Blog #2
Progress Blog #2
The device faces several key constraints in the design that we must consider. First, its size must be compact enough to navigate through obstacles like trees and be stored easily. To achieve this, the target dimensions aim to keep the device's length and width under 2 feet. Weight is another critical constraint, as the motor should handle the maximum load while keeping the design lightweight for efficiency. The device must also minimize seed refills, aiming to hold at least 20 pounds of seeds to accommodate the seeding needs of up to 1 acre. A small-scale hopper design is considered for this purpose (Figure 1). Additionally, the device should operate remotely with a sensor range of up to 500 feet to cover the diameter of an acre. To support its electrical components for at least 30 minutes of continuous operation without recharging, the device requires a robust power supply. A rigid structure and a mounted wide-angle camera for remote use in various terrains are essential for the customer’s optimal usage. The plowing mechanism, similar to Figure 2, needs to perforate the soil at a depth of ½ inch to accommodate seeds up to 1/4th inch in length, optimizing germination conditions. Soil moisture levels between 30-70% are required for the device to operate, and spiked wheels are proposed to be able to navigate in the damp soil without the device getting stuck. Finally, the device's budget is constrained to $600, aligning with the client's financial considerations and the costs of existing solutions. These constraints shape the design goals and parameters of the device for its intended small-scale applications.
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| Figure 1: Small Hopper |
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| Figure 2: Tow Spiker/Seeder/Spreader |
The technical tasks include choosing an appropriate motor through load analysis, designing a lightweight yet sturdy main structure using FEA analysis, selecting a suitable battery based on power requirements, determining the optimal seed drop rate for effective seed dispersion, and calculating the wheel diameter based on desired speed and motor torque output.
The hopper selection and its performance would help us determine how well our device performs the coverage constraint. If the hopper can hold 20 pounds and disperse the seeds at the rate we require, it will contribute to solving our key challenges. We also want to perform a motor selection analysis which will help us in covering our weight constraint. The battery selection analysis will analyze the power requirements which will help us accomplish meeting our power source goal of functioning for at least 30 minutes of continuous use. The wheel size selection analysis is used to determine the required diameter of the wheel based on the desired speed and torque of the device. This analysis will help with the constraint of being usable on different terrains since optimal tire selection will reduce the chances of the device getting stuck.
Some soft challenges our team identified include safety and quality of the design. In addition to meeting all of our technical goals, we want to ensure that the device will be safe for the customer to operate. It is important to account for potential fly-away pieces that may detach after multiple uses. This consideration also takes into account the quality of the design since it should be properly assembled together to guarantee optimal usage for the customer. Another factor that is important in our design is to include simple controls so that it is easily operable. The functions should be pretty basic to avoid any confusion or misuse. As we are placing the different components on our vehicle, we should consider placing them in optimal locations to allow for easy access to disassemble if a part replacement is necessary. In terms of time management, our team needs to account for any unexpected disturbances or obstacles in our design phases which could include access to resources such as a welder.
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