Robotic beer launching fridge
This robotic beer launching fridge is one of those ultimate projects that you are guaranteed to see posted all over the internet today. Robots, beer, the possibility of maiming innocent bystanders... what's not to love? I'd be lying if I said my mechanical engineering friends and I weren't contemplating this at many points during college. Kudos to John W. Cornwell of Duke for actually pulling it off. The mini-fridge has three servos: one to elevate beer from the 10 can magazine, one to rotate the turntable, and one for cocking. Spring power is used to catapult the beer across the room. The brains of the system is an ATMega8535 and 3 intelligent H-bridges. It's controlled by an adapted key-less entry system. It looks like they've wisely placed it pointing away from the tv, but I don't know if referring to your apartment as the "man-pit" is nearly as smart. Check out some of John's other projects: the Mentos booby-trap and the touch activated paintball gun.
[via Dirk]
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Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. My design was more of a pneumatic cannon, the original prototype only shot 3 feet. Lack of time, funds, and ambition prevented the building of the second version. John’s Beer Launcher is everything Eliot and I aspired to build but just never did. Yes, this is Eliot mechanical engineering friend. My hat is off to you John.
Posted at 5:48PM on Feb 26th 2007 by FROSTY
3. Wow, the accuracy / repeatability of this thing is amazing! I have to admit though, I would have to retrofit this with a different ammunition than Miller Sprite! Here's a great start: http://www.queencitychapter.com/microcans/
Posted at 8:42AM on Feb 27th 2007 by keystoneclimber
4. That's a pretty sweet design all right, but Miller Lite? God, even my poor university buds drank OV or 50.. even Black Label or Crystal before they'd touch Miller Lite...
Posted at 9:04AM on Feb 27th 2007 by akmixdown
5. This is genius, looks professional as well.
Posted at 10:14PM on Feb 28th 2007 by Jack
6. Very impressive. Wonder if there's a bottle version out there. I'm thinking a direct mod of this for bottles would have center of mass issues due to so many different shapes and sizes though.
Maybe a pneumatic launcher for plastic 20ozs... for those premixed jack and cokes.
Posted at 12:18AM on Mar 1st 2007 by Dens
7. I don't really drink beer but that machine would be pretty cool if it dispensed soda.
Posted at 3:02PM on Mar 1st 2007 by Funny Beer Commercials
8. I'm guessing it would work for soda; beer cans are 12 ozs, no? Overall a very cool hack. It's the kind of parlor trick that you can show off to all your friends but doesn't have a ton of use, like trick shot pool or card tricks :P i give this one a huge thumbs-up though.
glad to see our astute students of Duke are putting their time to good use
Posted at 4:44PM on Mar 2nd 2007 by tophiannan
9. fake
Posted at 7:40PM on Mar 2nd 2007 by the truth
10. Add Mountain Dew and it's perfect.
Posted at 10:44PM on Mar 3rd 2007 by Neozuki
11. Ummm...this is really cool, but don't you end up wearing the beer once you open it?
Posted at 11:03AM on Mar 5th 2007 by Project Darkness
13. Hello
PLC is the solution!
Is it possible to obtain the design blueprints for this "Launcher" (kudos given) so I could input design variations??
I am thinking "bar codes" (customization) for every bash that you might hold. for a given night (or day) you can "enable" guests to receive "refreshments" wherever they era on your premises!... think outside the tree trunk!!
... remember 3 flys in our beer is OK!
Cheers, max
Posted at 5:21PM on Apr 26th 2007 by max
1. oh man. 2 of my favorite things in harmony, robotics and booze. I said harmony cause have ever try to do soldering while drunk? not pretty...
Posted at 5:24PM on Feb 26th 2007 by Pill