Final Project
Final Project Documentation: Linear Autofeeder
Introduction & Project Background
Origin of the Idea
During the very first week of Fab Academy, under the theme “Plan and sketch a potential final project,” I explored ideas that could blend personal relevance with real-world agricultural impact. Inspired by this YouTube Short , which showed a large-scale automatic cattle feeder, I imagined creating something similar: a smart system that would automate feeding in livestock farms.
However, I quickly realized that the scale of such a cattle-feeding system would be difficult to prototype within the Fab Academy timeframe and resource limits. That’s when I decided to develop a smaller, more manageable version, one that retained the core principles of automated feeding and mechanical delivery but was more feasible in scope.
I then found further inspiration in this Instagram Reel, which showcases a rail-based feeding system simple, smart, and modular. This design helped guide my final direction: a Linear Autofeeder that travels along a path and dispenses food precisely where it's needed.
Personal Motivation
This wasn’t just a technical challenge. It was personal.
I come from a family that raises a small group of cattle for dairy production , and I’ve experienced firsthand how time-consuming and inconsistent manual feeding can be. By automating this process, even in a small prototype, I saw the potential to improve efficiency, reduce labor, and ensure better care for animals, starting with cattle but easily adaptable to other uses.
National Context & Impact
Rwanda is actively working to increase its dairy and fish production as part of broader national goals in food security and smart agriculture. This Linear Autofeeder project directly aligns with that vision, combining automation, low-cost prototyping, and digital fabrication to deliver a real-world solution.
While the prototype focuses on fish farming and small enclosures, it can be scaled up and modified for:
- Cattle or poultry feeding systems
- Aquaculture (fish cage farming)
- Other rural or off-grid smart agriculture setups
What Does It Do?
The Linear Autofeeder is an automated rail-based system that moves to pre-set positions and dispenses food using an auger mechanism. It is designed to:
- Automate feeding cycles for animals or fish.
- Deliver consistent food quantities.
- Reduce manual labor and errors.
- Operate reliably with user-configurable settings.
Main features include:
- Microcontroller-based control using a XIAO ESP32C3.
- Dual stepper motors for rail movement and auger operation.
- LCD and rotary encoder interface for user configuration.
- Emergency stop and endstop limit switches for safety.
Materials & Components Used
| Item | Quantity | Source | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| XIAO ESP32C3 | 1 | https://www.nyerekatech.com | Fr20,000 |
| NEMA 17 Stepper Motors | 2 | https://www.nyerekatech.com | Fr29,600 |
| TB6600 Motor Drivers | 2 | https://www.nyerekatech.com | Fr30,000 |
| 20x4 LCD Display | 1 | https://www.nyerekatech.com | Fr10.500 |
| Rotary Encoder | 1 | https://www.nyerekatech.com | Fr3,000 |
| AMS1117 Regulato | 2 | https://www.nyerekatech.com | Fr1,000 |
| Wires, Screws, PCB, Capacitors, Resistors, switches | - | Fab Inventory | Fr20,000 |
| PLA Filament | - | Fab Lab | - |
| Aluminum Rail | 2m | Local Vendor | Fr10,000 |
| Total Approximate Cost: | Fr104,100 |
What I Designed.
I designed and built
- Electronics
- Mechanical Components
- Firmware (Software)