diy redbox??

Projects General Guidance
1

Im working on a project that will hopefully allow others to capitalize on a dvd rental kiosks...before its too late the business model shifts again in another 5 years (or less) and we're all streaming digital content.

renting a redbox requires anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 per machine. The machine itself is very simple. A metal locking cabinet houses a giant rotating spindle containing the dvds. once a customer picks the dvd the spindle rotates to the appropriate slot to line up with the extraction device. this device is probably just a simple dvd shaped box with tracks on the top and bottom to gently caress the dvd from the spindle, into the ejection slot. im assuming there is some kind of locking spring in the spindle that slightly pushes out the dvd into the extraction device. when a dvd is returned the spring snaps back into position to hold the dvd in place.

im pretty sure this could be done with arduinos and legos, and of course a computer. hardest part would be making the spindle and testing it with the extraction device. other than that its very simplistic and can be made for a LOT less than $20,000

worthwhile venture or waste of time?

2

The RedBox also has bar code tags on each DVD giving each a unique serial number. The boxes are networked so that they can determine what DVD has been returned and to allow online reservations. They also need a way to charge credit cards for rentals and to charge for overdue returns.

3

there will be a credit card reader attached to the pos machine (the pc) as per the usual rental vanilla eula, customer will be charged each additional day that dvd is checked out.

4

You sound like you probably already know this, but I figured i'd mention it just in case. Make sure you check your federal laws on video rentals. Most of the time you are not allowed to rent retail DVDs, you have to purchase "special" DVDs from the studios at a higher cost (since they assume you will be making money off multiple sales). Thats where a lot of the cost comes from when you purchase this type of machine.