I need help with a student project – creating a smart nicotine inhaler.

Hi Guys,
I am a product designer at university here in Brighton, UK. I usually only work on the design of products and not the electronic function, however i want to make a prototype of an electrical system to prove and idea.
Now please bare in mind i have NO experience in electrical design or components so what i'm asking may seem rudamental or even just stupid. But i would appreciate any advice or help.
I would want to link it to an app that can show when the air is passed through the sensor and when an RFID tag is in place. But for the purpose of this, the bluetooth chip just needs to be active, I do not need the App or the app to work, just needs to be discoverable on bluetooth via iphone.I'm making a prototype of a smart nicotine inhaler, not a vape. It just uses air to suck through a cartridge that has flavoured nicotine inside, much like the Nicorrette Inhalator, but slightly sexier. It also needs to have smart abilities.
When i say smart, i mean that it will have different flavour nicotine cartridges that are inserted, and the device needs to tell what they are when they are inserted. The device also needs to log how many times air passes through the device during the day, so I know how much it might be used.
So to prove the theory, i just want an arduino or circuit board that can do the things i need, as a demonstration. Doesnt matter about size at this point, or how well it functions, just proof of concept at it's most basic.
It needs RFID, Bluetooth and Air sensor, as far as what i can tell so far - and I need to know what components ill need and how to make it, along with the coding, or at least advice on how i might go about doing this.
ANY HELP WOULD BE AMAZING.

Hi Benjamin,I am a retired electronics engineer who tinkers now with modern electronics, I live in Emsworth Hampshire UK not that far from Brighton.If you wanted to discuss this and possible collaboration, I am sure that we can find a way to get one of my e_mail addresses to you.As an Ex nicotine addict, 40 plus years of cold turkey, I will not be testing the system.LOL

Hi Benjamin-If Conrad (AKA Crusty) is interested in working with you that's GREAT!  He really knows what he's doing.At this point if the Bluetooth part just needs to be discoverable from an iPhone, get on eBay and search for "Bluetooth iBeacon".  The are some modules available that are pretty cheap and will go a long way to get you started.BTW- You mentioned both RFID and Bluetooth. These are two different technologies. RFID generally operates without a battery.  It is powered by a nearby RFID reader that generates a magnetic field that gets coupled to a coil that both powers the RFID chip and transmits a small amount of fixed data.  Bluetooth usually operates in the 2.4Ghz RF band, requires a DC power source, and is capable of transmitting changing data over a longer distance.  I think Bluetooth will be more appropriate than RFID for your application. -Rick

Rick,Actually, I think that what Benjamin has in mind is that the nicotine
cartridges would have RFID tags that would be read by the device so he
needs an RFID reader to read the tag as well as Bluetooth to communicate
to the smart phone.Benjamin,
I think you are on the right track for what you will need. A google search of "rfid reader arduino" will give you a number of  tutorials and instructions to get started with for that part of it. Similar searches should give you ideas for the other parts. Most of the tutorials will have code segments that you can use to get started.

Hi Conrad,
I might take you up on that offer once i know where i'm going with this a bit more.

You're spot on elizabeth, the RFID tags would be attached to the cartridges so the system recognises when they are inserted as such. And then the bluetooth module would seperately relay to an iphone.
Good to know im looking along the right lines, i found a few tutorials on RFID which is fairly straight forward, bluetooth modules are proving harder to find... any ideas?
my other main issue is trying to learn how to combine the codes of certain things i've found, some don't seem to merge too well...

My printer has a microchip embedded in each ink cartridge for identity. Also consider the technology of contactless payment cards or in UK terms Oyster travel cards?
Where the power source is kept, decides where the  bluetooth gets its power from lots of other things to consider.

@rick, "He really knows what he's doing."You say the nicest things .Crusty

Benjamin,
A google search of "arduino bluetooth module" turns up a number of tutorials/questions etc. I'd look at those to find bluetooth modules.Another alternative is the Simblee which I believe is programmed similar to arduino. this is a link to a project done using this module.
https://www.embedded.com/electronics-blogs/be...sing-Simblee-Bluetooth-to-improve-one-s-sleep
And finally, Cypress Semiconductor has a version of their PSoC processor with built-in bluetooth. It may not be as easy to get started on as Arduino so may not be as suited for a student project.
http://www.cypress.com/products/psoc-4-ble-bluetooth-smart
As to combining the codes for the different modules. Yes that can be a bit tricky. I'd suggest getting each one working in a minimum fashion before trying to combine them. For example, take the RFID module. You should be able to remove bits of the example code until you have just enough to detect and read an RFID tag data to the serial monitor. That will give you a much better idea of what is needed for that module and how it works.
Best of luck
Elizabeth

Can the cartridge just have so simple binary contacts that mate with the device making for a very simple system and cheap?