BJU Faculty and Staff Members Patent Cashless Vending System
Thanks to the ingenuity of Dave Wilson, Don Congdon and James Knisely, BJU faculty, staff and students can purchase food and drinks out of vending machines with their ID cards.
The Patent
Wilson and Knisely, members of the BJU science and math faculty, and Congdon, a BJU Press editor, combined their expertise to devise a system that could read ID numbers and charge the dollar amount to the corresponding account. The invention was patented in Nov. of 2008.
“Patents demonstrate that those in your academic program are active in industry and keeping up with current design ideas and methodologies,” Congdon said. “A department in which its faculty are receiving patents is one that has a strong practical side as well as a sound academic one. Students who study under this kind of environment will be able to enter industry better prepared and with a shorter learning curve.”
The System
For authentication and purchasing, the system utilizes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) method, which is more reliable and efficient than the magnetic stripes used in most credit or debit card systems. All vending machines on campus are networked to one central processing unit which validates the card information and then lets the user make a purchase.
This same system is also installed on the residence hall washers and dryers. Instead of having to amass quarters, students can scan their ID card, and the charge is applied directly to their school bills.
Experience
“The experience to us is invaluable,” said Wilson. “It affects our teaching. At BJU, what we know may potentially become a solution to a problem and a viable off-the-shelf product if someone gives us the opportunity to work on it. We give our students not just information but insight on practical experience in our classes.”
