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Final Project: Proposal

Research

I started off my research by exploring various other student projects from previous years. These projects helped me to understand the process that goes behing making a final project.

Brainstorming ideas

  • College Map - Interactive map which tells the best places of my college.(Routes,facts, sounds,labs)

  • Plant Care Device - A device that keeps track of my plant by checking soil moisture, light, and temperature.

  • Interactive lamp - Exploring light and shadow

Initially, I was inspired by the idea of creating an interactive lamp influenced by the architectural patterns of Rajasthan. I wanted to explore the interplay between light and shadows to create some visual folklore stories.

Final concept

Project Overview

When I was younger, we had a bird feeder at home. Every morning, birds would gather around it, filling the space with their chirping. But one day, the feeder was removed, and slowly, the birds stopped coming. The house felt quieter, and I realized how small things like a feeder could create a connection between humans and nature.

Now, at my college campus, I see many birds every day. The campus is green, full of trees, and a natural habitat for different bird species. This inspired me to design a bird feeder specifically for my college campus, providing birds with a safe feeding space.

Biomorphism in Design

The shape of my feeder is inspired by biomorphism, a design style that takes smooth and flowing shapes from nature without copying them exactly. I explored different organic shapes in my sketches, inspired by natural forms.

Below sketches have taken inspiration from baya weaver nest.

To get the organic shapes inspired by nature I was thinking of exploring flex cut technique in laser cutting

Project Concept

How the Bird Feeder Works

1. Self-Cleaning System

Vibrating Mechanism to Remove Debris:

A small vibration motor will be integrated into the feeder’s base. When triggered by sensors, the motor will gently shake the feeder, dislodging leftover food, dust, and small debris. This prevents food from clumping and keeps the feeding area clean.

OR

Automated Sweeping or Tilting Base

The feeder’s base will have a slightly tilting or rotating mechanism that helps slide out old food or debris. The waste will get colleceted in a compartement.

2. Providing Food & Monitoring Food Levels

The feeder will store bird food in a compartment. A food level sensor will check when the food is running low and send an alert.

3. Detecting & Categorizing Bird Sounds

A microphone will record bird sounds when birds come to feed. The sounds will be processed to recognize different bird species. The data will be stored and displayed in a simple format, allowing students and faculty to learn about the birds on campus.

Indian Cultural Connection

Bird conservation has been a part of Indian traditions for centuries. Many households keep water and grains outside for birds, especially during summers. Inspired by this, my feeder will modernize this practice while making it more sustainable and interactive.

To enhance educational value, the feeder’s data on bird species can be displayed on a digital screen near the installation or connected to a mobile app. This will help students understand biodiversity on campus while encouraging conservation efforts.

Materials and Tools

Materials:

  • Plywood or MDF for laser cutting
  • 3D printing filament (PLA/PETG) – For custom parts
  • Transparent acrylic sheet – For food level visibility
  • Bolts, Nuts, Hinges – For assembly

Machines:

  • Laser Cutter – For cutting wooden/acrylic parts
  • 3D Printer – For printing organic parts and electronic casings
  • CNC Milling Machine – For PCB fabrication
  • Soldering Kit – For assembling electronic components
  • Multimeter – For circuit testing

Fabrication Process

  • Research on existing bird feeders
  • Concept Sketches & Mood Board
  • Designing on AutoCAD/SketchUp to design elements for laser cutting, 3D printing
  • 3D Modeling the model on Fusion
  • Material Sourcing
  • Embedding electronics
  • PCB Milling
  • Embedded Programming
  • Assembly & Integration
  • Testing & Iteration
  • Final Finishing

Conclusion

This bird feeder combines design and technology to create a safe feeding space for birds while helping people learn about them. The self-cleaning system keeps it fresh, and the smart features track bird activity.

In India, people have always fed birds as part of tradition. This project gives it a modern twist by using sensors and data to make it more interactive.

By building this, I want to bring people closer to nature and show how small efforts can help the environment in a big way.