A smart pharmaceutical vending machine that aims to address the unavailability of basic pharmaceuticals and ensure their accessibility in situations where pharmacies are closed or unavailable. By integrating microcontrollers, actuators, and advanced technologies, we automate the dispensing and payment processes to provide convenience and reliability.

Our application offers users interactive real-time tracking map that allows them to locate and navigate to vending machines with complete route guidance and live updates. This project includes an interactive robotic system that simulates customer-device communication with our vending machines. And our customers are always updated through push notifications about new stock additions to nearby vending machines.

User Stories

Customer

• As a Customer, I want to locate nearby vending machines, so I can quickly access essential pharmaceuticals when pharmacies are closed.
• As a Customer, I want to browse available medicines and their details, so I can find and select the medication I need.
• As a Customer, I want the system to guide me to the machine and allow me to shop and dispense medicantions of my choice.

Admin

• As an admin, I want to manage and monitor the stock levels in vending machines, so I can restock them promptly to avoid shortages.
• As an admin, I want to review and analyze sales data, so I can identify trends and improve vending machine performance.
• As an admin, I want the vending machine inventory to be updated in real time and reflected accurately to users, ensuring credibility and trust in the system.
  
  

PharmaVend thrived using the below stacks

PharmaVend is -built using the following technologies:

• This project uses the Flutter app development framework. Flutter is a cross-platform hybrid app development platform which allows us to use a single codebase for apps on mobile, desktop, and the web.

• For backend development, the app uses Laravel, a PHP-based framework known for its scalability and robust API handling capabilities.

• The user and admin panel websites are built using React, a front-end library that delivers a dynamic and interactive interface.

• Both the Flutter application and the user admin panel employ Redux for state management. This predictable state container facilitates the handling of state across all user interfaces, enhancing manageability and cleanliness in dynamic and complex applications.

• The application enhances its functionality with several Google APIs, each serving a unique purpose:

  • Maps JavaScript API: Provides interactive maps and location features on the application and admin panels.
  • Geolocation API: Allows the app to retrieve the current location of the user by accepting an HTTPS request with the cell tower and WiFi access points that a mobile client can detect.
  • Distance Matrix API.: Calculates travel distance and time for a matrix of origins and destinations, useful for managing delivery times and logistics.
  • Directions API: Supplies route directions between multiple locations which are used to plot navigational routes on the map.
  • Reverse Geocoding API: Converts geographic coordinates into a human-readable address.

• The project leverages Firebase, a comprehensive app development platform by Google, known for its wide array of tools and services:

  • Google Sign in: Integrated for secure and quick user authentication using Google accounts.
  • Firebase Cloud Messaging: Used for dispatching notifications to enhance user interaction and app communication.

• For secure and efficient payment processing, the application integrates Stripe, a powerful online payment platform, enabling financial transactions within the app.

• The IoT integration is powered by the Arduino Platform, utilizing the ESP32 microcontroller to control actuators for precise and reliable dispensing of products.

We designed PharmaVend using wireframes and mockups, iterating on the design until we reached the ideal layout for easy navigation and a seamless user experience.

• Project Figma design.

Mockups

Home Screen	Map Screen	Checkout Screen

Below you can see PharmaVend's DB design:

Below you can see PharmaVend in action:

User Screens (Mobile)

Visual Overview

Login Screen	Register Screen	Landing Screen

Notification Screen	Home Screen	Map Screen

Product Detail Screen	Cart Display Screen	Checkout Screen

User History Screen	Product Dispense Screen

Interactive Walkthrough

Sign Up Demo	Google Signin Demo	Find Closest Machine

Order Demo	Search medicine Demo	Notification Update

Closest Map Navigation	Machine Map Navigation	Pay Online Demo

Admin Screens (Web)

Visual Overview

Dashboard Screen #1	Dashboard Screen #2

Orders Screen #1	Orders Screen #2

Inventory Screen #1	Inventory Screen #2

Machines Screen	Products Screen

Customers Screen #1	Customers Screen #2

Interactive Walkthrough

Dashboard Dashboard

Machine Navigation

Machine Create

Machine Handeling

Charts Navigation

Customer Screen (Web)

Unleashing the Potential with AWS Integration:

• This project utilizes AWS deployment strategies, specifically using an EC2 instance to host and manage the Laravel server, focusing on scalability, reliability, and performance. Additionally, testing was conducted using Postman to ensure the server's functionality and responsiveness across various use cases.

Login	Add Machine

Get Product	Get Transaction

AWS EC2 Server Deployment (Laravel)

1. Install PuTTY
2. If necessary transform .pem to .ppk file using PuTTYgen
3. Open PuTTY and connect to the server using SSH
4. Install essential packages and dependencies

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
   sudo apt install -y php-cli php-mbstring php-xml php-bcmath php-curl php-zip \ apache2 mysql-server unzip curl git composer

5. Set Up Apache and MySQL

   sudo a2enmod rewrite 
   sudo systemctl restart apache2

6. Clone the Laravel Project

   cd /var/www/html/
   sudo git clone https://github.com/jeanpierrenashef/PharmaVend-server/
   cd PharmaVend-server

7. Install and Configure Composer

   curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | sudo php -- --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer
   sudo composer update
   sudo composer install   

8. Configure Environment File

   sudo cp .env.example .env
   sudo nano .env
   sudo php artisan key:generate

9. Apache Configurations:
   • Navigate to:

     sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/000-default.conf

   • Add the following:

     <Directory /var/www/html/PharmaVend-server/public>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride all
        Require all granted
     </Directory>

   • Then Navigate to:

     sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/000-default.conf

   • Add the following:

     ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost 
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/PharmaVend-server/public

   • After all that you have to restart:

     sudo service apache2 restart

10. Adjust permissions to allow Laravel to write to necessary directories.

    sudo chgrp -R www-data storage bootstrap/cache
    sudo chmod -R ug+rwx storage bootstrap/cache

• (Optional incase of any errors faced)

  sudo apt install apache2 libapache2-mod-php
  sudo a2enmod rewrite sudo a2ensite laravel.conf 
  sudo systemctl restart apache2

11. Reset MySQL root password for initial setup. (Ubuntu installed SQL without asking for password, so i had to force reset our SQL password)
    In order to do, these steps were followed:

    sudo mysql
    ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'your_secure_password';
    FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
    EXIT;

    • To verify that the new MySQL password works:

      mysql -u root -p

12. Execute Laravel migrations to set up the database schema:

    php artisan migrate

13. Populate the database with initial data:

    php artisan db:seed

Harnessing the Power of Unit Testing:

• This project employs rigorous unit testing methodologies to ensure the reliability and accuracy of code components. By systematically evaluating individual units of the software, we guarantee a robust foundation, identifying and addressing potential issues early in the development process.

Unit Test 1	Unit Test 2

Unit Test 3	Unit Test 4

• We implemented feature tests using Laravel's built-in testing framework, which is powered by PHPUnit. These tests simulated real-world scenarios and interactions with the application, allowing us to verify all our methods.

• From the output of the php artisan test command, it is evident that tests have passed.

Streamlining Development with GitHub Actions: Seamless CI/CD Integration

• To ensure the reliability and efficiency of PharmaVend, we have implemented a comprehensive CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions. This automated process streamlines our workflow, enhancing code quality and accelerating deployment cycles.

1. Local Unit Testing
   • Initially, unit tests were conducted locally on the PharmaVend project to verify and ensure the expected functionality of various methods. This step helped catch potential issues early in the development cycle. (This step is displayed in the previous section Unit Testing)

2. Continuous Integration (CI) on GitHub
   • Once the local tests were successful, the code was pushed to GitHub, where automated tests were triggered on a remote machine. This process verifies the integrity of the codebase in an isolated environment, ensuring compatibility across different platforms and configurations.

3. Continuous Deployment (CD) to the Server
   • Upon successful completion of the CI phase, the code was automatically deployed to the production server. The deployment process ensures that the PharmaVend server receives the latest tested and validated code without manual intervention. This automation guarantees consistency and minimizes downtime.

- By leveraging GitHub Actions, we have established an automated pipeline where every code push is rigorously tested and seamlessly deployed.

To build PharmaVend prototype, follow these steps:

Electrical Components Connections

I. Stepper Motor with A4988 IC Conenction

• 1- Prerequesits

  • ESP32/8266 module
  • Stepper Motor (preferable Nema 17)
  • Stepper Motor Driver A4988 IC
  • Battery (9-12V)

• 2- Overview

  • Stepper Motor phase output pin order: The stepper motor in our application have a wiring of A+, A-, B+ and B- which power the phase in proper sequence.

  • MSx pins on the A4988 driver IC: The driver IC contains three input pins. You can set the pins to control the micro-stepping resolution.

    MS1	MS2	MS3	Microstep Resolution	Excitation Mode
    L	L	L	Full Step	2 phase <---Method Utilizied
    H	L	L	Half Step	1-2 phase
    L	H	L	Quarter Step	W1-2 phase
    H	H	L	Eight Step	2W1-2 phase
    H	H	H	Sixteenth Step	4W1-2 phase

• 3- Connections

  A4988 Connections	ESP32 Pins	Stepper Motor Connections
  DIR	GPIO 15
  STEP	GPIO 2
  ENABLE	GPIO 13
  VCC	3.3V/5V
  GND	GND	GND
  Motor Output A+		Coil 1+
  Motor Output A-		Coil 1-
  Motor Output B+		Coil 2+
  Motor Output B-		Coil 2-

II. Linear DC Motors with L298n Driver

• 1- Prerequesits

  • ESP32/8266 module
  • 2x Linear DC Motors
  • Motor Driver L298n Driver
  • Battery (9-12V)

• 2- Overview

  • DC Motor Configurations: If you want to build a robot car using 2 DC motors, these should be rotating in specific directions to make the robot go left, right, forward, or backward.

  DIRECTION	INPUT 1	INPUT 2	INPUT 3	INPUT 4
  Forward	0	1	0	1
  Backward	1	0	1	0
  Right	0	1	0	0
  Left	0	0	1	0
  Stop	0	0	0	0

• 3- Connections

  Description	ESP32 Pin	L298N Connection	Note
  Motor 1 Extend	GPIO 26	Input 1	Motor 1 direction
  Motor 1 Retract	GPIO 27	Input 2	Motor 1 direction
  Motor 1 Enable	GPIO 13	Enable 1	Enable Motor 1
  Motor 2 Forward	GPIO 33	Input 3	Motor 2 direction
  Motor 2 Backward	GPIO 32	Input 4	Motor 2 direction
  Motor 2 Enable	EN	Enable 2	Enable Motor 2
  Power Supply (VCC)		VCC	9V DC Battery
  Ground (GND)		GND	Common ground connection

III. Combined Connection of the whole robotic system

Mechanical Engineering Design

• The design was initially modeled using SOLIDWORKS, a mechanical engineering design software. This process facilitated the transition from digital design and modeling of the system to manufacturing and assembling the actual components.

Visual Overview of the system

Interactive Walkthrough of the system

Real Time Demo

I. Dispensing from mobile

• The user is 13 meters away from the Ghobeiri Machine, when they try to dispense an order they placed in Jbeil, it doesnt allow them. After that the user then dispenses Magnessium in the Ghobeiry pharmacy.

II. Real Life Demo grabbing the Magnessium medicine.

• The robotic system recieves the signal, and the Stepper motor navigates the platfrom to the Magnessium shelf, activates the Linear motor and the Magnessium medicine is pushed down to be collected.

To set up PharmaVend locally, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

This is an example of how to list things you need to use the software and how to install them.

• npm

  npm install npm@latest -g

• Flutter SDK
• Composer (for PHP dependencies)
• Arduino IDE
• ESP32/8266 module
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) project with the following enabled:
  • Maps JavaScript
  • Geolocation
  • Distance Matrix
  • Directions
  • Reverse Geocoding
• Firebase CLI

Installation

Cloning the Repository

1. Run the following command to clone the repository and all its submodules

   git clone --recurse-submodules [github](https://github.com/jeanpierrenashef/PharmaVend.git)

Server Configuration (Laravel)

1. Navigate to PharmaVend-server directory

   cd PharmaVend-server

2. Install composer packages

   composer install

3. Run the following command and fill the necessary values in the created .env file

   cp .env.example .env

4. Run the following command to populate the database

   php artisan migrate

5. Start the Laravel development server

   php artisan serve

Application Configuration (Flutter)

1. Install Flutter SDK

2. Navigate to PharmaVend-app directory

   cd PharmaVend-app

3. Install the required packages as defined in the pubspec.yaml file

   flutter pub get

4. Run the following command and fill the necessary values in the created .env file

   cp .env.example .env

5. Make sure Firebase CLI is installed on your machine. If not, install it using the following commands. This CLI tool helps connect your Flutter project with your Firebase project.

   dart pub global activate flutterfire_cli
   flutterfire configure

6. Run the Flutter application

   flutter run

Admin Panel Configuration (ReactJS)

1. Navigate to PharmaVend-adminPanel directory

   cd PharmaVend-adminPanel

2. Install NPM packages

   npm install

3. Run the following command and fill the necessary values in the created .env file

   cp .env.example .env

4. Run the React project

   npm run start

Arduino Configuration

1. Navigate to PharmaVend-IoT directory

   cd PharmaVend-IoT

2. Set the variables in wifi.cpp file according to your network and sever

   const char* ssid = "<Network-ssid>";
   const char* password = "<Network-password>";

3. Follow the steps mentioned above in the IoT System section for connections

And with all that you should be able to run PharmaVend and explore all its features.