This article was published on May 9, 2017

This candy dispenser is the best possible use of Google’s new AIY kit


This candy dispenser is the best possible use of Google’s new AIY kit Image by: Arduino Guy Projects and More!

Google’s new AIY (DIY, but with AI) Voice Kit debuted less than a week ago, and already someone’s put together the mother of all distractions with an automatic candy dispenser.

The creator, Arduino Guy, describes the whole process with detailed instructions, and shows a shortened version in the video above.

To make this bad boy, you need Google’s new Voice Kit with the Assistant SDK, a Raspberry Pi 3, and a Particle Photon. The setup instructions list a soldering iron and 3D printer, meaning this isn’t for the faint-of-heart. Considering the candy is dispensed through a relatively narrow tube, it looks like small pieces of candy, like the M&Ms the creator uses, are ideal.

In its completed form, the machine responds to claps and voice. The dispensing apparatus works via an IFTTT applet connecting Assistant’s Voice Kit with the Photon receiver. You can program different responses to the question “How much candy?” That seems a little pointless, though, because the correct answer is always “A LOT.” A sensor detects when a cup is under the spout and will dispense the candy.

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Creating something to automatically dispense tasty treats is undoubtedly the most important use of this sophisticated technology. I’m only surprised it took a whole two weeks to appear.

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