In this chapter, we will build our very own control system from scratch. We will start by acquiring the required equipment and the software, and then move on to the project ladder logic and electrical wiring to create our very own robotic bartender. The robot bartender will allow patrons to press an industrial push button to select from a menu of beverages.

After a drink is selected, the robot bartender will use peristaltic dosing pumps to dispense the appropriate amount of liquid through food-grade silicone tubes into a glass. If you realize that you have selected the wrong beverage, you can always hit the emergency stop button to shut down the current beverage that is being dispensed. It is a very simple and yet extremely rewarding project.

In the first section of this chapter, we will review the technical requirements for building our robot bartender.