This laundromat payment system centralises self-service laundry payment at a single point: a central laundry payment terminal that communicates over Zigbee with every machine. The Zigbee laundry network provides wireless washing machine control for washers and dryers alike, simplifying self-service washing machine control and self-service laundromat management, and the same concept works for any self-service payment system with multiple machines.
The hub communicates wirelessly over Zigbee with a network of remote units installed on the washing machines, dryers and other laundry resources. Once payment has been validated, the system authorises the selected service and sends the corresponding command to the associated remote unit.
The platform uses FreeRTOS as its real-time operating system, so payment processes, wireless communications and control of the different machines on site can all be managed simultaneously.
Centralised payment system
The hub replaces an architecture in which every machine has its own independent payment system with a centralised payment solution.
The user selects the service or machine they wish to use and pays at the central terminal. Once the transaction has been validated, the hub identifies the corresponding machine and authorises its use.
This architecture simplifies site management and centralises the logic associated with payments, pricing, authorisations and service activation.
Wireless control of washing machines and dryers
Communication between the hub and the units installed on the machines takes place over a Zigbee wireless network.
Each remote unit can be paired with a washing machine, dryer or other resource on site and act as the interface between the wireless network and the machine's control electronics.
This reduces the need to run communication cabling between the payment terminal and each machine.
Zigbee network
Zigbee provides a low-power wireless infrastructure that is particularly well suited to connecting multiple devices within the same installation.
The hub coordinates communication with the different nodes and can identify each laundry resource individually.
The architecture can be scaled to the number of machines installed, making it easy to expand the system by adding new nodes.
Managing multiple machines
A single hub can manage a set of remote units distributed around the laundromat.
Each node can have its own identifier, so payment transactions can be linked to a specific machine or service.
This architecture makes it straightforward to deploy systems with multiple washing machines and dryers controlled from a single payment terminal.
Integration with different payment methods
The electronics can act as the interface between the laundry control system and different payment technologies.
Embedded architecture with FreeRTOS
The firmware is built on FreeRTOS, with the unit's different functions organised as independent tasks.
The system can concurrently handle Zigbee communication, event processing, control of payment peripherals, service authorisation and supervision of the remote units.
Using a real-time operating system provides a robust architecture for equipment that must run continuously in unattended installations.
Scalable installations
The distributed architecture allows the system to be adapted to laundromats of different sizes.
New machines can be added by pairing new remote nodes with the hub, without having to rebuild the entire payment infrastructure.
This simplifies both the initial installation and any future expansion of the laundromat.
Applications
The system is designed specifically for self-service and coin-operated laundromats, although its architecture can be adapted to other installations where payment needs to be centralised and access to different machines authorised remotely.
The concept also applies to self-service systems, shared machinery and other installations where a single payment point must control multiple resources.
Technical specifications
| Function | Payment centralisation |
|---|---|
| Main application | Self-service laundromats |
| Communication with remote units | Zigbee |
| Architecture | Hub + remote nodes |
| Operating system | FreeRTOS |
| Management | Multiple machines |
| Activation | Remote service authorisation |
| ccTalk interface | Available depending on configuration |
| Pulse interface | Available depending on configuration |
| Expansion | Addition of new nodes |
| Operation | Autonomous / continuous |
