Vespertílio 01: seeding robot for family farming

Project objective, problem to be solved, and main actions

The main objective of the project was to develop a low-cost robot, easy to transport and handle, to perform soil analysis and seed planting functions.

Food insecurity is one of the main problems in Brazil. So the project aims to help and intensify food production through robotics, with the search for alternative low-cost technologies. It also seeks to ensure dignified living and working conditions for rural people, as well as contribute to the preservation of agrobiodiversity.

The idea came from a student, who contacted me to advise him. From there, we started planning and organizing the research. The student identified the problem in the social environment in which he lives and thought about how he could help the farmers. Thus, interviews were conducted with the small farmer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnjUwyLSXzI

Deepening into the issue and involvement of the school and local community

To understand the challenge of the theme, research in the literature was carried out and studies were based on data from society in general.

The school community supported the idea, directing teachers who were related to the topic to contribute what was needed, and also had support from the school management and the parents of the student Ud Madeiro Pereira, who contributed to the development of the project.

As part of the project needed recyclable materials, the students sought these materials from the local community, in addition to seeking support from farmers in the region to understand the problems they face.

The development of the solution

The practices involved in the construction of the robot (cutting, welding, assembly, etc.) were carried out in the home of the student author of the project due to the pandemic and under adult supervision. For the construction of the mechanical structure of the Vespertilio 01 robot, recycled materials taken from scrap motorcycle parts located in the city were used. Four hubs were used for the conveyor shafts and four crowns were used to move them. For traction, a pinion was fixed on the motor shaft. The treadmills are motorcycle chains. Two recycled electric car glass motors (90 kgf each) were used to move the robot. The seed distributor was made with a 100mm PVC pipe with a perforated wooden top and a PET bottle as a distribution regulating funnel. To complete the data, field tests were carried out with the prototype applied in the sowing of a plantation, as well as the continuous speed and the average cost of obtaining and marketing.

The construction of the prototype

The final work obtained was a prototype. The presentation was held at a science fair in two stages: regional and state.

Evaluation of the process and the developed solution

Since the project was an out-of-school project aimed at FEBRACE, there was no formal evaluation. So the project was progressing very well, being well publicized. What I did was to observe the performance of students in their roles and talk to them about it.

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