Operimentum C102-4 Parker Prost, Lawand Yaseen, Nidhi Menon, Brody - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Operimentum

C102-4 Parker Prost, Lawand Yaseen, Nidhi Menon, Brody Payne EF 152 Spring, 2018 April 5th 2018

Product Brainstorming and Selection

Brainstorming Sessions:

• Automated anti-frost covers for sensitive plants in the winter
• Option to protect individual plants

○ Cost effective Target Audience:

• Local farmers and small scale community farms

○ Beardsley Community Farms

Conceptual Design

Initial design:

• Concept of the product is a small, round motorized plant covering system

○ Arduino ○ Temperature sensor

• The programmed arduino activates two motors

○ Close the arms of the cover when prompted by the temperature sensor Problems with Initial design:

• Weather issues

○ Gradual decline/rise of temperature ○ Protection of Arduino from weather conditions

• Shape of design

Final Design:

• Rectangular structure
• Made of injection molded PET
• Automatic system using an Arduino

Graphics

Actual design

• Materials

○ Injection molding plastic ○ 5 ft2 Cool Shield Thermal Material

• Build

○ An arduino connected to a temperature sensor activates when the temperature becomes freezing ○ Two square arms are raised by two servo motors and enclose the plant ○ The Cool Shield Thermal material protects to plant from frost and animals

• CAD Prototype

Marketing Video

Customer feedback and results

Main Contact: Beardsley Farm

Feedback:

• System Beardsley Uses:

○ Uses a low tunnel system to cover plants ○ Hand built and time consuming

• Thoughts on Operiementum:

○ Did not see specific need for their use ○ Would be a time saver and they see a need for it in farms up North Additional Contact: Hayley Propst - Home Gardener (PA) Feedback:

• Currently uses a sheet to cover plants and flowers
• Automatic cover would save time and worry
• Provides a dual purpose of protecting plants from deer at night

Cost and Time Estimates

Materials Costs for Prototype Cost of Thousand Units PET Plastic $1.09 $1090 Protective Covering $2.13 $1770 Arduino $15.95 $10950 Electric Motors $10.22 $9700 Total $29.39 $23510 Design Time 20 .5 hours Coding Time 2 hours Retail Price $29.95

Brief Summary / Conclusions

• Cheaper alternative

○ There are other much more expensive systems

• Simple design

○ Easy to build ■ Parts could easily be replaced ○ Shape allows for maximum volume inside device

• Can protect against animals

○ Cool Shield Thermal material is also very durable

• Could be improved

○ Small scale right now ○ In the future could be made into a whole row that closes ■ This would work well for plants like strawberries ○ Battery powered design

Merchandise

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