Self-Learning
Aaron Curley
During the capstone course Aaron has taught himself two useful skills. These skills are programming using the C language and executing Simulink models on Arduino hardware. C was learned because the vertical farming design incorporates Arduino hardware that utilizes the C language. Simulink is software used for control system design, modeling and simulation. Aaron choose to learn Simulink to better understand and analyze the Arduino circuits in the design.
Yanchu Du
In capstone, Yanchu taught himself two skills. The first one is Matlab's advanced skills. Because Yanchu thinks that as an engineer, Matlab is an important tool that can be used for calculation, analysis and programming. Learning it will certainly help the team. The second is geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. Learn it to be more professional in drawing, making the team's drawings more accurate.
Richard Hamilton
With the increased affordability and use of 3D printers in the current era, Richard chose to further his knowledge about these devices including printer selection, assembly, and modification. During this, Richard's comprehension regarding shear strength in different directions as well as considering the manufactuing limitations of the process being used has broadened. During this process, Richard also learned how to design and assemble parts in Autodesk Fusion 360. As electronics become commonplace in even the most basic designs, Richard also became skilled in through-hole soldering. This type of soldering makes it easy to add and replace components on circuit boards and is more convenient for prototyping than surface mount soldering. During this, Richard also developed basic concepts for the devices worked on such as Arduino software, Raspberry Pi software, and QMK for keyboards.
Hunter Kea
For the project there are many things we need to decide on, of all these the biggest decisions the team needs to make is what type of nutrient system will be the easiest nutrient source for the user. The user should have little to no input into the system preferably. Therefore, the team decided on an aquaponics system to create the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in the system which is the base of any planting system. Having the right amount of fish needs to be perfect if there is too much ammonia the plants will get ammonia burns but too little they won't grow. My research is trying to figure out a measuring system for different fish’s ammonia production. For the second self-learning assignment I decided to take on methods to shape and form sheet metal as well as the tools needed to perform tasks easier. These including things as simple as a sandbag and forming hammer to a sheet metal brake to put precise bends into sheets.
Alfred Serventi
For self-learning, Alfred chose to learn more about advanced design for manufacturing. This involved being aware of the cost between different materials and their manufacturing processes and using that knowledge to make a financially sound on how to go about requesting a part’s assembly through a third party. It was also learned that dimensions and their tolerances should be practical and specified only if the design calls for it. If not, dimensions should be general to avoid additional manufacturing costs. The second self-learning Alfred chose was an introduction to wood working. This included learning how to select certain types of wood for certain projects, as well as deciding whether nails carry more load compared to glue. By the end of the research, Alfred chose to create a small-scale frame for a greenhouse which included basic building techniques that will benefit the team in assembling the base unit for the vertical farming design.