placed in the place of water dispensing area and hence, the water will be dispensed. The
project was developed considering the following block diagram:

Figure 1: Block Diagram
CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
The set of the objectives developed can be listed as follows:
 To develop a system that can dispense water within the public places
 To keep the project to be operated at minimum consumption of energy
 To develop an error free water serving machine that will dispense water after
recognizing the value of the coin
 To implement software and hardware in efficient and effective way
 To develop a successful and working project within the estimated time and budget
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
I was leading the team and hence, it was my duty to keep the entire team focused about
accomplishing the objectives and goals of the project and delivering the necessary operations and

objectives of the project. I had to buy the hardware components necessary for the development of
the entire project and thus, I made sure that the electronic components being utilized is of same
capability and of low budget. I selected the Arduino / ATMEGA 328 that is a single chip
microcontroller that can be used for operating the entire functioning of the water dispensing
system.
Figure 2: Arduino Pin description
I selected the best electrical components for the development of this system that can
deliver the necessary outcomes. I also prepared the regular project growth and development
documentation in manner to track and monitor the growth of the project.

CE 3.2.4 Project Group
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was responsible for marketing the electronic components those were necessary for the
development of the system that can allow the public users to collect water after entering the
proper coins. I was responsible for embedding the software and implementing the hardware for
the development of the entire system. I programmed the Arduino using the Arduino integrated
development environment known as Arduino software (IDE) and the requirements and
specifications can be listed as following:
Sl. No. Requirement Specification
1. Power supply 5 volts
2. Coin sensor 12 volts
3. IR sensor 5 volts

4. Water pump 5 volts
5. Dispensing duration Less than 25 seconds
6. Software Arduino IDE
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
I utilized the basic principle for the development of this project that focuses on the
direction and dispensing water. I programmed the four interfacing units including Coin Sensor,
Water Pump, LCD, and IR sensor separately within the Arduino IDE. I executed the project in a
sequential manner that focuses on step wise deployment of the activities for dispensing the
water. I connected the Arduino board pin, Vcc, and ground with the coin sensor with four
different colours in manner to detect which connection is being connected to which part. I kept
the project to accept the single coin and o the programming has been made for the single coin
acceptance. The water starts to flow out when the object is placed at its place that is detected
using IR sensor. I programmed this phase in way that the system will detect the presence of the
object (glass or bottle) using IR sensor and sends notification to the microcontroller when the
object is identified and thereafter, dispense the water from the storage.
CE 3.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I emphasized that the primary activity for the delivery for the project was to selct the
proper hardwre and software components those are necessary for the development and execution
of the project and so I selected the following components for the delivery of the project:

a. Arduino/ATmega 328
b. Transformer
c. Rectifier
d. Regulator
e. IR Sensor
f. LCD
g. Coin sensor
h. Water pump
i. C language programming in a
I used transformer to limiting the power supply and assuring that the power being
supplied is accurate and exact for the delivery of the project and all the electrical components can
be operated within that. I used a step down transformer and rectifier for transforming the AC
supply into DC voltage and apply them for the proper functioning of the entire system. I used
regulator, IR sensors, LCD and Coin sensor in manner to allow the system to detect the object
and coin and dispense the water accordingly. I also used a water pump that can be operated at
low voltage in manner to assure that the pump is applicable at the same voltage.
CE 3.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
I implemented the hardware and software components for the development of the entire
project. I managed the team members, their activities and the ways they were reported to deliver
the project operations. I encoded the Arduino microcontroller for the management of the
operational activities of the proposed system and make sure that the system work in an efficient
and effective manner. I monitor the entire growth and development of the project through

developing the report considering the successful accomplishment of the operational activities
those could possibly lead to the efficient and effective delivery of the project.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
I identified that the project was operational however, water dispensing system was not
much effective as the user might delayed in placing the object and hence the water could flow
down the machine. Programming the Arduino was another considerable problem while
delivering the project and hence, it was necessary to assign proper activity for the Arduino
microcontroller in manner to accomplish the respective operation.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
I implemented the IR sensors at the place where object was meant to be placed in manner
to confirm that the system will detect the object before flowing the water and hence, the problem
was resolved as the system was able to detect for the object before deploying the water out. I
programmed the Arduino considering every other functioning electrical and electronic
components those are possibly capable of delivering the necessary operations without any time
lag.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I implemented the IR sensors and used the Arduino microcontroller that was not in trend
earlier and hence, it was an innovative step towards delivering a project that could allow the
users to get water at the public place.

CE 3.3.6 Collaborative work
I managed to deliver all the objectives through the contribution of every team member
and assure that the entire project is capable of delivering necessary objectives and output. The
project as successfully delivered and evaluated through the contribution made by every team
member as every team member had been contributing their specified sector of the work in
manner to ultimately make the project productive. I implemented my mechanical engineering
skills for the development of the specified mechanic design in manner to make the project
different from the previous models.
CE 3.4 Project Review
CE 3.4.1 Project Overview
The project that I undertook is the “Coin Operated Water Dispenser”. It is a micro
controller based water dispensing machine that dispenses water when a coin is inserted at the
provided point. The micro controller used for the project was ATmega 328. Other devices such
as IR sensor, coin sensor, water pump and other are also crucial for the project. The
microcontroller sends necessary signal to the sensor depending upon the coin inserted. The
system in consideration also supports multiple coins at an instance which offers it flexibility and
sustainability. The LED lights are also attached with the system to cite the operations or any
error in the system which will enable the users and the administrator to identify the problem and
proceed accordingly. The project will be of great vitality for the locations where the availability
of water is difficult such as highways, public stations and others.

CE 3.4.2 My contribution to work
My contribution in the project in discussion where expanded to three sections the first
being electronics, the second was software and the final section was management. I, held the
responsibility for programming the microcontroller and also for embedding the sensors to the
PCB (printed Circuit Board). My teammates designed the block and planned the connection and
I did the physical work of embedding the sensors to the board and programmed the controller to
be compatible with the project objective and the sensors. Another responsibility that I pursued
while developing the project in discussion was to manage the team as a team leader.