Embedded mini-PC enables next-gen vending machines

The GIGABYTE Intelligent Vending Solution, based on Intel IoT Retail Gateway Reference Design for intelligent vending is a turnkey solution, consists of the GB-BXBT-3825 IoT gateway, the GB-TCV1A controller and the GC-SSP I/O expansion board.

By integrating the technologies and protocols for networking, security and manageability on the GB-BXBT-3825, GIGABYTE offers vending operators a key building block to rapidly replace legacy systems. The IoT gateway is a computer platform based on the Intel Atom processor E3825. Through the onboard software stack validated by Intel, the GB-BXBT-3825 is a suitable foundation for a fast development of intelligent vending machines. It provides connectivity bridging between legacy equipment and the cloud, data acquisition from terminals, pre-filtering for further delivery, a hardware security root providing trust, data encryption and software protection.

At the heart of the GIGABYTE Intelligent Vending Solution is the GB-TCV1A, powered by an Intel Atom E3815 single-core processor. It delivers high I/O connectivity such as HDMI output for digital advertising, LVDS for a low cost touch screen, USB 2.0/3.0 for printing and other consumer-level interactions. Associated with a vending machine API, the controller provides a consistent programming interface regardless of the underlying hardware. The GB-TCV1A helps the application to work across disparate machines and all functionality and features are developed as plug-ins and installed to the platform. It enables the vending machines to be capable of multimedia interactivity, cash/cashless payment and identity-based validation, digital signage and video analytics.

The GC-SSP offers a broad range of vending interfaces to scale to both newer interactive vending platforms as well as traditional vending machines. It handles protocol conversion and provides a high-level of I/O flexibility.

"The vending and dispensing industry is looking to integrate more and more product capabilities into machines to meet the needs of vending operators, brands and of course the consumer,” says Jose Avalos, Worldwide Director, Visual Retail, Intel. “The Intel IoT Retail Gateway Reference Design for Intelligent Vending offers a significant breakthrough to the vending and dispensing sector through workload consolidation of all computing, control and telemetry onto a single platform, simplifying machine architecture and providing flexibility to easily integrate the latest technologies such as touch, gesture, payment, social media, mobile and cloud based services.”