Touchless Soda Valve

I played a key role in the design, prototyping, and testing of a touchless soda dispensing system, which has since been deployed globally, including at all In-N-Out Burger locations. My contributions spanned from early concept validation to final production testing, ensuring the system was both reliable and scalable for high-volume customer use.

I was responsible for all CAD modeling in Autodesk Inventor, designing the aesthetics and structural elements to create a visually appealing and functional housing. I ensured that the design complemented existing soda machines while providing seamless integration for touchless operation.

I began by 3D printing and assembling the first working prototypes, incorporating Arduino, relays, IR sensors, and other electronic components to validate the core touchless concept. As development progressed, I built fully functional 3D-printed prototypes to test fitment, aesthetics, software integration, and electrical reliability.

To ensure long-term durability, I built a custom testing unit, using a servo to systematically block the IR sensors and verify their accuracy. This rigorous testing ensured that the detection system maintained less than a 0.01% error rate while enduring 1.2 million activation cycles—a process that required going through six servos.

To optimize real-world performance, I conducted extensive sunlight exposure tests, rotating the system outdoors to confirm its ability to function in high-exposure environments like theme parks. I also designed and built multiple production versions, each accommodating different valve styles, ultimately leading to three distinct models for different dispenser configurations.

This project was an incredible opportunity to combine mechanical design, electrical engineering, software integration, and aesthetic development to create a highly functional and widely adopted commercial product. Seeing customers around the world using a system I helped develop was an immensely rewarding experience.