Himanshu Dada
This is BudKoin — a custom vending machine running on an ESP32, handling payments through NFC and UPI.
Why Build a Custom Vending Machine?
Off-the-shelf vending machines cost ₹50,000 and up. They run proprietary software. You can't modify the payment flow. You can't add IoT features without ripping out the controller.
We needed something smaller. Something we could put in a co-working space, accept UPI payments, and track inventory from a dashboard. So we built our own.
Advantages Over Commercial Machines
| Feature | BudKoin | Typical Commercial Machine |
|---------|---------|---------------------------|
| Payment | UPI, NFC, card | Cash only or proprietary card |
| Cost | ₹2,500 + 3D print | ₹50,000+ |
| Customization | Change firmware anytime | Locked firmware |
| Inventory tracking | MQTT to dashboard | Manual check |
| Size | 30cm x 20cm x 25cm | 1.8m tall |
| Power | 5V, 10W | 220V, 200W+ |
For a small office, co-working space, or dorm, BudKoin makes sense. You can scale it by adding more product slots with additional servos and relays.
Future Enhancements
We're working on version 2:
Matter protocol support : Make the vending machine discoverable on smart home networks. Imagine "Hey Google, restock the vending machine in room 3."
Camera-based inventory: ESP32-CAM module. Takes photo of each slot every hour. Runs a tiny CNN on the ESP32 to count products. Sends alert when stock runs low.
Solar power option: Small 10W panel + 18650 battery pack. Run the machine off-grid for events.
Multiple product sizes: Different servo angles for different product widths. Current design handles anything from gum packets to small chip bags.
Refund API: Full UPI refund flow. User gets money back if product jams or if they double-tap.
We're also porting the firmware to Zephyr RTOS. Better task management, proper threading for WiFi, NFC, and servo control. The Arduino framework works but we want deterministic timing for the IR sensor polling.
Need a Custom Vending Machine?
We ship fully assembled prototypes. Give us your requirements — product dimensions, payment methods, quantity — and we'll deliver a working unit with firmware source code, PCB design files, and 3D models.
Our team handles:
- Firmware development (ESP32, nRF52, STM32)
- PCB design (KiCad, Altium)
- 3D design and printing (FreeCAD, Prusa)
- Full prototype assembly and testing
- Matter protocol integration
- UPI/NFC payment integration
We're based in India with offices in the US and UK. If you're a Raspberry Pi developer looking to build custom hardware, or a business that needs a smart vending solution, reach out. We'll build it.
Pepe Ribelles