The Raspberry Pi Microwave
Thanks to everyone who sent me a link to this today. Nathan Broadbent has turned his microwave into an Internet of Things microwave, with voice control, charming bingly bongly noises, a barcode scanner to look up cooking times on an online database, a touchscreen, iPad controls, a clock that’s synced to the internet, a habit of tweeting when dinner is ready, and much more. You’ll need to watch the video to believe it. Bonus points, Nathan, for making an honest-to-god raspberry pie in the thing.
Full instructions on hacking your own microwave are on Nathan’s blog.
30 comments
Gordon Henderson
Talky toaster, anyone?
Please… nooooooo…….
-Gordon
liz
I resent the implication that I’m a one-dimensional, bread-obsessed electrical appliance.
Mikael Murstam
Haha I want to make a toaster that says “Oh yeah, that feels good!” when you put toast in it :D :D :D And saying “Tadaaa!” when they pop up :D
Rick
Given that God is infinite, and that the universe is also infinite… would you like a toasted teacake?
GJS
Anyone know how the new keypad overlay was made? There are no details in the blog, apart from the phylosophy for the layout.
Rick
Looks like a printout of twitter bootstrap buttons to me lol
dan3008
I dont know if this is the ultimate in too lazy to set the microwave to the right settings, or the ultimate munchie machine :D
Dave
This is way cool. This man has a bright future ahead of him I am sure. I can imagine all of the large microwave manufacturers getting in on this this and then charging a small monthly subscription fee for access to the cooking database. I’d buy one.
Very original, I love it.
Dave
Oh and just a quick thought for an addition. If the microwave could identify its select its appropriate power rating also that would be cool.
We’ve all seen the meals that microwave one way on 650watt and another on 700watt.
Dylan Pank
You do realise you’re just building the machines that are going to rise up against us and enslave us one day.
CPslashM
You’re assuming we could do anything which they would consider sufficiently worthwhile to let us live on as slaves…
another dave
Am I correct assuming that as the ipad had a website open in chrome to control the microwave, that this could be controlled on any old computer?
GJS
Correct. See the blog for details.
killor
This great genius, I recalled an idea I had for many years on a refrigerator inventory application.
Using a barcode reader, a computer and an internet connection.
For thus making the purchase of the week. online at the supermarket.
Now using the RPI this seems very feasible…
Alan
Ah yes, in my new kitchen I have provisioned a cat5 lead but not to the fridge, to the bin, it really knows what you have run out of.
liz
That’s actually much more intuitive than using the fridge. Roo Reynolds notes that the Internet Fridge is an idea every single appliance manufacturer seems to have had, and thinks it’s stupid. He has a tumblr to that effect.
Simon D
Doesn’t that presuppose that all your food is barcoded. What if you buy loose?
I suppose you could release some GM mackerel so that at least they could be scanned.
killor
It is Right! For products in bulk, you can get a tupperware or boxes with a barcode for them.
I would apply in the kitchen, a system of “chaotic storage work”, as does their FBA AMAZON.
CPslashM
Use a sharp knife to cut barcodes into carrots.
Steve
Excellent project, well thought out and professionally finished, it must have been fun to do – well done Nathan.
Can’t help noticing the kiwi tells – http://madebynathan.com/images/posts/2013/07/ingredients-resized-thumb.jpg – the Edmonds cornflower and tupperware gives it away – I haven’t seen them in years :)
Tom
I liked best the part where the Pi told him to open and stir, then close the door again.
And the Pie looks delicious.
Rob V
has anyone coined the term “thingternet?”
Fave
Microwaves are very dangerous items the voltage from the transformers to the magnetron are extremely high and no one should be taking the covers off unless they are qualified to do so in the uk. There are laws preventing the supply of components for this exact reason
Andrew
Surely this needs a robot arm to insert, remove, stir etc? It’d have to be next to the fridge or freezer so the robot arm can reach. If it was next to your armchair or workstation it could even feed you and remove the detritus!
Conundrum
Wonder if the chemistry labs would be interested in this hack? I seem to recall reading a couple of papers about hacking domestic microwaves for doing chemical reactions.
AndrewS
It’s only a couple of steps away from a StarTrek replicator :-)
Max Power
I can’t see a talking appliance without thinking of the Carousel of Progress’ oven setting its contents on fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Mx5worI2UgE#t=1196s
oztrailrider
This is an awesome project. I am very envious, I am continuously amazed at the uses people are coming up with for Pi’s!. Good work.
Jim Manley
With OpenCV now available in beta, how about using the PiCam to scan the barcode or even front of the package of what’s being cooked, look up the cooking power/duration on the Thingernet, and then proceed to dematerialize what little food value may have been in the ingredients to begin with, which are carefully manufactured to be inedible by bacteria, bugs, vermin, etc. :P
I’m surprised he didn’t use a HAL9000 voice to say, “I’m sorry Dave, I can’t cook that.”, when it was provided a product not in the cooking database :lol:
AmEv
“Hydrate to level 4, please.”
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