Design a Sequential Vending-Machine Controller in VHDL
Overview
What this challenge is about.
Design a VHDL vending-machine controller with coin handling, change, and cancel. Write a testbench and synthesize for FPGA to earn your verifiable certificate.
The scenario
The vending-machine manufacturer (privately held, Spanish-speaking, hires hardware engineers from 3 local universities) wants the controller to be a teaching artifact, not just a working design.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Design a Mealy/Moore VHDL FSM for a 4-product vending machine with coin handling, change return, and a 7-segment display, synthesized on Cyclone V.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Choose between Mealy and Moore FSMs with justified reasoning
- Implement and verify a sequential controller in VHDL
- Cover all paths in a testbench including cancel and over-payment
- Synthesize for a non-Xilinx vendor toolchain
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
Aligned coursework coming soon.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
- Vhdl
Apply vhdl to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Fsm Design
Apply fsm design to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Sequential Circuits
Apply sequential circuits to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Fpga
Apply fpga to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- State Diagrams
Apply state diagrams to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Testbench Design
Apply testbench design to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
Careers
Career paths this challenge builds toward
Completing this challenge demonstrates skills that transfer directly to these roles: