Innovating Vending Machine Through Object Detection for Currency Recognition and Enhanced Cash Handling
Ahmad Farooq, Muhammad Imran · 2023
Advancements in technology have transformed vending machines into active and autonomous devices. In recent years, vending machines have become essential as a standalone and low-maintenance system because malls and stores are not open 24 hours a day. However, in countries such as Pakistan, widespread adoption of vending machines is limited due to a lack of local manufacturing support. This study introduces a cutting-edge vending machine in order to establish an affordable, pioneering embedded system. This research presents a bill acceptor that employs a transfer learning model of object detection (FOMO) for currency recognition and authentication through an ESP 32-CAM within a mechanical cash transit system. The commercial bill acceptor, which is not readily available in Pakistan, can be replaced by the proposed bill acceptor. By offering a bill acceptor as an initial approach, which has a 71% accuracy rate through edge impulse testing and realtime trials, this study seeks to revolutionize the vending sector. This prototype is the first step towards overcoming a fundamental obstacle in local manufacturing of vending machines.