Automated Inventory Machine for Loading and Unloading of Rice/ Richmond V. Manaig, Gypsy Lyn M. Vista, Clark Denniel V. Velez, Neil Andrei C. Infante, and Charles Cholo F. Jacinto..-

Bachelor's Thesis

College of Industrial Technology..- Bachelor of Engineering Technology Major in Electronics Technology: Technological University of the Philippines, 2025.

Includes bibliographic references and index.

Access to staple food such as rice must be convenient, hygienic, and accurate; however,
traditional rice retailing methods rely heavily on manual dispensing and handling, which
often lead to measurement inaccuracies, contamination risks, and operational
inefficiencies. This study addresses the research gap in automated, small-scale rice
distribution systems by designing and developing an automated rice vending machine that
ensures precise dispensing, reliable payment processing, and real-time inventory
monitoring. The primary objective of the study is to improve accuracy, hygiene, and
efficiency in rice distribution through automation. The system was developed using an
Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller integrated with coin and bill acceptors, a stepper
motor for controlled dispensing, an ultrasonic sensor for inventory monitoring, a GSM
module for notifications, and a user interface composed of an LCD and push-button
controls. A prototyping approach was employed, followed by experimental testing focusing
on dispensing accuracy, payment recognition accuracy, and inventory monitoring
reliability. Results showed that the system achieved a 100% pass rate in dispensing
accuracy for 0.5 kg, 1 kg, and 2 kg rice selections across nine trials. Inventory monitoring
also demonstrated 100% accuracy, with system-recorded values perfectly matching manual
measurements. Additionally, the payment system accurately recognized all tested
Philippine coin (₱1, ₱5, ₱10, ₱20) and bill denominations (₱20, ₱50, ₱100), achieving a
100% recognition rate under controlled conditions. These findings confirm the system’s
reliability, functional correctness, and operational efficiency. The study concludes that the
automated rice vending machine is a viable solution for improving food accessibility,
minimizing human error, and enhancing hygiene, aligning with the research agendas of the
Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero
Hunger).

Keywords: Automated Rice Vending Machine, Arduino-Based System, Inventory
Monitoring, Payment Recognition, UN SDG 2