SWS: The Skittle Web Service!

SWS: The Skittle Web Service!

Game-U’s Advanced Robotics students got more help from the best in the programming biz this month, when Game-U’s very own CTO, Tommy Allen, joined their weekly meetings!

Robotics teacher extraordinaire and Senior Game-U instructor Mr. Joe invited Tommy to a virtual class, where students were developing a web service (LAMP stack running on a Raspberry Pi) that could, hopefully, send commands to an Arduino via a USB serial connection.

The motivation behind this, you ask? (Now bear with me here – I’ve been waiting all day to use this.)

Simply – skittles!

(There, I’m done. You can relax. No more terrible alliterations.)

More specifically, the Skittles Web Service. This website will be designed to provide an order form, allowing visitors to order skittles. When an order is submitted, the requested number of each skittle color will be translated into commands, which are then sent to an Arduino, which in its turn controls servos and actuators on a skittle dispenser. Basically – it’s a candy-dispensing robot. Count me in!

Game-U’s CTO was helpful enough to spend an hour walking our Robotics students through troubleshooting processes, connections, and more. Thanks Tommy!

(If you ask me, you should get first crack at the Skittle Web Service when it’s done!)