Making a robot to help around my farm

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of creating a robot designed to assist with farming tasks, specifically planting seeds. Participants explore various features, functionalities, and potential challenges associated with building such a robot, including its design, cost, and practicality for personal farms.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a robot with a tiered functionality approach, including basic tools like a rake, hoe, and shovel, as well as features like a seed dispenser and solar power.
  • Concerns are raised about the feasibility of building such a robot for $1000, with some participants questioning the reliability and maintainability of the design.
  • Another participant suggests that automating existing farm equipment might be more cost-effective than creating a new robot from scratch.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the energy requirements for the proposed tasks, noting that clearing farmland is energy-intensive.
  • There is a discussion about the differences between the proposed robot and existing agricultural machinery, with some participants highlighting the high costs of modern farming equipment.
  • One participant mentions the seasonal nature of farming and how it affects the use of robots, contrasting it with hydroponic systems that allow for continuous production.
  • Another participant humorously suggests licensing the design to a well-known robotics company.
  • There are multiple suggestions for simplifying the project by focusing on tier one functionalities first.
  • Some participants express doubts about the participant's understanding of modern farming practices and the complexities involved in creating such a robot.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express skepticism about the feasibility of the project as proposed, particularly regarding cost and energy requirements. There is no consensus on the best approach to take, with some advocating for a focus on existing equipment automation while others support the idea of building a new robot.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight various assumptions about energy efficiency, cost estimates, and the practicality of the proposed robot's features. There are unresolved questions regarding the design's viability and the participant's familiarity with modern agricultural practices.

  • #31
A few things.

You say this is for the MIT Think Challenge. Ok, in that case:

(1) Your English has to improve substantially to have a shot. Use sentences. Check spelling. Use actual words and not non-words like "gonna".

(2) Read the proposal materials. Looks at the examples. Look at the past winners. Are your messages here anywhere near their level of quality? You have a lot of work to do.

Frankly, you should have already done this. Applications are due in three weeks, and you don't even have an idea yet. I can assure you that the successful proposals are all written by now, even if they are not finalized and submitted.

(3) Have some humility. You know nothing about modern farming is done, but think you can do it better. This will not impress the committee, at least not favorably. This actually works against you - if you come across as a know-it-all, why devote mentoring resources to help you? You already know it all.

(5) "probabay 6000 mm battery pak" does not help you case. That's a unit of length, and not batter capacity. If you mean 6000 mAh, that's much, much less than a planter uses. If you had done your homework, you would have learned 10 gallons of diesel per hour is about what these machines use - small to medium-sized. Your batter won't power this for longer than a tiny fraction of a second.

Please do your homework.
 
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  • #32
berkeman said:
nduka-san said:
... the point is that its a mit think challenge...
So this is for a school challenge at MIT?
Wait, what?? I totally missed that niggling detail! (because: grammar)

Talk about burying the lead...
 
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  • #34
Vanadium 50 said:
A few things.

You say this is for the MIT Think Challenge. Ok, in that case:

(1) Your English has to improve substantially to have a shot. Use sentences. Check spelling. Use actual words and not non-words like "gonna".

(2) Read the proposal materials. Looks at the examples. Look at the past winners. Are your messages here anywhere near their level of quality? You have a lot of work to do.

Frankly, you should have already done this. Applications are due in three weeks, and you don't even have an idea yet. I can assure you that the successful proposals are all written by now, even if they are not finalized and submitted.

(3) Have some humility. You know nothing about modern farming is done, but think you can do it better. This will not impress the committee, at least not favorably. This actually works against you - if you come across as a know-it-all, why devote mentoring resources to help you? You already know it all.

(5) "probabay 6000 mm battery pak" does not help you case. That's a unit of length, and not batter capacity. If you mean 6000 mAh, that's much, much less than a planter uses. If you had done your homework, you would have learned 10 gallons of diesel per hour is about what these machines use - small to medium-sized. Your batter won't power this for longer than a tiny fraction of a second.

Please do your homework.
1 I am typin shorthand on phone but i you are correct i would have to type faster better enlish for this
2 i already have an idea 2 this is an extra idea
3 I am sorry for bein so cocky
4 doesn't exist
5 i mean 6000 mah but ill probabaly but the battery is just to store the solar panel its charers durin the niht as lon as it can plant the seeds of a small arde doesn't really matter to me tbh
 
  • #35
DaveC426913 said:
Your robot will be top heavy.
And will get stuck in the mud.
 
  • #36
DaveC426913 said:
I totally missed that niggling detail! (because: grammar)

Oh, you can't fool me. There was no grammar there! :wink:

nduka-san said:
i mean 6000 mah but ill probabaly but the battery is just to store the solar panel its charers durin the niht

Please calculate how long you can operate even a hedge trimmer with that battery. Because I am a nice guy, I'll make it multiple choice:
A. One minute
B. Two minutes.
C. Three minutes.
D. Four minutes.
E. Five minutes.
 
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  • #37
Vanadium 50 said:
Oh, you can't fool me. There was no grammar there! :wink:

true true sorry for the bad grammar

Please calculate how long you can operate even a hedge trimmer with that battery. Because I am a nice guy, I'll make it multiple choice:
A. One minute
B. Two minutes.
C. Three minutes.
D. Four minutes.
E. Five minutes.

multiple choice question 1 :A
should i do a 6 volt battery
 
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  • #38
nduka-san said:
should i do a 6 volt battery
Really? Do you not understand that it is irrelevant how much VOLTAGE alone the battery can supply? You COULD have a 6V battery that is capable of providing one milliamp-hour. Where would that leave you?
 
  • #39
nduka-san said:
1 I am typin shorthand on phone but i you are correct i would have to type faster better enlish for this
Ok, everyone is having their fun batting you around a bit, but the message isn't sinking in. Here it is: in order to be taken seriously, you have to act serious. There is nothing - and I mean absolutely nothing - serious about your approach here. The tryping is just the tip of the iceberg. So for your next thread:
1. Clearly define your problem, goals and constraints.
2. Do your own research.
3. Type in correct English.

This is not a request: forum rules require it. Thread locked.
[This post was typed on a cell phone.]
 
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