Exercise 18. Applications and Implications
After the lesson on Wednesday 23th May, the assignment for this week was:
_ Propose a final project that integrates the range of units covered, answering: What will it do? Who's done what beforehand? What will you design? What materials and components will be required? Where will come from? How much will they cost? What parts and systems will be made? What processes will be used? What tasks need to be completed? What questions need to be answered? What is the schedule? How will it be evaluated? *Your project should incorporate 2D and 3D design, additive and subtractive fabrication processes, electronics design and production, microcontroller interfacing and programming, system integration and packaging *Where possible, you should make rather than buy the parts of your project
Learning outcomes for this week:
_ Define the scope of a project _ Develop a project plan
What will it do?
For young people, between 20 and 50 years old, that due to this frenetic way of life has the need to stop, breathe and become aware of their environment. People who do not have, in addition, enough space: we live every time in smaller flats.
The urban gardens at home are a trending topic nowadays, but every time we have less time and less space to grow them in our homes. We work outside home, we travel, we can not maintain a routine. Plants need continuous and routine care.
How to maintain this space and small oasis in our lives? We need a remote system, which no matter how far we are, allows us to communicate and take care of the plants. A connection to our lovely garden in our pocket.
The user must be the center of the project. I would be able to make a product that is easy to assembly in different balconies (Ikea concept), by only one person, and easy to understand and use. (The user has not to know about electronics or mechanics, for example)
Concept BRIEF is:
- Customizable in size (depending on each balcony) and number of pot holders. - IKEA Concept: Flat packaging and easy foldable in the assembly. - Easy assembly using Joints, without screws. - Small Flower-pot option, too. - Control System based on a basic and adding modules. - 4 automatic irrigation in the base module. - 4 automatic irrigations added with each module. - It is going to be controlled with an App by user.
Who's done what beforehand?
FabAcademy previous related projects
I analyzed similar projects related to Gardens from the FabAcademy precedent years, and:
_ There are systems inspired in Farmbot >> They are so "machine" concepts, I need something lighter for my users. _ Farming Machine, MTM, FabLab Egypt 2017 _ Systems that only manage data through sensors >> I want actions that I can control remotely, which are the real main problem. _ Claudio Pecere, FabAcademy15 _ Irrigation systems using water pumps >> I would like to avoid using this type of watering system, I have defined a water tank by gravity, and maybe (in the future) pick up rainwater (healthier for the plants). _ Lina Monaco, FabAcademy 2015 _ I like the one from Josefina Petrini, but it is only designed for a plant and I do not see it feasible for outdoor use. Or Luis Belmiro, FabAcademy 2015, Personal FabFarm, but it is based on raspberry pi and I would like to do my own PCB. _ I do not like farms based in hidrophonics systems like Maria Boavida, FabAcademy 2015: It needs to be always working by water movement. Or all-plants-toghether irrigation system as Suhas Labade, FabAcademy 2015. _ I find interesting the idea to charge the battery by sunlight.
I needed to have a real market vision too. What do it exists, which can be similar to my project?
It was important if I wanted to be unique and offer something else to my users.
Nowadays Market
_ Most of them are individual sensors linked to web/app, but do not perform actions. Those who perform actions; are very expensive or do not make a differentiation between a plant and another. _ Many of them are not already available in the market. _ The majority attach plant database, that is very interesting.
What will you design?
2D and 3D DESIGN
Computer aided design to: computer controlled cutting, machining and 3D printing:
_ The 2D and 3D designs for: Main structure, flower-pot holders, mini flower-pots and other components "packagings" (as controller system/ electronics components box).
_ If I could, design the water tank, too.
ELECTRONICS, INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
Electronis design and production:
_ Main PCB, in which I would connect Inputs (Humidity and Temperature sensors, Solar Power system).
And I would like to make manually:
_ Humidity/ Soil Moisture input device
PROGRAMMING
Embedded, interface and Aplication programming:
_ For controlling all inputs, outputs and actions, but also to have a visual interface for the main user to control the irrigation system.
_ WIFI connection of the garden, with the interface/app, so with the user.
What materials and components will be used?
MATERIALS/COMPONENTS FROM DEUSTO FABLAB
MAIN STRUCTURE
Plywood, depending on users needs and balcony dimmensions.
_ For final project model: 1100x700mm2 + 200x130mm2 (2 units) + 1100x100mm2, 10 mm thickness.
FLOWER POT HOLDERS
SMALL SIZE
Plywood: 375X145mm2, 5 mm thickness, each one.
MEDIUM SIZE
Plywood: 575x235mm2, 10 mm thickness, each one.
BIG SIZE
Plywood: 710x235mm2, 10 mm thickness, each one.
SMALL FLOWER POT
PLA: 204 gr.
WATER TANK AND HOLDER
Work in progress, to define
CONTROLLERS/ELECTRONICS HOLDERS/PACKAGING
Work in progress, to define
PCB
Work in progress, to define
HUMIDITY SENSORS
Polimaker 5 gr., wires and galvanized hard wires.
SOLDERING COMPONENTS
All I need for soldering to the PCB and doing it works.
MATERIALS/COMPONENTS BOUGHT
TEMPERATURE SENSORS
Tubes, connectors, etc. for WATER CIRCUIT.
For example this DIY gardening kit
SOLAR POWER SUPLY
_3.5W Solar panel
_Sparkfun Sunny Buddy solar charger
_Lippo charger
ELECTRO VALVES
_12V - 1/2" solenoid valvs
Where will come from?
Explained answering previus question :)
How much will they cost?
For this size (1100x700mm2 structure + 2 small, 1 medium and 1 large holders + 1 small flowerpot + solar powered) cost stimation will be around 200€ in material. Around 50€ from FabLab materials, the other from the outside.
For this size, but with a common power supply, for example, will be around 140€.
MATERIALS/COMPONENTS FROM DEUSTO FABLAB
MAIN STRUCTURE and FLOWER POT HOLDERS
Plywood 35€ aprox.
SMALL FLOWER POT
PLA 7€ aprox.
WATER TANK AND HOLDER
Work in progress, to define.
CONTROLLERS/ELECTRONICS HOLDERS/PACKAGING
Work in progress, to define.
PCB
Work in progress, to define.
HUMIDITY SENSORS
Polimaker >> 1€.
Wires and galvanized hard wires >> 1€.
SOLDERING COMPONENTS
Work in progress, to define.
MATERIALS/COMPONENTS BOUGHT
TEMPERATURE SENSORS
_ 5€ each one.
Tubes, connectors, etc. for WATER CIRCUIT.
_ 15€ more or less.
SOLAR POWER SUPLY
_3.5W Solar panel >> 41,20€
_Sparkfun Sunny Buddy solar charger >> 23,9€.
_Lippo charger >> 5€.
ELECTRO VALVES
_ 7,9€ each one.
What parts and systems will be made?
Components listed below will be made 100% in Deusto FabLab:
_ Main Structure _ Flower pot holders _ Flower-pot _ Main PCB _ Water tank and its holder _ Electronics/controllers packaging/box _ Humidity sensors
What processes will be used?
Components made 100% in Deusto FabLab will be produced by:
_ Main Structure >> COMPUTER CONTROLLED MACHINING. _ Flower pot holders >> COMPUTER CONTROLLED MACHINING (medium and large) AND CUTTING (small). _ Flower-pot >> 3D PRINTING. _ Main PCB >> COMPUTER CONTROLLED MACHINING. _ Water tank and its holder >> 3D PRINTING AND COMPOSITES. _ Electronics/controllers packaging/box >> COMPUTER CONTROLLED CUTTING. _ Humidity sensors >> MANUALLY, BUT WITH COMPUTER CONTROLLED CUTTING MADE TOOLS.
What tasks need to be completed?
As I comment before, I have some parts in progress, to define completely yet. I list tasks to complete here:
_ Finish weekly assignments. _ Finish Main PCB scheme, design and mill it. _ Solder all electronic components needed for make it functional. _ Finish program code and program Main PCB. _ Make the Web Interface and test if everything is connected (product<>program<>interface). _ Water tank design and fabrication. _ Box design and fabrication. _ Mount and test everything toghether. _ Document it: BOM, pictures, prepare and share all necessary files, main slide, video, etc. _ Present my final project.
What questions need to be answered?
CONCEPT QUESTIONS
Have I fostered sustainable gardens? Have I got the implication of the user in the care of plants? Have I gotten it to be a sustainable design? (Solar panel)
FABRICATION QUESTIONS
Have I got an open design? Have I prepared and shared all the necessary files for it? Have I got a low cost product? Is it possible to manufacture all the main and necessary elements in any FabLab? Are all the main and necessary elements DIY? Is it easy to assemble and use?
What is the schedule?
From now since June 15th, I have planned to finish tasks I have not completed in these dates:
_ Finish Main PCB scheme, design and mill it. >> JUNE 1TH _ Solder all electronic components needed for make it functional. >> JUNE 2TH _ Finish weekly assignments. >> JUNE 4TH _ Finish program code and program Main PCB. >> JUNE 4TH _ Make the Web Interface and test if everything is well connected (product<>program<>interface). >> JUNE 4TH _ Water tank design and fabrication. >> JUNE 7TH _ Box design and fabrication. >> JUNE 7TH _ Mount and test everything toghether. >> JUNE 11TH _ Document it: BOM, pictures, prepare and share all necessary files, main slide, video, etc. >> JUNE 14TH _ Present my final project. >> JUNE 15TH
How will it be evaluated?
Whole system has to be designed, made and functional, but in its functionality we can evaluate different levels or phases I can get for the presentation day. Obviously, within the levels that I describe below, it will be a continuous improvement project:
ELECTRONICS POWER: PHASE 1_ POWER SUPLY PHASE 2_ SOLAR POWER SUPPLY PROGRAMMING: PHASE 1_ INPUTS AND OUTPUTS INTERFACE: PHASE 1_ WEB INTERFACE PHASE 2_ APP INVENTOR INTERFACE
I would like to get the product to be powered by solar energy, to receive information from the sensors and that the user (even through a website interface) can decide what actions to take regarding irrigation.