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I want to disrupt the toaster industry. For way too long I've been getting inconsistently toasted toast out of my toaster. My idea is to introduce cameras into

I want to disrupt the toaster industry. For way too long I've been getting inconsistently toasted toast out of my toaster. My idea is to introduce cameras into the toaster that are used to recognize when the perfect amount of toasting has been applied. It is a way better approach than just using a timer. I have a few problems to solve...

pschuegr 4y ago
Hey, I'm interested in toaster industry disruption, but more from the angle of making something that is just well built and will last. This is currently below the threshold of "I'm going to do something about it", but if you need someone to bounce ideas off, hit me up!
bambax 4y ago
There must be a strong correlation between the surface temperature of the bread, the time it stays at that temp, and the level of toasting? Maybe an infrared thermostat that would report the surface temperature of the bread would work?
- bigbluedots 4y ago
  Yes for sure, although I am interested in using something like OpenCV along with some feedback mechanism to turn the individual wires of the element up or down depending on the progress. Surface temperature would be a good average but that may not give toast that's consistently toasted to the same amount across its surface.
starwatch 4y ago
I'd recommend you have a read about the "Sunbeam Radiant Toaster" first released in 1948 [0]! > When you stick a piece of bread into this toaster, it pushes down a series of cleverly designed levers that have just enough tension to lower and raise two slices all by themselves — and it’s got a mechanical thermostat inside that stops your bread toasting when it’s toasted and ready, NOT after some arbitrary amount of time. [0]: https://www.theverge.com/22801890/sunbeam-radiant-control-toaster-t20-t35-vista https://www.theverge.com/22801890/sunbeam-radiant-control-to...
- bigbluedots 4y ago
  This looks amazing, I'll have to get my hands on one! Thank you

pschuegr 4y ago

Hey, I'm interested in toaster industry disruption, but more from the angle of making something that is just well built and will last. This is currently below the threshold of "I'm going to do something about it", but if you need someone to bounce ideas off, hit me up!

bambax 4y ago

There must be a strong correlation between the surface temperature of the bread, the time it stays at that temp, and the level of toasting? Maybe an infrared thermostat that would report the surface temperature of the bread would work?

bigbluedots 4y ago
Yes for sure, although I am interested in using something like OpenCV along with some feedback mechanism to turn the individual wires of the element up or down depending on the progress. Surface temperature would be a good average but that may not give toast that's consistently toasted to the same amount across its surface.

starwatch 4y ago

I'd recommend you have a read about the "Sunbeam Radiant Toaster" first released in 1948 [0]! > When you stick a piece of bread into this toaster, it pushes down a series of cleverly designed levers that have just enough tension to lower and raise two slices all by themselves — and it’s got a mechanical thermostat inside that stops your bread toasting when it’s toasted and ready, NOT after some arbitrary amount of time. [0]: https://www.theverge.com/22801890/sunbeam-radiant-control-toaster-t20-t35-vista https://www.theverge.com/22801890/sunbeam-radiant-control-to...

bigbluedots 4y ago
This looks amazing, I'll have to get my hands on one! Thank you