Automated Drink Dispenser Utilizing Festo Lab-Volt 5150 Robotic Arm: Implementation and Performance Analysis

The emergence of robotic automation in food processing has led to a paradigm shift, significantly enhancing efficiency, product quality, and worker safety. This study aims to implement an automated drink dispensing system using the Festo Lab-Volt 5150 robotic arm, creating a program for accurate and efficient drink handling and evaluating the system's overall performance in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and capacity. The system employs an Arduino microcontroller to detect empty shot glass slots and direct the robotic arm for refilling through a rotary carousel, ensuring seamless coordination between detection and refilling processes. Load-handling tests demonstrated the system's capability to manage objects weighing between 300 and 900 grams and widths between 31 mm and 50 mm, indicating its durability and versatility in handling various container sizes. Positioning accuracy tests revealed an average deviation of 0.08 units from the target, underscoring the arm's precision and highlighting the need for periodic recalibration to maintain optimal performance. Speed testing demonstrated an average fill time of 147.37 seconds with a standard deviation of 3.95 seconds, reflecting the system's consistent performance and pointing to areas for potential speed optimization. The implementation and performance analysis of the Festo Lab-Volt 5150 arm for automating drink dispensing confirms its ability to streamline beverage service operations, paving the way for future advancements in scalability and user satisfaction.