Multipurpose Robot with Ultrasonic Atomizer Sprayer for Insect Inspections Control

June 24, 2013

1. Problem Definition / Introduction This project is on design and develops a robot which uses ultrasonic atomizer to produce vapor in controlling insect infestations. The robot will move along a straight track at predetermined time interval to release the pesticide using the ultrasonic atomizer sprayer. 2. Preliminary Background Study Robot is an machine that is mechanically or virtually that is guided with programming . It can be an autonomous or manually controlled. This robotic field also already entered the agriculture industry and it has played a huge role in helping the growth of this industry. One of the robot system currently used is pesticide spraying robot. This idea on coming out with this type of robot is the less the work of the farmer and also reduce the damage cause by this pesticide to the farmer. The inhalation of pesticides used within a green- house can, in some cases, be fatal or cause permanent damage to the lung tissue. Even relatively small amounts of exposure to many chemicals over long periods of time can be damaging to the worker. Due the hazards of such exposure, protective clothing and equipment must be used. However, research has showed that protective clothing does reduce the possible amount of exposure but does not stop it[1].Many pesticides have been found to be able to penetrate clothing and even rubber gloves within half an hour and a manual spraying task can take several hours depending on the size of the greenhouse. A further advantage of using an automatic sprayer is that various concentrations of pesticides can be applied at levels where there would normally be an increased the risk of toxin exposure to the human applicator. The ideal time to spray plants within a greenhouse is in the early evening as a result of some chemicals used on plants adversely reacting to ultraviolet light and intense heat. An automatic spraying system could be set to begin operation at night avoiding out of hours work whilst ensuring that the plants are sprayed in conditions that cause the least amount of damage to the plants[2]. The benefits include the decreased labor costs, reduced pesticide wastage costs and the obvious reduction in human health hazards [3]. The designing of the robot also is crucial in doing this project , where lots of factors need to be taken in consideration. Such as , track of the field , motor selection of the robot , selection of ultrasonic atomizer, and the design of mounting of tyre need to suit the rail and track.

Multipurpose Robot with Ultrasonic Atomizer Sprayer for Insect Inspections Control

June 24, 2013

3. Project Objective To design and develop a robot that can help to spray the pesticide using ultrasonic atomizer . Plus , it need to be an autonomous robot which has to follow it track to spray pesticide to the plant . On top of that , the robot need to make a full journey where , it need to move forward and back of the track. 4. Project Details This project will be carried out based on the following methodology : 1) Design ideas for the robot 2) CAD drawing of the final design 3) Identify component for the robot 4) Purchase components for the robot 5) Build the robot base 6) Test the robot base whether it can move with load on it 7) Understand how ultrasonic atomizer work 8) Purchase suitable ultrasonic atomizer 9) Build track for the robot 10) Work on controller and electronic components for the robot 11) Testing of the robot in the lab 12) Testing the robot in the field Implementations Issues and Possible Challenges : 1) To make the robot structure flexible to the unsmooth surface of the track 2) Choosing the right motor for the robot as it has to carry huge amount of pesticide in a tong 3) Choosing the best ultrasonic atomizer spray 4) Need to build a track for the robot where the track need to follow the specification of the robot to move

Multipurpose Robot with Ultrasonic Atomizer Sprayer for Insect Inspections Control

June 24, 2013

Flowchart for Project Methodology Design idea for the robot CAD Drawing of the final design Identify the components for the robot Purchases components needs to build the robot Build robot base

Test robot base and it can move with load Yes Understand how ultrasonic atomizer works

No

Purchase suitable ultrasonic atomizer Build track for the robot Work on controller and electronic components for the robot.

Testing the robot in the lab Testing the robot in the field Figure 1 : Flowchart of this project methodology
3

Multipurpose Robot with Ultrasonic Atomizer Sprayer for Insect Inspections Control

June 24, 2013

Timeline Table 1 : Gantt Chart for FYP1 WEEK NO 1 2 3 4 9 10 11 12 TASK Project Title Selection Project Proposal Literature Review Research Methodology Progress Report 1 Progress Report 2 Logbook Oral Presentation1 Due date (Every Friday of the week) Table 2 : Gantt Chart for FYP2 WEEK NO 1 2 3 TASK FYP 2 Briefing Conduct Experiment Data Collection and Result Analysis Progress Report 3 Thesis Writing Oral Presentation 2 Logbook 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

4 5 6 7

Multipurpose Robot with Ultrasonic Atomizer Sprayer for Insect Inspections Control

June 24, 2013

Conclusion This project has a great potential in the outside world. Where it helps to makes farmer works more easier and also help to reduce obvious reduction in human health hazards while spraying the pesticide. This project would be a challenge as the robot need to be suitable to outside world, where different type of farm has different type of path or track. Therefore , the building of this robot need to be look into closer in every steps . Not that all , the equipment of the robot also will cost high and cost consideration need to be taken as well. References [1] Riley B., Siemsen-Newman L., (2003) \Health Hazards Posed to Pesticide Applicators", Northwest Coalition For Alternatives to Pesticides, pp. 17-24. [2] Philip J.S., Furukawa T., Bulgin A., ( September 9 ,2005 ) \ Autonomous Pesticide Spraying Robot use in a Greenhouse , pp 2. [3] Haire, B. (2003), \UGA Scientists Develop 'row-bot'- Farming Robots not Science Fiction but technical fact", Technical Report, Georgia Faces, University of Georgia.