PRE2017 4 Groep6: Difference between revisions
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== Group members == | == Group members == | ||
* David van den Beld 1001770 | * David van den Beld, 1001770 | ||
* Gerben Erens 0997906 | * Gerben Erens, 0997906 | ||
* Luc Kleinman 1008097 | * Luc Kleinman, 1008097 | ||
* Maikel Morren 1002099 | * Maikel Morren, 1002099 | ||
* Adine van Wier 0999813 | * Adine van Wier, 0999813 | ||
== Project pages == | == Project pages == | ||
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Wildfires are occurring throughout the world at an increasing rate. Great droughts in various regions across the globe are increasing the probability of wildfires to occur. National parks deal with major wildfires multiple times a year. Areas devastated by wildfires are mostly devoid of life, while potentially still having an extremely fertile soil containing all the biomass left after the fire. Artificial reforestation can accelerate the natural process which accounts for the regrowth of the forests. This process might be enhanced by means of technology, for example by deploying robots that plant seeds of saplings in these areas. <br> | Wildfires are occurring throughout the world at an increasing rate. Great droughts in various regions across the globe are increasing the probability of wildfires to occur. National parks deal with major wildfires multiple times a year. Areas devastated by wildfires are mostly devoid of life, while potentially still having an extremely fertile soil containing all the biomass left after the fire. Artificial reforestation can accelerate the natural process which accounts for the regrowth of the forests. This process might be enhanced by means of technology, for example by deploying robots that plant seeds of saplings in these areas. <br> | ||
This project investigates the possibility and potential of | This project investigates the possibility and potential of utilizing robots to restore these devastated areas to their former glory. In order to investigate this possibility, a thorough analysis of different methods of reforestation is made first. By comparing methods of reforestation a great deal can be learned about which negative aspects of the current reforestation methods should be enhanced by a new reforestation robot. Also, this analysis will explore if a new method of reforestation is needed at all. Beyond this, two case studies are investigated. These case studies show how reforestation and forest fires are currently being handled. The case help studies help to get a better understanding of what the robot should be able to do and what it ought not to be able to do and thus help to define design criteria. <br> | ||
Finally, multiple preliminary designs are made for the seeding mechanism of the robot which would accomplish all necessities found during the analysis of the different reforestation methods and which follows all the criteria discovered in the case studies. Out of these designs, the one ranking highest on the criteria unraveled during the literature review and case studies is chosen to be the best suitable seeding mechanism for the future robot. Additionally, a design is made for a user interface that will allow the staff of a national park to control a swarm of robots in a user-friendly and non time consuming way. Lastly, some suggestions for future research are given, in the topics of what other crucial functionalities the robot requires, how the robots would be able to communicate among themselves during operation, and how the robots would be able to communicate with the user in case of unforeseen circumstances. To conclude, this project aims to assess the necessity of a robot to rebuild a forest in a national park after a forest fire, discover the functionalities such a robot must have and design a user interface to control such robots based on the gained information. | |||
=== Planning === | === Planning === | ||
Latest revision as of 09:55, 21 June 2018
Group members
- David van den Beld, 1001770
- Gerben Erens, 0997906
- Luc Kleinman, 1008097
- Maikel Morren, 1002099
- Adine van Wier, 0999813
Project pages
For all the branches of the project diverging from the initial set-up and planning, please see their respective pages;
- General Literature Review
- Extended Literature Review
- Case studies
- User and product analysis
- Designing the robot
- User interface and communication model
- Project documentation
- Project reflection
This page itself is dedicated to general information about the project, i.e. problem statement, goal, planning, etc..
Project
Project Statement
Wildfires are occurring throughout the world at an increasing rate. Great droughts in various regions across the globe are increasing the probability of wildfires to occur. National parks deal with major wildfires multiple times a year. Areas devastated by wildfires are mostly devoid of life, while potentially still having an extremely fertile soil containing all the biomass left after the fire. Artificial reforestation can accelerate the natural process which accounts for the regrowth of the forests. This process might be enhanced by means of technology, for example by deploying robots that plant seeds of saplings in these areas.
This project investigates the possibility and potential of utilizing robots to restore these devastated areas to their former glory. In order to investigate this possibility, a thorough analysis of different methods of reforestation is made first. By comparing methods of reforestation a great deal can be learned about which negative aspects of the current reforestation methods should be enhanced by a new reforestation robot. Also, this analysis will explore if a new method of reforestation is needed at all. Beyond this, two case studies are investigated. These case studies show how reforestation and forest fires are currently being handled. The case help studies help to get a better understanding of what the robot should be able to do and what it ought not to be able to do and thus help to define design criteria.
Finally, multiple preliminary designs are made for the seeding mechanism of the robot which would accomplish all necessities found during the analysis of the different reforestation methods and which follows all the criteria discovered in the case studies. Out of these designs, the one ranking highest on the criteria unraveled during the literature review and case studies is chosen to be the best suitable seeding mechanism for the future robot. Additionally, a design is made for a user interface that will allow the staff of a national park to control a swarm of robots in a user-friendly and non time consuming way. Lastly, some suggestions for future research are given, in the topics of what other crucial functionalities the robot requires, how the robots would be able to communicate among themselves during operation, and how the robots would be able to communicate with the user in case of unforeseen circumstances. To conclude, this project aims to assess the necessity of a robot to rebuild a forest in a national park after a forest fire, discover the functionalities such a robot must have and design a user interface to control such robots based on the gained information.
Planning
Below follows the planning for the project for the upcoming 9 weeks constituting the course 0LAUK0 Project: Robots Everywhere.
| Week number | Task | Person assigned |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||
| Choose definitive subject | Collaborative effort of all members | |
| Define problem statement and objectives | David | |
| Define users | Adine | |
| Obtain user requirements | Gerben | |
| Work out typical use cases | Luc | |
| Define the milestones and deliverables | Maikel | |
| Define the approach of the problem | Collaborative effort of all members | |
Search for relevant state-of-the-art (SotA) sources, categories:
|
All divided into the subcategories:
| |
| Make project planning | Collaborative effort of all members | |
| 2 | ||
| Review user requirements and use cases | Collaborative effort of all members | |
| Finish collecting SotA articles and write SotA section | Each member for their respective subcategory | |
Research different application sectors for reforestation to narrow problem statement:
|
All divided into categories:
| |
Make preliminary robot designs for the following seeding mechanisms:
|
Divided into:
| |
| 3 | ||
| Review and narrowing of problem statement | Collaborative effort of all members | |
Extended literature review on specific subject of reforestation:
|
All divided into the following categories:
| |
| Rewrite problem statement | Luc | |
| Review users for narrowed problem | Adine | |
| 4 | ||
| Edit the general literature review on wiki | Maikel | |
Research the costs of reforestation methods:
|
Divided by:
| |
| Rewrite segment of need for control and biodiversity into one introductory segement | David | |
| Start making 3D skechtes of preliminary designs | Gerben | |
| Document wiki on extended literature review page | Adine | |
| Start keeping a log of the research and design process | Adine | |
| Look for case studies | Maikel & Luc | |
| 5 | ||
| Write case studies | Maikel & Luc | |
| Remake planning to fit new goal of the project | Maikel | |
| Redefine objectives to fit new goal of project | David | |
| Rewrite drilling mechanism section | Gerben | |
| Finish a first 3D model | Gerben | |
| 6 | ||
| Continue 3D modelling | Gerben | |
| Elaborate and extend upon current preliminary designs (including sketch) | Maikel, Gerben & David | |
| Write wiki page for case studies | Luc & Maikel | |
| Evaluate designs using criteria from literature study | Adine | |
| 7 | ||
| Compile an overview of project progress by week | Adine | |
| Start building a user interface | Luc & Gerben | |
| Evaluate the project and analyse pitfalls | Maikel & David | |
| Start making the presentation | David & Adine | |
| Start an editorial run over the entire wiki | Maikel | |
| Continue making user interface | Luc & Gerben | |
| 8 | ||
| Finish writing last segments for the wiki | Collaborative effort of all members | |
| Finish final presentation | Adine, David | |
| Complete wiki | Gerben, Luc | |
| Finish editorial run over wiki | Maikel | |
| Buffer time | Collaborative effort of all members |
Approach
The problem will be approached by means of a design question. What would be the best design for an effective seeding mechanism which can be used in a mobile robot deployed in a reforestation operation, and how would this robot be controlled? The gross of the project is carried out sequentially as each subject builds further upon the conclusion reached during the last subject, which is represented in the structure of this Wiki consisting of several subpages corresponding to these subjects. Albeit that the project is carried out sequentially, within each sequence several tasks are divided such that they can be carried out in parallel by different group members. During the last phase of the project, when the major milestones have been finished, the project wrap up consists of several small independent task which will allow us to abandon the sequential structure which was necessary during the other phases and carry out these tasks in parallel to gain in time.
Milestones and Deliverables
| Date | Accomplished |
|---|---|
| 30-04-2018 | SotA research done |
| 03-05-2018 | Have problem narrowed down |
| 17-05-2018 | Finish collecting data about reforestation techniques |
| 24-05-2018 | Have case studies finished |
| 31-05-2018 | Have preliminary designs including 3D model and pick winner design |
| 07-06-2018 | Have analysis of communication requirements and control sequence |
| 14-06-2018 | Finish user interface |
| 14-06-2018 | Presentation is finished |
| 21-06-2018 | Wiki is completely updated |