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REDBOX AND OTHER VENDING MACHINE COMMUNICATIONS

By Ross Goodall, WD4NJV

Inside the Redbox machines, which seem to me almost everywhere, there is a unique technology present.  These machines hold between an assortment of 500 to 600 Blu-ray, DVD, and game discs.

These discs are loaded in their plastic sleeves by the machine operator. 1, 3  

When the disc is selected by the customer, a carousel inside the machine rotates and a robot arm moves over to select the disc and then it is transported to the dispensing slot.  The QR code is read to verify the correct disc is being dispensed.  The machine's specific data base keeps track of the details of what the disc inventory is, where the disc is located on the carousel. 1 

These machines connect to the internet by DSL or cellular network to handle inventory, billing as well as credit card, debit card and coupon authorization.  Most units have a short antenna on top.  2 

The machines also can be preloaded with discs that have future release dates and programmed to prevent rentals before the release date.  Since discs can be rented at one machine and returned to another machine, it may be possible that the machine may have more discs put into it that the carousel can hold.  This is no problem as the robotic arm can place the extra disc in a tray on the bottom of the machine.  1   

I have noticed that some of the Redbox machines are located outside in harsh environments like Florida and Wisconsin, and these machines appear to be built survive these environments with sun screens, and HVAC systems.

The Redbox machines have brought efficiency to the marketplace and 
have eliminated some jobs and video rental stores such as Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and others.

There are two antennas on the lottery machines and I would also think that the second antenna would be for an alarm service.  Similar technology is being used on soft drink and snack vending machines.  These machines can call for service and when machine needs to be filled or is not working properly.

I talked to a Smart Box vending machine representative and their machine connects by cell phone to their office and a customer can report a machine malfunction using a touch screen on that machine and get from that machine a code to make another selection or get a refund credit.  This machine also gets credit card authorizations via cell connection.

References:
1.  Quora:  What unique Technology is in a Redbox machine

2.  Fastcompany.com:  Little Known Redbox Proves the Power of In-Between Technology

3.  You Tube:  Redbox Kiosk-How it is Made  (how they are restocked)