Advantech launches prototype for intelligent vending

The Advantech solution based on the Intel Reference Design for Intelligent Vending provide developers easier access to typical machine peripherals such as coin dispenser and refrigeration by the integration of a hardware platform including a VMI and application programming interfaces (APIs) used by application software.This comprehensive solution is designed to significantly reduce the time to market for intelligent vending machines.

The solution re-architects traditional vending machines into highly-capable, internet connected machines. Vending machine manufacturers can use the solution to design future machines or to retrofit existing ones. The solution contains several hardware and software components, including:

• Computing system: an Intel processor-based platform with a VMI board replaces VMC, thus providing machines with wired Ethernet or broadband wireless connectivity to the outside world and the computing power needed to deploy emerging services. Vending machine manufacturers can choose three scalable families of processors including Intel Core vPro processors, Intel Atom processors and Intel Quark processor which can run the same code (i.e., backward compatible) and are supported by a very large, established ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs).
• Vending I/O interface: today’s vending machines use a wide range of bus protocols (e.g., CAN, ccTalk, MDB, USB) to communicate between the VMC and machine peripherals, such as control mechanics and note readers. The solution based on the Intel Reference Design for Intelligent Vending contains a VMI board that supports these I/O interfaces and more.
• Software stack: the software stack, which includes an operating system, APIs to machine peripherals, and various applications. The solution provides a single API that accesses more than a dozen peripherals and can be used by application software to more easily access typical machine peripherals (e.g., coin dispenser, refrigeration).
• Remotely manage multiple devices with SUSIAccess: all Advantech platforms are bundled with Advantech SUSIAccess which provides remote device management and system recovery powered by Acronis, and system protection powered by McAfee, allowing users to easily monitor, configure, control, and even recover multiple systems through a single console from a remote site.