Automated Plant Watering: Design of a 2.5 Axis Motion Machine
April 2019
The purpose of this project is to design a machine that utilizes a 2.5 axis motion system using programming, machining, design, and teamwork skills to generate a successful outcome. The team created a plant watering system manually controlled by a joystick that could be moved in the x and y directions. The user can easily control the flow of water from the tank to the plants via a button connected to a solenoid valve. The solenoid controlls the flow of water from the tank and tube and out of the watering can-style shower head.
Goals
The goals of this assignment are to devise innovative ways to utilize ideal joints, design mechanical components with functionality, loading, accuracy, and method of fabrication in mind, and to integrate and test a mechanical prototype with electrical components. Upon completion of the assignment, teamwork, time management, organizational skills, and communication skills will be developed alongside technical skills in CAD, coding an Arduino, and 3D printing and modelling.
The Assignment
The specific assignment is to build a 2.5-axis motion system that performs an open ended task. Work volume of the system is limited to 2.5" x 2.5 " x 2.5", and the final product should be small enough to fit into a backpack. Assembly should be able to be completed by one person in no more than 10 minutes.
Our team decided to create a plant watering system that would utilize 2.5 axis motion to manually water plants. Two stepper motors along with belts and pulleys along 8020 aluminum extrusions would create motion along the x and y axes, while a solenoid valve would open and close to allow water that is kept in a tank separate from the system to release water from a shower head onto the plants upon the press of a button. Users will use a joystick to control motion, and pressing the joystick would open the solenoid valve.
Original Design
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Kickstarter Video
The following video outlines the product, its purpose, its selling point, and its means of usage.
Conclusion + Future Work
This project was overall a success. The final product produced the desired motion and the functionality was correct, but the solenoid valve leaked and often became jammed due to its tight press-fit design. In the future, modifications to the system could be made such that users could operate the device from remote locations, such that plant watering could occur while customers are away from home. All in all, the system provided the motion that it was required to and allowed the implementation of many of the skills that were developed during the course of the semester.