Project Description

The Autonomous Pinecone Collector project focuses on designing and building a small robotic system that can pick up fallen pinecones from outdoor areas such as fields and forests. The goal of this project is to make the process of pinecone collection faster, easier, and safer by reducing the amount of manual work needed. Collecting pinecones by hand is time-consuming and sometimes dangerous on uneven ground. By developing a robot that can perform this task automatically, our team hopes to improve safety and efficiency while providing an example of how small-scale robotics can be used in outdoor environmental maintenance. This project combines design, mechanics, and control systems into one machine through collaboration between Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) students. The design concept is based on a mobile robot that can travel over rough and sloped terrain while collecting pinecones into an onboard storage bin. The front section of the robot includes a rotating roller or brush-style collector that directs pinecones toward the storage container as the robot moves forward. The frame is designed to be lightweight but strong enough to support all the mechanical and electrical components. The mobility system will be designed to maintain traction and stability even on uneven surfaces, using either large wheels or a tracked configuration. This setup will allow the robot to move smoothly through different types of outdoor terrain such as soil, grass, or gravel. The control system will be designed to operate remotely during testing and may later support semi-autonomous functions. The ME team is responsible for the frame, suspension, and collection mechanism, while the EE team focuses on sensors, control, and power management. The robot is designed to be simple, easy to repair, and maintain. Each part of the system can be removed or replaced if something breaks or needs improvement. The storage basket is placed at the back of the robot, so pinecones can be emptied quickly after collection. Safety and reliability are important goals, as the robot should work outdoors for long periods without damage or failure. The team also aims to make the system easy to use so that anyone on the team can test and operate it safely. All main parts and wires will be protected to prevent damage from dust, dirt, or moisture. At the time of writing this report, the project is still in the design and modeling stage. The team has completed concept generation, subsystem research, and design evaluation to compare different options for the collection mechanism, suspension, and mobility system. CAD models of the main structure have been developed, and the team is preparing to begin prototype fabrication in the following phase. Once the prototype is built, the group will perform field testing to check mobility, collection performance, and structural durability. Data collected during these tests will be used to improve the design and verify that the robot meets its main goals. The total budget for this project is $3,000, which will cover materials, prototyping, and testing expenses. Additional funding may be used for spare parts or replacement components if necessary. The final deliverables will include a fully functional prototype, a complete CAD design package, testing data, and a final report that documents the design process, calculations, and results. The project will serve as a valuable example of teamwork between engineering disciplines and demonstrate how mechanical and electrical systems can work together to solve a real-world problem.