What to Eat Box
I can never decide what to eat. So I made the "What to Eat" box.
Using an arduino uno, a list of 25 local take out choices and 25 cook ate home choices are listed. Once the button is pushed, it will randomly select one choice of each. Don't like the choice, press the button again...
Supplies
The following items are required:
- Arduino Uno
- 16 x 2 LCD screen
- push button
- 10k pot
- 10k resister
- 220 resister
- wire
- x4 screws (1" drywall screws)
- USB A/B Cable
Tools needed:
- Solder gun (with solder)
- wire strippers/cutters
- hot glue gun (with glue sticks)
- star screw driver
- Laptop (with Arduino IDE software installed)
- 3D Printer (with filament)
Assemble the Circuit
Carefully solder the circuit according to the diagram. Careful not to short the adjacent pins.
Program the Arduino
Once the soldering is complete, plug in the USB A/B cable and connect it to the laptop. Adjust and upload the arduino file (attached .ino file) as needed. Once adjusted and uploaded, test the circuit.
Below is the text of the .ino aduino file. Things to edit are:
- cooking choices
- takeout choices
See bolded area for changes.
//====================================================================
//What to eat box
//Created by Jaybak11
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
char *CookIn[]={
"Steak", // <---these choices are for cooking in. Add as needed. Must count the total items for below.
"Pasta",
"Nachos",
"Frozen Pizza",
"Chili",
"Sushi",
"Hotdogs",
"Pizza Pops",
"Roast",
"Eggs",
"Salad",
"Soup",
"Toast",
"Sandwich",
"Grilled Cheese",
"Kraft Dinner",
"Sauage",
"Progies",
"Chicken",
"Ka-bobs",
"Cassaroll",
"Pork Chops",
"Tacos",
"Lasagna",
"Hamburgers",
"Butter Chicken", // 26 choices INDEX1
};
char *TakeOut[]={
"Domino's Pizza", // <---these choices are for takeout. Add as needed. Must count the total items for below.
"Wendy's",
"Burger King",
"McDonalds",
"Subway",
"Madammeeks",
"KFC",
"Dairy Queen",
"Chineese Food",
"New York Fries",
"A & W",
"Metro Pizza",
"Little Ceasors Pizza",
"Joe's Family Pizza",
"Tim Hortans",
"Nick's Chicken",
"Mary Brown's Chicken",
"Pizza Pizza",
"The Nook",
"Eastside Marios",
"J & E Bored n Saucy", // 21 choices INDEX2
};
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2); // LCD screen on pins
void setup() {
lcd.begin(16, 2);
randomSeed(analogRead(0));
pinMode(8,INPUT); // button is on pin 8
lcd.clear();
lcd.print("Press the button");
}
void loop() {
int reading = digitalRead(8); //Read the state of the button
if(reading==HIGH){
int index1 = random(0,26); // <-------- 26 choices of cook in
int index2 = random(0,21); // <-------- 21 choices of take out
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print(CookIn[index1]); //top line of LCD screen is cooking
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print(TakeOut[index2]); //bottom line of LCD screen is take out
}
delay(50);
}
Downloads
Print the Case
Once the circuit is test ok, its time to box it up. Print the two STL files (attached) using a 3D printer.
If you do not have a 3D printer, you can use a hobby box or other to house the circuit.
Assembly
If you have printed the attached STL files, the circuit should fit snuggly into the box. A dab of hot glue on the back of the components should hold the boards and switch in place.
Line up the top and bottom, screw in place.
The top line is cooking choices, the bottom line is takeout choices.
Enjoy dinner.