Unique Registration Number: 333
Project Objective:
The Objective of our project is to create a mobile operated coconut harvester robot operated via Bluetooth. The main objective is to replace the use of joysticks and remote control-based system with Bluetooth technology to control the robot. Our project focuses on a light weight design that is portable, easy to clamp and remove from the tree. The project is based on wireless communication where the data from the mobile application is transmitted to the robot via Bluetooth connection.
Abstract:
As per the research, Asia has the largest population of coconut trees. It is one of the most useful tree providing us with food, cosmetics, medicine and building material. Goa has around 25,000 hectares of coconut plantations (1.32 per cent of the total area of the state) and produces over 124 million coconuts per year. The coconut climber, also known as “render”, climbs the coconut trees without any support or protection and harvests the coconuts. He must climb around 50-55 trees a day in a plantation. Often, to climb a coconut tree, skilled labor is required. Sometimes, accidents can occur wherein the coconut climbers can slip and fall. During the rainy season, the climbers cannot climb the coconut tree hence coconut trees remain unharvested leading to loss of business to the plantation owner. In this report, we present a mobile app operated coconut tree climber robot made from wood. The robot consists of two parts that is the robotic arm and a climber mechanism. The climber mechanism is designed with respect to an organ stand. In the design, four springs are used to clamp to the tree. A set of four wheels powered by four Johnson motors are used for up and down movement of the robot across the tree bark. The robotic arm is used to harvest/pluck the coconuts from the tree. It has three degrees of freedom and is driven by two MG996R servo motors. A grinder with 775 dc motor is fitted to the arm. The
arm itself has a 360-degree rotation to it which is provided by a nema17 stepper motor. The arm
can also move 360 degrees across the diameter of the tree. Microcontroller esp32 is used as a Bluetooth hub for the robot. Atmega2560 is incorporated to the robot for motor control. The overall body of the arm and the climber is made of wood. Operation of the arm and the robot is done using a mobile application developed by us. The app features include battery level indicator and buttons to operate the robot. The app is connected to the esp32 via Bluetooth. The robot is powered by lion batteries and it also has a backup power circuit.
Project Outcome/Result/Findings:
The latest technology in the field of robotics has lent a hand to produce an idea of a coconut tree climber robot. The robot will have the ability to navigate along the tree and pluck the coconuts.
The project will have a chassis made of light metal material for the base and a cutter mounted on top of it. The movement of the robot across the diameter of the tree will be accomplished by the motors and spring action. Over and above, the project will be operated wirelessly through a mobile application. As we are focusing our market on large coconut tree plantation and the local people of Goa, the design of the robot will be easy to carry from one place to another, clamping to the tree will be uncomplicated and any non-professional person will be able to operate the robot.
The coconut climber robot will improve the technology in the field of agriculture. This indeed will provide easy and safe harvesting of coconuts. The best material will be used to make the robot lightweight and portable. Best components will be incorporated to enhance the performance of the robot.
Innovative Approach:
The design below consists of two parts: the body framework to climb the coconut tree and the robotic arm to cut the coconut tree. The Robotic arm will have the ability to move around 360 degrees. The climbing framework will be consisting of 4 motors which will have the ability to move forward and backward. Coil springs will be attached towards it for proper grip and holding the frame in place. Battery backup will be provided in case the connection is lost the esp. 32 Bluetooth module will be connected to app Bluetooth. The Esp. 32 will be powered with Lithium Ion Battery based on its specifications. The esp. 32 will control the driver IC via the H-Bridge circuit which will have the ability to move the DC motors in both the direction. Also it will control the other motors to which will be used for controlling the grinder and rotating the arm. The full controlling process will be done through App. The hexagon shaped will be used to give support for the following robotic arm which will be implemented further on Four motors will be place parallel to the x-shaped framework.