Dog foundation

PetSupport lets users contribute to a dog foundation via purchases or donations. With PayPal payments and WebSockets, users activate a vending machine or receive the satisfaction of helping.

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Inspiration

The inspiration for PetRescue came from the desire to create a transparent and interactive way for people to contribute to a dog foundation. By combining technology with social impact, we wanted to make donations more engaging and tangible. The idea is to not only allow donations but also to let users directly interact with the process through a vending machine mechanism.

What it does

PetRescue allows users to contribute to a dog foundation by either purchasing products or making donations. When a transaction is made, it activates a vending machine mechanism or simply lights up a LED to give immediate feedback. The entire process is automated and transparent, ensuring that users can see the direct result of their contribution. It integrates PayPal for secure transactions, Node.js for the backend, WebSockets for real-time communication, and CSS for the styling of the platform.

How we built it

We built the platform using React for the frontend to display products and allow user interactions. The backend was developed with Node.js and integrated with the PayPal API for handling transactions. For the real-time aspect, we used WebSockets to ensure that the machine mechanism responds instantly to the payment status. The machine itself is powered by Arduino IDE with an ESP32 microcontroller to manage the interaction with the hardware (dispensing products, lighting LEDs, etc.). CSS was used to style the platform and ensure a user-friendly experience.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was integrating the real-time communication using WebSockets with the hardware mechanism. Ensuring seamless interaction between the backend, frontend, and the machine was a complex task. Another challenge was implementing a smooth user experience with PayPal transactions while maintaining the necessary security measures. Also, optimizing the system for real-time feedback without any delays was a key challenge.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We successfully created a working prototype of the vending machine system that responds to PayPal payments. The integration of WebSockets allowed us to establish real-time communication, which makes the entire process interactive. The fact that users can see an immediate result of their donation (or purchase) makes the experience more impactful and engaging. We’re proud to have created a system that blends technology with social impact.

What we learned

We learned a lot about integrating different technologies (React, Node.js, PayPal, WebSockets, and hardware like ESP32) to create a seamless and efficient system. We also gained valuable experience in real-time communication and hardware interfacing. The project helped us understand the importance of security in financial transactions and how to ensure a smooth user experience in a complex system.

What's next for Dog foundation

In the future, we plan to expand the system to support multiple dog foundations, allowing users to choose which foundation they want to support. We also aim to integrate more types of products and donation options. Additionally, we want to enhance the hardware by adding features like a more advanced payment system, incorporating QR code scanning for donations, and improving the machine’s sustainability with solar power.

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