Week 11 : Fri 7/14 - Fri 7/21
Total Hrs - 49.5 Hrs
Discussion
After discussion with Deven, we decided to redesign our circuit for simplicity sake. Instead of intially inputting 120VAC and using a relay to convert voltage down to 12V, we decided to use a 12V DC adapter to directly input into the system. We also found that the servo motors that we initially listed in our engineering specifications would not suffice for the purposes of moving the NPK sensor in the x and z directions. Additionally, after our weekly meeting with the professor we will also focus on finalizing the report and begin preliminary work for the presentation. The group split the work to identify and research the appropriate DC motors linear axis movement, AC to DC supply, Motor controllers, relays, and necessary sensors. Due to the addition of components, the engineering specifications, requirements and success criteria would need to be revised.
Jon
I was assigned to identifying the necessary components needed for our design needs. Our design will likely need accuracy over power and will resemble aspects of a CNC machine. Researching the best motor for our applications, I came across this website and motor guide chart:
https://www.phidgets.com/docs/Motor_Selection_Guide
Most motors allow for continuous rotation, but servo motors are usually limited in rotation. Servos can typically rotate up to 180° even though there are some servo motors that can move in multi directions. For our applications, this would not be applicable as the motor would need to move approximately 30-32 inches linearly in the x axis.
In terms of position control, there are two types, open loop and closed loop. In an open loop system the motor controller is not aware of the position of the motor or if the motor has successfully made it to its required position and a signal was sent. A closed loop position control is the exact opposite of the open loop. In a Closed loop system the controller is capable of a feedback mechnism where the controller can adjust its position to ensure the motor reaches its destination. These types of controllers are proficient in accurate positioning and is exactly what is needed for our purposes.
There are many types of motors to pick from but identifying the appropriate functionality of each motor is critical. Below I have listed various types of motors and their functionality.
- BLDC Motors: Utilize hall-effect sensors for feedback, enabling closed-loop control.
- RC Servos: Feature closed-loop control through a built-in potentiometer.
- Stepper Motors: Operate with open-loop control, as the controller directs the motor to move a specified number of steps.
- DC Motors: Lack position control, with the controller regulating motor speed by adjusting power.
Adding an encoder to motors without closed-loop control can upgrade the system to include feedback and achieve closed-loop control.
From this list, it is ideal to use stepper motors to handle the accuracy needed for our design. Not only do these types of motors are suitable for our purposes, it also is cost efficient but not as cost efficient as servo motors.
Identifying the right stepper motor requires understanding our power needs and if the motor is unipolar or bipolar. Delving into researching different types of stepper motors, I came across the NEMA series motors. There are various sizes of NEMA motors, all used for diiferent torque and accuracy requirments. For the purpose of this project, NEMA motors used for 3d printing would be applicable. These motors range from NEMA 8, 11, 17, 23, 34, and 42. Each number corresponds to the the faceplate size of the motors. Due to limited space in the y direction, the power and accuracy required we decided on using a NEMA 17 motor which has a 1.7" x1.7" faceplate. Below you can see how a NEMA 17 looks.
Now that we found a motor, identifying the appropriate motor controller is required. As mentioned above, identifying an applicable motor controller through its voltage, current capabilities and make sure it's sufficient to handle the power requirements of the motor.
Using the A4988 Motor driver would more than suffice to move a motor left and right on the x-axis but due to extensive functionality of the A4988, it seems to be excessive as the A498 is capable of using 1/16 microsteps in motor rotation. Additionally, upon further research, the A4988 signals sent to the motors can cause excessive noise when turning the motor. Although noise is not a major factor in our design, it would be considered a plus if we can eliminate any potential unwanted noise.
https://lastminuteengineers.com/a4988-stepper-motor-driver-arduino-tutorial/
Further into my research, I found a older and less commonly used componnet called the L293D motor driver. This motor driver can operate two unipolar and bipolar motors simaltaneously. The only problem with this using this component with our motors is due to the power rating of it. The L293D is rated for an input voltage of 4.5V - 36V at 600 mA. We need a driver that can handle a 9V 1A input supply with up to 2A current capacity per channel
https://vishaworld.com/products/l293d-motor-driver-module.
Finding a motor driver that meets our specifications led us to the later model of the L293D, which is called the L298N. The L298N is capable of drawing between 4.5V - 45V at 2A per channel. Given that the NEMA 17 bipolar motor draws 2A with a 9V/1A input power supply, it perfectly fits within the specified margin needed to ensure the motor does not get damaged. Below is a helpful video that gave me incite on the best practices when using the L298N.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkH2EJglwbk
After addressing the motor issue, identifying the necessary components to move the motor along the x axis was the next challenge. Deven and I discussed looking into prior senior design projects for inspiration. The project that came closest to what we are trying to accomplish was with moving a motor along an axis was the CNC senior design. From what we noticed, the CNC group used a V-wheel running along a special railing, mainly used in 3D printing/ robotic applications. Below are a few components that were under consideration:
Before researching part to apply to our design to move a motor along an axis, I explained to Deven the concept I envisioned to accomplish this task. I wanted to use a v wheel that is in contact with a motor that has a wheel attached to it. The wheel to the motor should sit on top and parallel to the v wheel so that motion can be produced. At the same time a z axis railing, holding the NPK sensor would approximately dip down 4 inches inot the soil. This idea would ideally work but to implement would require allocating space with in the 3D rendering to accamodate for the extra space needed to accomplish this. Not only would it require too much space, but it would need custom 3D printed parts which is something that we are trying to minimize as much as possible. With further research I came across another type of railing that a DC motor, preferably a NEMA stepper motor can easily mount to and does not require ant custom parts. Below is the link to the youtube video that provided me with the incite to use this part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF_1bY8aJbc&t=439s
Here is the component used in the video.
Working in tandum and attached to the x axis linear bed, would be the z axis railing which I found the perfect size for what we are trying to accompish. Below is the link of the component that we would be working with:
The type of railing that would be the most beneficial to work with is the 2020 V slot aluminum 3d printer track that can be used for extra leverage in mounting the ballscrew housing.
In addition to researching the best motor, motor driver and railing, Both Deven and I continued to work on updating our progress log as discussed with the Profesor Notash. We were told to revise our progress log as it is suppose provide the reader with in depth detail of any work or research done over the week.
Along with the progress log updates, the final and most important task to get down is to finalize and proof read our report that is due this Friday. The addition of components involves complete updating everything from the power budget, success criteria, and Engineering Requirements & specifications. Updates were made not only to the report but also to the website too.
Deven
In our last meeting Professor Notash pointed out amendments that needed to be made to the engineering requirements and specifications, such as defining the weight of the device and some of it's other physical aspects and functionality. I updated these throughout the week and discussed with my group member the profile of our ideal customer so we could better align our project with our anticipated customers needs. We also discussed missing items from the proposed budget such as soil and seeds, as well as what plants we will target when testing the efficacy of our system.
Group
The team met to assign each other responsibilities for the week
Jon:
Motor/Motor Mount/Motor Driver Research
Progress Log
Report
Timeline & schedule
Deven:
Engineering Requirements & Specifications
Progress Log
Proposed Budget
Lessons Learned
Understanding the concept of H bridges is straight forward. H bridges are capabale of operating motors that tend to require more voltage and current than a microcontroller can offer. Due to this reason H bridges are not only used to pass the appropriate voltgae and current to the motors but can also change the direction at which the motor is rotating. When working with a H bridge, its important to know that each is made up of MOSFET's, more specifically, two NPN and two PNP MOSFET's in a H configuration, hence the name H bridge. The motor that is would be controlled sits in the middle of the H between two contacts. To ensure adequate operation, current flow should always flow from a PNP MOSFET to a NPN MOSTFET on opposite sides. If current was allowed to flow through a PNP and NPN MOSFET on the same side of the h bridge will cause a short and cause critical failures of the component.
Week 10 : Fri 7/07 - Fri 7/14
Total Hrs - 52.5 Hrs
Discussion
In our Weekly Meeting we discussed and emphasized on the completion of the rough draft for our report. Upon a closer look, the success criteria, engineering requirements & specifications and power budget. Outside our meeting, Deven and I discussed potentially switching our pump motor as it will not be ideal for interfacing with the Arduino. Not only do we need to replace the pump, we need to have two pumps, one for the fresh water and one for the fertilizer. Due to how late in the proposal it is to replace such a critical component, we prioritized making sure we have a pump that meets our design requirements and is completely updated on the report and website.
Jon
I was assigned to researching and identifying an appropriate pump that can sufficiently pump enough water to moisten the soil in a reasonable timeframe. For our applications, we do not require a pump that needs to be very strong or require a lot of power.
According to our specifications we should have at least 40 GPH and the dimensions of the pump should also be small enough to fit two pumps in the upper shelf area of our project. Reasearching, I came across a special pump called the peristaltic pump. I did not know what a peristaltic pump was, so I researched the pump and came across these websites:
https://www.verderliquids.com/us/en/pump-technologies/how-do-peristaltic-pumps-work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9IjMMoAFdA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFb2BMnhK2o
Looking further into pthese pumps, I found a few 12V DC pumps that run at 0-180ml/min flow rate. Although, we want to implement a slow drip watering system for the plants, we still need a relatively high flow rate and provide an equal amount of fluids to each grow tray.
This pump instigates the flow of water by squeezing rollers across the fluid line to push fluid forward. As the pump rotates its rollers consistently squeezes the water causing a forward motion. These pumps are often associated with a low dosing rate which does not make them ideal to have if a 40 GPH rate is required.
In the same search, I came across a two way that meet the dimensions at 2.17"L x 1.77"W x 1.38"H and met the flow rate of 63 GPH. This pump is not peristaltic but a micro brushless pump that also offers the capability to either be submersible or non-submersible. These properties matches all the criteria for being a versatile pump.
Working with 12V DC mini pump requires a relay to interface with the arduino. Relay's are commonly used when a high current is needed and needs to function similarly to a MOSFET. 12V DC is too high of a voltage to interface directly with the Arduino. Identifying the difference in relays and MOSFETs depend on the type of application needed. Intuitively, applying a 12V motor to a MOSFET would be feasible. MOSFETs are commonly used for high frequency applications where a signal is consistently changing from HIGH to LOW. If used as a low frequency or actively HIGH/LOW, cooling methods may need to be required as heat dissipation will start to accumulate. Configuring a MOSFET with a 12V source supply, Arduino and pump is straightforward but does require the use of resistors in specific spots.
In a BJT Transistor the pull between the base and collector is 0.7V and when the output signal is set to LOW the 5V sent to the base will need to be reduced using a resistor value 100 ohms or so. For extra protection a 10k ohm resistor can be added between the gate and the VCC of the Arduino to prevent any unwarranted initialization of the gate. Below this provided me with the info needed to understand MOSFETs.
Looking into the functionality of a relay, provides us with the necessary properties for turning our devices on and off. Relays are electromechanical devices that are electrically isolated and does not require any external cooling methods. Relay are more reliable when the use of high currents are involved. The downsides to relays can be seen in the noise they may produce as there are moving mechanical components. Due to that reason switching is relatively slow compared to a MOSFET. This is ideal for applications can and decided to use a 12V relay.
Besides researching and identifying the most efficient pumps, updates to the website, report, engineering requirements and specifications, and success criteria is necessary. I was given the task to update the website.
On the Home Page, the header menu has been made sticky to the top, and the final block diagram has been updated to the final proposal diagram/renderings with added measurements. LCD screen placement is pending, as well as ensuring that the water reservoir is monitored by the LCD screen. For the Success Criteria, engineering specification verification has been tied to the engineering requirements with details on the percentage to success and the number of trials for each. The Power Budget section has been a reduced in column width. In the Timeline & Schedule section, the project name has been changed. In the Progress Log, the entries are now in descending order, bullet points have been removed, and lessons learned are to be added at the bottom. For the Report, the first draft of the report was completed. Deven and I both split the chunk of the report where I was responsible for Chapter 1 and 3 while Deven was responsible for chapters 2 and 4.
Deven
Group
The team met to assign each other responsibilities for the week
Jon:
Pump Research
Success Criteria
Power Budget
Progress Log
Report
Deven:
Engineering Requirements & Specifications
Progress Log
Proposed Budget
Lessons Learned
This week we learned the importance in doing our do diligence and properly researching all aspects of a component and application. we also learned the difference between relays and MOSFETs and when to implement either. In summary relays are useful when switching and high current use is a factor in turning on a device. MOSFETs are more efficient when high switching and low use of current in required.
Week 9 : Fri 6/30 - Fri 7/07
Total Hrs - 59 Hrs
Discussion
In our Weekly Meeting we discussed and emphasized on the completion of the rough draft for our report. Upon a closer look, the success criteria, engineering requirements & specifications and power budget needed revision. Outside our meeting, Deven and I discussed potentially switching our pump motor as it will not be ideal for interfacing with the Arduino. Not only do we need to replace the pump, we need to have two pumps, one for the fresh water and one for the fertilizer. Due to how late in the proposal it is to replace such a critical component, we prioritized making sure we have a pump that meets our design requirements and is completely updated on the report and website.
Jon
I was assigned to researching and identifying an appropriate pump that can sufficiently pump enough water to moisten the soil in a reasonable timeframe. For our applications, we do not require a pump that needs to be very strong or require a lot of power.
According to our specifications we should have at least 40 GPH and the dimensions of the pump should also be small enough to fit two pumps in the upper shelf area of our project. Reasearching, I came across a special pump called the peristaltic pump. I did not know what a peristaltic pump was, so I researched the pump and came across these websites:
https://www.verderliquids.com/us/en/pump-technologies/how-do-peristaltic-pumps-work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9IjMMoAFdA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFb2BMnhK2o
Looking further into pthese pumps, I found a few 12V DC pumps that run at 0-180ml/min flow rate. Although, we want to implement a slow drip watering system for the plants, we still need a relatively high flow rate and provide an equal amount of fluids to each grow tray.
This pump instigates the flow of water by squeezing rollers across the fluid line to push fluid forward. As the pump rotates its rollers consistently squeezes the water causing a forward motion. These pumps are often associated with a low dosing rate which does not make them ideal to have if a 40 GPH rate is required.
In the same search, I came across a two way that meet the dimensions at 2.17"L x 1.77"W x 1.38"H and met the flow rate of 63 GPH. This pump is not peristaltic but a micro brushless pump that also offers the capability to either be submersible or non-submersible. These properties matches all the criteria for being a versatile pump.
Working with 12V DC mini pump requires a relay to interface with the arduino. Relay's are commonly used when a high current is needed and needs to function similarly to a MOSFET. 12V DC is too high of a voltage to interface directly with the Arduino. Identifying the difference in relays and MOSFETs depend on the type of application needed. Intuitively, applying a 12V motor to a MOSFET would be feasible. MOSFETs are commonly used for high frequency applications where a signal is consistently changing from HIGH to LOW. If used as a low frequency or actively HIGH/LOW, cooling methods may need to be required as heat dissipation will start to accumulate. Configuring a MOSFET with a 12V source supply, Arduino and pump is straightforward but does require the use of resistors in specific spots.
In a BJT Transistor the pull between the base and collector is 0.7V and when the output signal is set to LOW the 5V sent to the base will need to be reduced using a resistor value 100 ohms or so. For extra protection a 10k ohm resistor can be added between the gate and the VCC of the Arduino to prevent any unwarranted initialization of the gate. Below this provided me with the info needed to understand MOSFETs.
Looking into the functionality of a relay, provides us with the necessary properties for turning our devices on and off. Relays are electromechanical devices that are electrically isolated and does not require any external cooling methods. Relay are more reliable when the use of high currents are involved. The downsides to relays can be seen in the noise they may produce as there are moving mechanical components. Due to that reason switching is relatively slow compared to a MOSFET. This is ideal for applications can and decided to use a 12V relay.
Besides researching and identifying the most efficient pumps, updates to the website, report, engineering requirements and specifications, and success criteria is necessary. I was given the task to update the website.
On the Home Page, the header menu has been made sticky to the top, and the final block diagram has been updated to the final proposal diagram/renderings with added measurements. LCD screen placement is pending, as well as ensuring that the water reservoir is monitored by the LCD screen. For the Success Criteria, engineering specification verification has been tied to the engineering requirements with details on the percentage to success and the number of trials for each. The Power Budget section has been a reduced in column width. In the Timeline & Schedule section, the project name has been changed. In the Progress Log, the entries are now in descending order, bullet points have been removed, and lessons learned are to be added at the bottom. For the Report, the first draft of the report was completed. Deven and I both split the chunk of the report where I was responsible for Chapter 1 and 3 while Deven was responsible for chapters 2 and 4.
Deven
Group
The team met to assign each other responsibilities for the week
Jon:
Pump Research
Success Criteria
Power Budget
Progress Log
Report
Deven:
Engineering Requirements & Specifications
Progress Log
Proposed Budget
Lessons Learned
This week we learned the importance in doing our do diligence and properly researching all aspects of a component and application. we also learned the difference between relays and MOSFETs and when to implement either. In summary relays are useful when switching and high current use is a factor in turning on a device. MOSFETs are more efficient when high switching and low use of current in required.
Week 8: Fri 6/23 - Fri 6/30
Total Hrs - 61.5 Hrs
Discussion
This week the group discussed aspects of the 3D rendering, website updates, engineering requirements, Timeline & Schedule, success criteria, and time & effort table. We split the work so that Deven would work on the engineering requirements & specifications, time & effort table, and website updates. While Jon works on the 3D rendering, success criteria and website updates.
Jon
I Immediately began working on the rendering as working in Fusion360 is a learning curve. In our meeting with the professor, we had an in. depth discussion with about the placement and movement of the NPK sensor relative to the grow trays. It was brought to our attention that the spacing between the NPK sensor, the top shelf area and the grow trays, is enough space for the z axis movement to reach and accurately measure the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Given from our design dimensions, working with a 24L", 36W", and 36H" would mean we would have approximately 32" to comfortably fit all components and isolate all necessary areas.
In the designated area depicted in the image above, provides a good idea of how much room we would be working with. The grow trays are 6 inches in height and approximately 7.5 inches wide. That leaves 26 inches left of space. Directly above the grow trays is the irrigation lines and rack which is located approximately 4 inches above. We decided that the rack should have a grid like pattern to allow for the NPK sensor to pass through the rack and enter directly into the soil. We understand that precision is key to accomplish such a goal but positioning a servo should be seamless.Ten inches above the irrigation rack sits the shelving area that houses the electrical components. It was also stressed in the meeting that isolating all water related devices should be critical to the design as moisture and electrical components can cause hazardous conditions. The last action item is installing the the twin jug holders that will be placed at the rear of the design.
To begin I had to research how to place a rod extending from the left to right on the x axis into the cutout holes previously made. From my research I found a couple videos that clearly describe how to go connect a rod into an extruded hole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5gyqpA_AQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBEnmEHrjU
The one of the many benefits of rendering a design is that there is more than one way to to design a component. In the video above, describes an easy and seamless way to design a rod like component and isolate it as a part that can be inserted into the hole. The approach I was thinking of would have made a simple task turn into tedious work. For simplicity sake, We decided just add a box to indicate the motors and NPK sensor. Below is the depicted result of adding these components to the design.
The next step involved researching how to apply two jug holders, preferably the size of 5 gallons, to the rear of the design.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ixp4fpgEgQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TeQSqT7_Ng
Both videos were informative in applying a cylindrical shape tangent to a surface. As the videos describe, I would want to work with a feature called tangent plane or for a more specific application, offset tangent. By applying this method, I was able to attach two cylindrical holders to the rear of the design. Below depicts how the final product looked
As part of my contribution to the website, I was assigned updating the homepage with the latest rendering, overall dimensions main menu design adjustments, success criteria and power budget. Updating the homepage along with the main menu was a simply revision. The adjustments made to the main menu was removing the sticky header option and configuring the menu to be static as the reader scrolls through the website. The last adjustment was to simply change Final Block Diagram to Final Proposal Diagrams/Rendering. Below depicts the completed revisions so far.
I was also assigned revising the success criteria to not only include how many trials but also include the percentage of success for a given amount of trials. This is important to show as the point of the success criteria is to know what would be considered a success in the scope of the system functions. In regards to the testing plan, We were instructed to list all the testing plans for an individual system all in one cell due to the extent of Wix functionality. We were also instructed to formulate and ensure the testing plans are for that individual system as a whole and it aligns with engineering requirements justification and verification section.
The last two revisions that need to be implemented was the revisions to the power budget and timeline & schedule. The power budget columns were reduce to provide additional spacing for the component column and for the timeline, the project name was updated to NurtureNest and the completions percentages were updated.
The final and most important action item was to continue to update and format the report to the guideline stated on the rubric. Deven began the writing the abstract and acknowledgments as I began writing the introduction and subsequent sections. For the report, we conducted at meeting and brainstormed the outline for the report and the order of the sections. More information on our report updates can be found in the group section of this week.
Deven
Group
The team met to assign each other responsibilities for the week
Jon:
Rendering
Success Criteria
Power Budget
Progress Log
Report
Deven:
Engineering Requirements & Specifications
Progress Log
Proposed Budget
Report
For the report we both agreed that we would split the report by assigning two chapter each to both of us. I was responsible for chapter 1 & 3, detailing the introduction, background on seed germination, NPK vs. EC sensor, similar projects, objective and features and project Limitations, In chapter 3, we have the social, moral and economic impacts, timeline & budget and health & safety. Deven was responsible for Chapters 2 & 4 which in chapter 2 the overview of the NurtureNest, System Engineering Requirements and Specifications, Power Budget, Design Concept and System Selections, and Testing & Success Criteria.
Lessons Learned
Working on the Fusion360 rendering taught us valuable lessons in design precision, effectient research, and collaboration. The software's learning curve was challenging, but we made significant progress with pactience and perseverance. A detailed discussion with our professor informed use of the adequate spacing for the NPK sensor's z-axis movement to accurately measure nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels, comfortably within our 24" (L) x 36" (W) x 36" (H) design dimensions. Tutorial videos were very insightful in regards to implementing components like the x-axis rod and twin jug holders, avoiding overly complex approaches. Updating the homepage with the latest renderings, adjusting the main menu, and refining success criteria and the power budget were straightforward tasks. Collaboratively, we ensured the report was updated per guidelines, creating sections like the abstract and introduction by emphasizing the importance of adaptability and teamwork in successfully completing the project.
Week 7 : Fri 6/16 - Fri 6/23
Total Hrs - 53 Hrs
Discussion
In Week 5, the importance of curating the power budget and begin on preliminary formatting of Report was stressed. Over discord the group split the action items of the following:
Final proposes ideas and diagrams, targets the audience, and outlines project goals. Key changes include updating the domain name and changing summary descriptions to be more descriptive. The title will be consolidated into one cohesive heading. The background of the drop-down menu will be updated, and the main menu abstract will be revised into a short summary with three key points. We need to come up with a catchy name for the project and adjust the power budget to meet design demands. The 3D rendering and engineering design requirements and specifications will be updated. Website updates include a proposed budget and rendering updates to reflect these changes.
Jon
This week I continued to work on formatting and styling for the readability of the website. I also continued the revisions to the progress log, timeline and general website.
Adjusted the homepage to be more direct and concise so that a person reading it can quickly understand the goal of the project.
The Progress log was updated with a short summary and action items for the week. I also updated the formatting of my responsibilities by separating work by day.
From our discussion with the professor, revisions were needed for the Success Criteria too. Below is a screenshot of our initial success criteria.
We were told to modify the 3D rendering with additional components and try to complete the final design. The additional components that we added was the NPK sensor and Arduino, indicating where the electronics are located. Below depicts how I orientated the NPK sensor railing and NPK Sensor.
Rendering the design, I noticed a complication that needed to be discussed with Deven. To configure the pumps with the water tanks, an opening will need to be made, so I designed an opening in the back of the top shelf to add more accessibility.
For clarity, I also replaced the glass rectangular component in the last revision with an actual Arduino to indicate the separation between water components and electronics. Below Depicts the edits made to the Electronics section.
Next, I began to revise the success criteria to fix the mistakes made from the original revision. It was noted in the meeting with the professor that the success criteria should stem from the justification and verification section of the engineering requirements. We were also told that the trial plan should include the efficiency and trial duration. Lastly, the style format should match the style used throughout the website.
As I began editing the success criteria's success plan by module, to have a clearer goal and whats considered success. After editing the success plan, I began editing the trial type and provided the number of trials and the success rate below it. Finally, I styled the table with golden section titles and even out the column widths. Below are the results of the success criteria.
Deven
In our last meeting Professor Notash pointed out amendments that needed to be made to the engineering requirements and specifications, such as defining the weight of the device and some of it's other physical aspects and functionality. I updated these throughout the week and discussed with my group member the profile of our ideal customer so we could better align our project with our anticipated customers needs. We also discussed missing items from the proposed budget such as soil and seeds, as well as what plants we will target when testing the efficacy of our system.
Group
The group met to formulate a catchy title name for the design. After using a few name generators, we came up with Green Sprout Automation, Sproutsense, or NurtureNest. The group unanimously choose NurtureNest to be the project name. We also split the work assign each other responsibilities for the week by assigning Jon with the Weekly minutes with professor, progress log, timeline and schedule, weekly updates, and the success criteria. Deven was assigned the engineering requirements and specifications, progress log and proposed budget.
Lessons Learned
This week Jon learned the importance of not recreating the wheel and reducing the time allotted to a task. Instead of trying to design and research, one can just go to a free parts website to procure 3d renderings of the specifics parts needed for the design. Below are a couple websites I sourced for 3d assets.
https://www.turbosquid.com/Search/3D-Models/free/render
Week 6 : Fri 6/14 - Fri 6/21
Total Hrs - 51 Hrs
Discussion
In Week 6, the importance of curating the power budget and begin on preliminary formatting of Report was stressed. Over discord the group split the action items of the following:
Jon
For this week a continuation of rendering and website updates were made along with the creation of our power budget. The power budget was broken-down into the components and their voltage, current, power and total power. It was constructed from a circuit I made to better understand the configuration and wiring of each component. Below shows the circuit constructed for our design.
The table was formulated and constructed into three sections, the control module, wifi/bluetooth module, and data collection module. The header was sectioned into Block, Component, Quantity, voltage, current, power and total power. After calculating the design will draw 11.31 W of power. The final result can be seen below.
The voltage and current values were found by going to each component website to reference the data sheets. To ensure the safety of some of the components, their values were lowered to a nominal voltage with a corresponding current values. These values were ensured to fall within the range of voltage and current ratings for each component.
One of the action items for this week was to upload more angles of the 3d rendering to the homepage. Below are the updated images of our rendering formatted in a grid.
In our group meeting we decided to focus the rendering towards a household/residential based design. This week I added Grow trays, water pump, Arduino were added to the rendering design. It was decided that our design will be powered by a 120VAC source or compatible with any wall outlet in America.
Deven
In our last meeting Professor Notash pointed out amendments that needed to be made to the engineering requirements and specifications, such as defining the weight of the device and some of it's other physical aspects and functionality. I updated these throughout the week and discussed with my group member the profile of our ideal customer so we could better align our project with our anticipated customers needs. We also discussed missing items from the proposed budget such as soil and seeds, as well as what plants we will target when testing the efficacy of our system.
Group
The team discussed narrowed down our ideal customer. Our ideal customer for this project has several key attributes. They must have consistent power availability to ensure the device can operate without interruptions. They should own a smartphone to access the companion app, allowing them to monitor and control the unit. The customer should be capable of lifting up to 30 pounds to handle the unit when needed. Additionally, they need to have adequate indoor space to house the unit in a temperature-regulated environment and sufficient outdoor space to transplant seedlings after the initial growth phase.
For sufficient spacing and usability our project aims to create a growing system with the dimensions of 24 inches by 36 inches by 36 inches (length, width, height) and a weight of less than 30 pounds, constructed from a mix of steel sheet metal and plexiglass. The system is designed to provide everything a plant needs to grow from seed to the vegetative state, ready for transplanting outside.
References:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/IMPERIAL-24-in-x-3-ft-Galvanized-Steel-Sheet-Metal/3234805
Lessons Learned
When making any design its always important to record what the system needs instead of record what each component is rated for from their data sheets. In real life systems can draw double the amount of current when they are initially wired to power. These power surges can be harmful to components and potentially cause hazardous conditions.
Week 5 : Fri 6/07 - Fri 6/14
Total Hrs - 53.5 Hrs
Discussion
In Week 5, the importance of curating the power budget and begin on preliminary formatting of Report was stressed. Over discord the group split the action items of the following:
Final proposes ideas and diagrams while targeting the audience and outlining project goals. We will change the domain name and update the summary to descriptions. The title will be consolidated into one cohesive heading. The background of the drop-down menu will be updated, and the main menu abstract will be revised into a short summary with three key points. A catchy name for the project will be developed. The power budget will be adjusted to meet design demands. Additionally, the 3D rendering and engineering design requirements and specifications will be updated. Website updates will include a proposed budget and rendering updates to reflect these changes.
Jon
After our weekly group meeting, I was responsible for creating the timeline & schedule, weekly meetings and progress log. After reviewing prior senior design projects, the timeline was created in excel and can be viewed below.
As for the weekly meeting page, each week was formatted to have discussion and action items discussed with the professor for that week.
Additionally the progress log created by separating the weeks by individual pages in descending order.
Next, I began to design the success criteria close to the examples provided to us by Professor Notash . It was stressed that success criteria was one of the most important pages and table to complete as it describes what is considered a success in the system functionality.
The success criteria was constructed by module testing plan and trial type. The module consisted of each major component of the system. The testing explains what is needed to verify the component functionality. The trial type explains the amount of trials and method of testing. Examples were drawn from prior senior design projects.
Deven
In our last meeting Professor Notash pointed out amendments that needed to be made to the engineering requirements and specifications, such as defining the weight of the device and some of it's other physical aspects and functionality. I updated these throughout the week and discussed with my group member the profile of our ideal customer so we could better align our project with our anticipated customers needs. We also discussed missing items from the proposed budget such as soil and seeds, as well as what plants we will target when testing the efficacy of our system.
Group
For week 5, the group met to assign each other responsibilities for the week. I was assigned the
Jon was responsible for maintaining weekly minutes with the professor, ensuring accurate documentation of discussions and action items. He managed the progress log, tracking the team's progression. Additionally, Jon created the timeline and schedule, providing a clear roadmap for the project’s deadlines and deliverables. Deven took charge of updating the engineering requirements and specifications, ensuring all technical details were current and precise. He also contributed to the progress log, helping to maintain comprehensive records of the team's work. Furthermore, Deven was responsible for developing the final block diagram, which visually represented the system’s overall structure and components.
Lessons Learned
Maintaining a precise power budget was noted as critical for meeting design demands. Emphasizing audience targeting and project goals kept the goals of the project aligned. Defining clear success criteria based on module testing plans streamlined our goals for functionality. Regular collaboration and teamwork were critical in staying on track and achieving our goals.
Week 4 : Fri 05/31 - Fri 06/07
Total Hrs - 56.5 Hrs
Discussion
In week 4, the team alongside the professor, finally agreed on a plausible and feasible idea for our senior design proposal. We settled on constructing an automatic seedling grower where a user can place an assortment of specific vegetation where the system will manage and nurture the seedling. This week it was assigned to creating the 3D rendering, homepage, power budget, progress log, and proposal ideas. Deven was responsible for engineering requirements and specifications, weekly presentations, meeting minutes with professor, and time and effort table. We both continued our research on our design.
Jon
After meeting with Deven, this week I was responsible for completing the Success Criteria, 3D rendering and Preliminary work for website. As a group we brainstormed the type of design we thought was feasible and necessary to accommodate our required features. A figure of or initial sketch of the project design can be found in the group section below. For most of this week, the 3D rendering was strongly focused on where our requirements and functionality was taken into account. We decided to use Fusion360 rendering software as our primary program as is I have prior experience, has convenient feature for designing and did not require a strong learning curve. Below is the first draft of our rendering.
From our initial sketch I decided to enclose the design to add a feature of temperature control. The fans located in red will activate when temperature reaches threshold. Holes were added for additional ventilation and accessibility for wiring. A shelf was added to help holster devices in place. For power solar panels were added but not fitted to the design.
To hold fertilizer and fresh water solution, a lip located to the rear of the design was extruded from back for two 5 gallon jug holders to sit comfortably on the back. We envisioned the jugs would be zip tied to the back through the holes.
Preliminary updates to the website were made to the homepage. The main image was changed along with our design images. Team contact was also updated and formatted to website style.
References:
Solidworks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a28V1B3fji0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GnCas1xq2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtNggGboCBE
Wix:
https://support.wix.com/en/article/wix-editor-adding-and-setting-up-advanced-menus
Deven
Group
The team met to assign each other responsibilities for the week
Jon:
3D Renderings
Website Updates
Deven:
Engineering Requirements & Specifications
Lessons Learned
The learning curve for constructing our rendering was steep but refreshed Jon's memory on the concepts of 3d rendering. One of those concepts is understanding the mating feature and how to properly apply this feature to connect planes or isometric shapes. There are many ways to accomplish the same task in Fusion360. Finding the most efficient method in designing is crucial when managing the time it takes to complete a task.
Week 3 : Fri 05/24 - Fri 05/31
Total Hrs - 50.5 Hrs
Discussion
After the presentation the Professor requested that we further assess the last set of proposal ideas by implementing aspects of S.M.A.R.T for each idea. Jon Created 5 S.M.A.R.T slides for both Sanitation Bot and Item Locator Bot while Deven created S.M.A.R.T. slides for Seedling Grow Center.
Jon
After meeting with Deven, this week I was responsible for completing the Success Criteria, 3D rendering and Preliminary work for website. As a group we brainstormed the type of design we thought was feasible and necessary to accommodate our required features. A figure of or initial sketch of the project design can be found in the group section below. For most of this week, the 3D rendering was strongly focused on where our requirements and functionality was taken into account. We decided to use Solidworks rendering software as our primary program as is I have prior experience, has convenient feature for designing and did not require a strong learning curve. Below is the first draft of our rendering.
From our initial sketch I decided to enclose the design to add a feature of temperature control. The fans located in red will activate when temperature reaches threshold. Holes were added for additional ventilation and accessibility for wiring. A shelf was added to help holster devices in place. For power solar panels were added but not fitted to the design.
To hold fertilizer and fresh water solution, a lip located to the rear of the design was extruded from back for two 5 gallon jug holders to sit comfortably on the back. We envisioned the jugs would be zip tied to the back through the holes.
Preliminary updates to the website were made to the homepage. The main image was changed along with our design images. Team contact was also updated and formatted to website style.
References:
Solidworks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a28V1B3fji0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GnCas1xq2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtNggGboCBE
Wix:
https://support.wix.com/en/article/wix-editor-adding-and-setting-up-advanced-menus
Deven
Group
During our recent meeting, our team emphasized the importance of clear task assignment and collaboration. By explicitly dividing responsibilities, we ensured that each member knew their specific duties, leading to more efficient and focused efforts. Both Jon and Deven were tasked with creating SMART slides for each proposal idea and conducting further research on these ideas. This dual responsibility highlighted the significance of consistent and thorough preparation, as well as the benefits of having multiple perspectives on the same task. This approach fostered accountability and promoted a deeper understanding of each proposal, ultimately enhancing the quality and feasibility of our project ideas.
Lessons Learned
Our team learned the value of clear task assignment and collaboration during our recent meeting. By explicitly dividing responsibilities, we ensured that each member knew their specific duties, leading to more efficient and focused efforts. Both Jon and Deven were tasked with creating SMART slides for each proposal idea and conducting further research on these ideas. This dual responsibility highlighted the importance of consistent and thorough preparation, as well as the benefits of having multiple perspectives on the same task. This approach not only fostered accountability but also promoted a deeper understanding of each proposal, ultimately enhancing the quality and feasibility of our project ideas.
Week 2: Fri 05/17 - Fri 05/24
Total Hrs - 50.5 Hrs
Discussion
In Week 2, the team focused on refining their project ideas. Jon concentrated on the Sanitation Bot, which automates surface sanitization using SparkFun Electronics motors, Adafruit UV-C lights, and DFRobot sensors to measure germ presence. Key tasks included purchasing materials, designing the mechanism for UV-C light and sensor integration, and developing a display for operational metrics. Further research was needed to finalize pathogen testing methods and measurement accuracy.
Jon
The Sanitation Bot aims to automate and enhance the process of sanitizing surfaces. Key components and their specifications include the SparkFun Electronics ROB-11696 motors, which facilitate movement, and the Adafruit Industries LLC 1459 UV-C light for germicidal purposes. Additionally, the DFRobot SEN0531 sensor is employed to detect the presence of germs on various surfaces.
The bot's design must accommodate a mechanism to measure germs accurately, which involves determining the optimal height for the robot to ensure effective UV-C light exposure and sensor readings. The robot can test surface cleanliness by using sensors to detect germ presence before and after UV-C light exposure.
Key construction steps include purchasing the foundation, adding a shaft for vertical movement, and integrating manifold items into the budget. A display will show telemetry data, including charging status and operational metrics. Further research is necessary to develop reliable pathogen testing methods and to narrow down the robot’s measurement capabilities.
For similar sanitation bots, consider:
- [SparkFun Electronics ROB-11696](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/sparkfun-electronics/ROB-11696/6163657)
- [Adafruit Industries LLC 1459](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/adafruit-industries-llc/1459/5761212)
- [DFRobot SEN0531](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/dfrobot/SEN0531/18069308)
The Item Locator Bot focuses on helping customers find items in stores, particularly during busy periods like Black Friday. Challenges include managing connectivity to the store’s server and mapping infrastructure, as well as monitoring facial aspects for height variations. The bot generates maps that users can transfer to their mobile apps, allowing them to locate items independently while the bot remains stationary. Consideration must be given to queue management, estimating how long a line might be if a single customer has multiple items to locate.
Deven
Based upon Professor Notash's input from our last meeting I revised my proposal ideas to be more in line with the scope of the class and the depth required of our project. The at home soil test and the automatic grow box functionalities were combined to create a single project with greater complexity. Since this was our favored idea moving forward it is what I put most of my focus on this week. I researched the marketability of our new product and compared it to existing similar products on the market. I also brainstormed with my group member some of the details of his new ideas since some of his previous ones were eliminated for safety and hazard reasons.
Group
The team met to assign each other responsibilities for the week
Jon:
- Brainstorm 2 more proposal ideas
- Create presentation slides
- Research
Deven:
- Brainstorm 2 more proposal ideas
- Create presentation slides
- Research
Week 1: Fri 05/10 - Fri 05/17
Total Hrs - 29 Hrs
Discussion
In Week 1, Jon focused on two projects: the Wearable Elderly Fall Detection Device and the Smart Fire Sprinter. The fall detection device uses six 9V batteries for 95 hours of operation, integrating an Arduino Uno WiFi, Bluetooth Module, and sensors. Jon explored adding a walkie-talkie feature and compared the design to existing market products. The Smart Fire Sprinter, using servo motors, infrared sensors, and a CO2 tank, is powered by four 9V batteries for 542 hours. Jon reviewed similar products like Plumis Automist.
Deven brainstormed ideas for an at-home soil test, an automatic grow box, and a remote control lawnmower, evaluating their market potential and impact. He and his group member discussed project improvements and expectations. The team assigned tasks: Jon and Deven were both responsible for brainstorming proposal ideas, creating presentation slides, and conducting research.
Jon
The wearable elderly fall detection device utilizes a 7-12V battery, specifically a 9V battery with 2850 mAh capacity, totaling 17,100 mAh across six batteries. This setup provides approximately 95 hours of operation at a consumption rate of 180 mA, which equates to about 4 days. The system includes an Arduino Uno WiFi for connectivity, an HC05 Bluetooth Module consuming 40 mA at 3.3V, a built-in IMU sensor, a speakerphone operating at 3.3V with 3W power and 8 ohms resistance consuming 90 mA, a microphone requiring 3.3V and 50 mA, and a push button at 3.3V. The total current draw of the system is 180 mA.
For comparison, similar products in the market include:
One of the features is a two way talking feature, much like a walkie talkie. For a better grasp on adding the walkie talkie feature this video provided great incite on how to begin.
https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Make-Walkie-Talkie-Using-Arduino/
For the Smart Fire Sprinter designed for residential homes, the system includes servo motors consuming 1A (with 5-6 mA when idle), infrared sensors using 20 mA, a carbon dioxide tank, a spray nozzle, and an Arduino board. The rechargeable power supply consists of 9V batteries with 2850 mAh capacity each, totaling 17,100 mAh across four batteries. This setup offers approximately 542 hours of operation, which equates to about 23 days.
Similar products include:
Deven (Week 1: 5/11 to 5/17)
I brainstormed multiple ideas to present to my group member and the professor. This included an at-home soil test, an automatic grow box, and a remote control lawnmower. These ideas stemmed from thinking about my passions in life and the problems I face in them, and how I could solve them. After coming up with the ideas I researched their marketability, potential environmental and societal impacts, and their viability for this course.
I also met with my group member to discuss our ideas with each other and possible improvements to each of them. We also discussed our expectations for the class and each other going forward and how we are going to be an effective team in order to complete our senior design proposal and project and graduate on time.
Research references:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/sustainable-gardening-solutions-climate-change/
https://climatechange.chicago.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply#:~:text=Climate%20change%20can%20disrupt%20food,result%20in%20reduced%20agricultural%20productivity
https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/LP/lp/media/2016-press-releases/lawn-care-month-survey-trade.aspx#:~:text=The%20vast%20majority%20of%20that,professional%20to%20perform%20any%20services
https://ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2023/5/lawnMowing-DT/#:~:text=month%20of%20May.-,It%20is%20estimated%20that%2054%20million%20Americans%20mow%20their%20lawns,for%20their%20lawn%20each%20year
Group
The team met to assign each other responsibilities for the week
Jon:
- Brainstorm 3+ proposal ideas
- Create presentation slides
- Research
Deven:
- Brainstorm 3+ proposal ideas
- Create presentation slides
- Research