Gigabyte Introduces Embedded Mini-PC Vending Solution

Gigabyte has developed a new vending solution based on Intel’s IoT retail gateway reference design for intelligent vending. The solution uses an imbedded mini-PC, designed to work with next-gen vending machines, with features such as built-in digital signage, encrypted transactions over Internet, and interactive touchscreens. These innovative adoptions are expected to benefit vending operators with more efficient management and may bring in a new income source from advertising and other emerging business models.

To address this evolving market, GIGABYTE has partnered with Intel to offer an Intelligent Vending Solution based on the Intel IoT Retail Gateway Reference Design for Intelligent Vending, which is a turnkey solution made of:

The GB-BXBT-3825 IoT gateway, which enables the connectivity between legacy devices and intelligent infrastructures.

The GB-TCV1A vending machine controller associated with a vending machine API providing a level of abstraction that allows vending operators to focus on high level applications, such as user interface.

The vending machine I/O expansion board to communicate between the GB-TCV1A and machine peripherals.

Key to the new vending solution is the GB-BXBT-3825 IoT Gateway (below).

By integrating the technologies and protocols for networking, security, and manageability on the GB-BXBT-3825, we offer vending operators a key building block to rapidly replace legacy systems. The GB-BXBT-3825 is a computer platform based on the Intel Atom processor E3825. Through the onboard software stack validated by Intel, the GB-BXBT-3825 is the ideal foundation for a fast development of intelligent vending machines. It provides:

• Connectivity bridging between legacy equipment and the cloud.
• Data acquisition from terminals and pre-filtering for further delivery.
• A hardware security root providing trust, data encryption, and software protection.

At the heart of our Intelligent Vending Solution is the GB-TCV1A computer powered by an Intel Atom E3815 single-core processor. It delivers high I/O connectivity such as HDMI output for digital advertising, LVDS for low cost touch screen, USB 2.0/3.0 for printing and other consumer-level interactions. Associated with a vending machine API, the GB-TCV1A provides a consistent programming interface regardless of the underlying hardware. It helps the application to work across disparate machines and all functionality and features are developed as plug-ins and installed to the platform. It enables the vending machines to be capable of:

• Multimedia interactivity
• Cash / cashless payment and identity-based validation
• Digital signage
• Video analytics

The GC-SSP Vending Machine I/O Expansion Board (below) offers a broad range of vending interfaces to scale to both newer interactive vending platforms as well as traditional vending machines. It handles protocol conversion and provides a high-level of I/O flexibility.

“The Vending & Dispensing Industry is looking to integrate more and more product capabilities into machines to meet the needs of vending operators, brands and of course the consumer”, says Intel’s Jose Avalos, worldwide director of Visual Retail. “The Intel IoT Retail Gateway Reference Design for Intelligent Vending offers a significant breakthrough to the vending and dispensing sector through workload consolidation of all computing, control and telemetry onto a single platform, simplifying machine architecture and providing flexibility to easily integrate the latest technologies such as touch, gesture, payment, social media, mobile and cloud based services.”

Gigabyte, with the help of Intel, is making great strides in pushing vending machines into the 21^st Century with its Intelligent Vending Solution. The Internet of Things is coming to a vending machine near you.