RFID technology: Beyond cash-based methods in vending machine

This paper characterizes the design, implementation and employment of cashless and secure payment system in vending machine by using radio frequency identification technology, to improve the traditional cash-based payment system that involved lot of problems and risks i.e., hacking, auditing, storing, currency and material of coins and notes. RFID is achieving momentum in a multiple sectors like retail, security, transportation, pharmaceuticals, defense, healthcare etc., and a host of other fields, and now vending machines. Our proposed methodology consists of passive RFID identification cards and reader for consumers, Arduino Mega microcontroller, SPI protocol for RFID and Arduino interfacing, keypad for password protection, liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying consumer name and current balance, and SMS is sent for notification using GSM module. Spiral coil architecture is supported by DC motors powered by relays in mechanical structure of vending machine. It also describes how such product-oriented RFID card based vending machine can maximum facilitates the system engineering.