Making Something Out of

Nothing

Nethan Lanzaderas
11B
Mr. Cepeda
Technical Design
5/21/15
Identify the Problem
For every semester in Harmony Science Academy, there is 18 weeks
in one semester. For every 9 weeks in our engineering class, Mr. Cepeda,
the professor, assigns ONE intermediate level project. These last 9 weeks,
our instructor has given us a task to literally build something out of nothing.
The extra parts from multiple VEX Robotics kit has been laying around in
storage for a while. Our professor hated the idea of wasted materials. To

put the excess materials to work, Mr. Cepeda created a project that
included

the

understanding

in

automatic-functioning

technologies,

telecommunications, and sensors(transmitter and receivers). Whatever

materials we managed to think we were going to use in our projects, we
were allowed to collect them from the box filled of VEX robotic parts. The
expectations from our professor is interesting. Knowing the intermediate
level of this project, he didn't expect us to succeed. The results he is
looking forward to is everything we contributed towards the project.

Brainstorm Possible Solutions

My brainstorming process was one of the most difficult steps in the
project. I could not think of a mechanism that could fit this project to begin
with. An offset, general idea I had is that the project had to be small but
efficient. Knowing the potential of the VEX robotics kit, the robot it could
make to is an average, small scale robot and I did not want my project to
be dull nor too easy. Having given the task of functioning a wireless
mechanism was enough to contribute to the difficultness but I was
interested in the research process. Some of the vague ideas I began to
play with were functions of everyday activities such as brushing teeth,

excercise, washing dishes, driving, walking, etc. I think it was because I

thought too much about it, ironically, is what gave me a hard time. I should
have focused on mostly one topic and how to improve that certain field. As I
wonder hopeless towards this project, I confessed to my professor that I
had no clue on where to start. Mr. Cepeda gave me an idea of a can
crusher. The basic idea was to place a sensor that detects the cans'
presence and begin the crushing process automatically. A clean 180
degree servo sweep would then finish the job and send it into a trashcan.

General Ideas

In a total of 22 sketches, I began to express some of my ideas in

detail. The following sketches will be provided below but let me elaborate.
The main idea towards my sketches includes the placement of sensors to
detect the presence of a can, the servo, and a crushing mechanism. A few
of the designs began as a manual functioning mechanism simply because I
wasnt too confident in the wireless process.

Research
Having a decent
amount

of

the

hesitation

from

intimidating
intermediate level

of

this

project seemed to

pose, research was a critical part of my project. Knowing little to nothing on

how wireless and telecommunications technology functioned(besides the
easy answer of a transmitter and a receiver), the subject I needed to look
over scared me. As calculated, when I began to search for information, I
ended up in a dead end. Simply knowing what I wanted to build was not

enough. The first person I turned to for assistance was my former engineer
aunt, Shawn Glacken. The first thing she suggested was a rubber band
mechanism: winding it up and letting it go to crush the can. The second
thing she suggested is that the crusher part of my final design should be a
material that is stronger than an aluminum can such as stainless steel. The
sensors she suggested to place into my prototype were sensors similar to a
garage door. I turned to my father for a second opinion and he states that it
would be too expensive to obtain. The third thing she suggested, since she
knew I was struggling on my research, was to look into recycling websites
for ideas on how to tackle the project. I later on began to watch a video of a
large recycling machine and I strongly believed that it would somehow give
me the slightest idea on how my design was going to look like. The large
amount of material compounding did not assist me too much on my design
knowing my can crusher would simply crush one can at a time. Instead of
looking into big factories, the rest of my research consisted on a machine
called a vertical baler. The function of this device is similar to my desired
design and I finally had a wince of hope. As I begin to read further into
machines such as the vertical baler, the table of contents contained
information such as the functions and electrical components of this
machine. But as soon as I arrived to those two pages, it simply provided

information on how to maintain a functioning vertical baler. The website did

not contain any detailed information on how the mechanism worked. To
make up for insufficient progress during my second report, I started to
sketch a MANUAL design to present to my professor. The feedback was
decent but it did need to be wireless. In order to proceed with the idea I
proposed, my professor began to suggest which topics I should look into
which were activators, types of motors, mechanisms and simple machines,
wireless technology, motion sensors, and servos. Having to know some
kind of knowledge through these topics gave me a lot of boost on the
project. The next step after finishing my research was selecting my
approach.

Sources:
1. Shawn Glacken
2. Steve Gares
3. www.science.owstuffworks.com
4. www.newwastecare.com
5. www.ipsbalers.com
6. www.wisegeek.org
7. www.cs.cmu.edu
8. www.teachengineering.org
9. www.seatlerobotics.org
10.
www.dsprobotics.com
Consider Alternative Solution

Most
of

these alternative solutions are going to derive from the extra sketches I
made. If the wireless does not work out, Ill most probably switch over to
programming an Xbox controller to control the can crusher.

Select an Approach
Surprisingly, my selected approach does not derive from any of my
sketches but it does serve the same function.

 My sensors were weak and the hooks were added on to add

more torque into the system.
Wood as the bases can support the crushing weight.
Sensor triggers and stops the motion of crusher. The smasher
begins function after 5 seconds of placement. After the can is
smashed enough under a specific height, crusher stops.
Proposal
The main function of the device is to have a specific sensor to
indicate the placement of the aluminum can. The sensor is supposed to
trigger the actual smasher to begin after 5 seconds of placement. After
reaching the minimum height of the sensor, the crusher is to stop. A servo
feature on the side is supposed to sweep the can off the platform onto a
moving mechanism that softly disposes the can into a trashcan.It is a
friendly, simple contraption that is cheap. Overall, this machine is supposed
to help add more numbers of cans into a recycling bin.

Specify Criteria and Identify Constraints

Wireless functioning machine
At least one meeting with the professor per week.
Engineering Design Process

 Weebly Post
Size should be reasonable

Build/Test/Refine
The building process was fairly easy after selecting an approach.
Knowing the exact materials made it even better. When it came down to the
electrical portion and programming, it got complicated. While I tried to
connect the motors to the power distributor, it broke. At that point I knew it
wasn't going to work. Instead of trying to fix the technicality, I recorded the
motion of the machine. Before getting the chance of testing the motors, I
was positive that it could not haul such a heavy smasher which was an
anchor. During the refining stage, I did not attempt to make a program nor
fix the motors. Since I did the building stage the last minute, I could not
accomplish an autonomous mode. The smasher also posed a problem
which was the weight. I placed bricks at the end of the prototype as a
counter weight. Overall, if I started from the 2nd or 3rd week this project
was given to us, I think I would have been more satisfied with my results.

Communicate Results
I can honestly say that Im not content. There is no point in crying at this
point because I know I made a mistake on time management and
contribution towards the project. The project overall was a great experience
though. I struggled most of the time, the research and building process is
what interested me the most. My designs throughout followed the same
concepts: can crusher, sensors, servos. Sadly on my final prototype I didnt
attach a servo. I was too busy focusing on the automatic function of my
design which was to recall and drop down on the soda can until a specific
height. The programming stage, in my opinion, would have been the
hardest. I say the words 'would have' because I could not find an online
program for my robot. I found a program called Visual Studios but it does
not directly help with the programming I need for my prototype(although it is
possible to create a simple game on it). An alternative plan besides the
sensor was to connect an Xbox controller to my prototype, program it then
be able to control it. I barely accomplished building a failed prototype due to
harsh procrastination. Everything I wanted to accomplish for this project
has gone to failure. The stress and pressure from the beginning definitely
contributed to my lack of work. I already knew the level of the project but I

just did not contribute myself to the project further. I was simply able to
create a non-functioning prototype.