FABRICATION OF REMOTE-CONTROLLED LAWN-MOWER

Design and Construction

1. USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY, SOKOTO FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING PROJECT SEMINAR DEFENCE TOPIC : FABRICATION OF REMOTE-CONTROLLED LAWN-MOWER BY YAKUBU ISAH 1811402024 SUPERVISOR: Engr. Dr. Abubakar Saddiq Mohammed 1

2. 2 OUTLINES Introduction Background of the study Aims and Objectives Justification of study Scope of study Literature Review Design Methodology Test, Results and Discussion Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

3. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION A lawnmower is a machine used to cut grass to a uniform height, powered by electricity, fuel, or manual effort, simplifying lawn maintenance. Modern advancements include remote-controlled lawnmowers equipped with sensors like rain, light, ultrasonic, and infrared, enabling intelligent and efficient operation. These innovations address diverse needs, including those of individuals with physical limitations and businesses seeking cost-effective solutions. 3

4. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Maintaining lawns is a routine task that requires time, effort, and skill. Traditional manual lawnmowers are labor-intensive, while automated alternatives can be costly and often lack customization. In recent years, remote-controlled lawnmowers have emerged as a solution, blending convenience, efficiency, and affordability. 4

5. AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this project is to develop and fabricate a remote-control lawn mower which will be powered and control remotely. The specific objectives are as follows: Objectives: To implement the processing unit 2. Seamless control of the lawnmower. 3. Testing of the remote-control lawn mower. 5

6. JUSTIFICATION This project is focused on addressing several key challenges in the realm of lawn care. The primary issue it seeks to address is the labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of traditional manual lawn mowing, which can be physically demanding and especially challenging for those with physical limitations. Additionally, the project aims to provide a solution for small business owners with limited grassy areas that require regular maintenance, as they often face substantial costs for lawn care services. 6

7. SCOPE OF THE STUDY This study plays a crucial role in advancing the field of lawn maintenance by addressing the limitations of traditional mowing methods through the introduction of a remote-controlled lawn mower. Its significance can be summarized as follows: Enhancing Convenience and Accessibility Promoting Technological Innovation Environmental Sustainability Supporting Cost-Effective Solutions 7

8. CHAPTER TWO 8 The concept of the remote-controlled lawn mower dates back to the 19th century when grass cutters were pulled by animals like cows or buffalos. These animals would pull the grass cutter while it performed its task, which was time consuming and required a lot of manual labor. The first lawn mower was invented in 1830 by a man named Edwin Budding, an engineer from England. He developed the first “REEL” mower, which was a hand-pushed mower with blades that rotated on a reel. While working in a textile mill, Budding noticed a machine that was used to share the nap of velvet, which to Budding, a similar concept would enable the cutting of grass if the mechanism could be mounted in a wheeled frame to make the blades rotate close to the lawns surface. He went to partnership with a local engineer, John Ferrabee , and together they developed a cylinder, or reel-type mower made of cast iron. It was a series of blades arrange around a cylinder with a push handle . LITERATURE REVIEW

9. 9 Budding and Ferrabee were shrewd enough to allow other companies to build copies of their mower under license, the most successful of these being Ransomes of Ipswich which began making mowers as early as 1832. The company has made virtually continuously ever since and is now the world’s largest manufacturer of lawn care equipment. By the 1850s Buddings early patents has lapsed and other companies were able to introduce their own machines. In the middle of the decade, Thomas Green and Son of Leeds introduced a mower called the Silens Messor (Meaning Silent Cutter), which used chain to transmit power from the rear roller to the cutting cylinder.

10. 10 Why Mowing is Important for the Grass Here are some benefits of mowing your lawn: helps to keep the grass at a consistent length, which helps it to grow evenly and look its best, help to remove dead grass and other debris, keeping the lawn healthy and looking its best, help to control weeds and other unwanted plants, keeping the lawn looking neat and tidy, and, maintaining a healthy and attractive lawn.

11. 11 CHAPTER THREE DESIGN METHODOLOGY In summary, the combined efforts in implementing a sophisticated processing unit and achieving seamless control are pivotal steps toward the realization of the remote-control lawnmower. By addressing these objectives, we aim to deliver a cutting-edge solution that redefines the user experience in lawn maintenance. . FIGURE 1: COMPONENT HIERARCHY OF RC-LAWNMOWER  

12. 12 COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION PLATE 1: ARDUINO UNO PLATE 2: 12VDC BLADE MOTOR PLATE 3: 12VDC WHEEL MOTOR

13. 13 COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION PLATE 4: RELAY (JQC-3F ) PLATE 5: CASTOR WHEEL (75mm) PLATE 6: IC 7805

14. 14 REMOTE CONTROLLED LAWNMOWER SECTIONS POWER SUPPLY UNIT INPUT UNIT (INFRARED SENSOR) PROCESSING UNIT (ARDUINO UNO) DRIVER UNIT OUTPUT UNIT

15. 15 MATERIALS USED The following materials were used in order to design and construct the Remote – controlled Lawn Mower project. Arduino Uno board Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Arduino Breadboard Vero board Resistors Relays Diode 12V DC Motors

16. 16 3.7.1 TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED The following tools and equipment were used in constructing the project. 1. Soldering iron 2. Engineering knife 3. Lead sucker 4. Screw driver 5. Switch button Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

17. 17 PROCESSING UNIT (ARDUINO UNO) INPUT UNIT (INFRA RED SENSOR) OUTPUT UNIT (MOTORS ) POWER SUPPLY UNIT FIGURE 1: BLOCK DIAGRAM OF LAWNMOWER

18. 18 ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN THE FABRICATION OF A REMOTE CONTROLLED LAWNMOWER PLATE 7: WELDING PLATE 8: DRILLING PLATE 9: FASTENING

19. 19 The electronics part of this project is constructed on a vero board. The processing unit is built around the Atmega 328 microcontroller. The remote-controlled (input) unit is built around the TSOP1838 infrared sensor. The driver unit is built using MOSFETs. The blade motor is a motor engineered with a power rating of 12v and a rotational speed of 3300RPM, for effective lawn mowing. The lawn mower is driven by the rear wheels. The drive is a differentia; wheels. A 12v and 3300 RPM motor is connected to each of the rear wheels. In this way, propelling the lawn mower across the diverse terrain of the lawn is guaranteed. PLATE 13: ATMEGA 328P PLATE 14: IC LM7805 PLATE 15: MOSFET

20. 20 Determination of Limiting Resistor’s Value Series resistor or limiting resistor is connected in series with the Light Emitting Diode (LED) in order to stabilize the LED’s current, but energy is wasted in the resistor. The maximum current for the LED is 20mA and the voltage across the LED and series resistor is 5V. Therefore, the current (I) passing through the LED is: V = IR R = 250 Ω The closest resistance value from the list of standard resistors is 220 Ω. Therefore, this value of resistance was chosen.  

21. 21 CHAPTER FOUR RESULT AND DISCUSSION Testing is the activity of checking a device in order to find out its workability ( Awschalom et.al 2002).The testing of this project involves both hardware testing and software testing since it is a programmable device. EQUIPMENTS USED FOR TESTING Digital Multimeter (DMM) : This serves as ammeter to measure current, voltmeter to measure voltage and ohmmeter to measure resistance or continuity. Tektronix TDS 2024 four – channel digital storage oscilloscope: This is used to visualize the voltage waveform at different stages of the circuit. It is also used to measure voltage.

22. 22 Testing procedure for the driver unit The driver unit consists of a set of three 12V relays, each connected in series with an IRF630 MOSFET, across the 12V D.C supply voltage. The MOSFET being at the ground side while the relay being at the Vcc side. The relay switches on a motor when the signal at the Gate of the MOSFET is HIGH (5V). To test this unit, a 5V potential was applied at the Gate, momentarily by connecting a wire from the 5V supply line and using it to touch the Gate of the MOSFET. The table below summarizes the result. VOLTAGE AT GATE OF THE MOSFETs RESULT MOSFET 1: + 5 V The right motor runs. MOSFET 2: + 5 V The left motor runs. MOSFET 3: + 5 V The centre motor runs.

23. 23 Testing procedure for the Infrared Unit (Input Unit) The Infrared Unit consists mainly of a TSOP1838 infrared sensor, and a BC557 PNP transistor, as shown in figure 3.4. The TSOP1838 infrared sensor on receiving a signal, sends a LOW to the transistor. This LOW signal is weak, and needs to be amplified by the transistor. The transistor forms a voltage divider with the 100K resistor. To test this unit, an LED is connected with its anode to Vcc , and its cathode through a 220 ohms limiting resistor to junction A (See figure 4). When any button on the remote is pressed, the LED blinks. This shows that this unit is working fine.

24. 24 TEST RESULTS OF THE LAWNMOWER STEPS RESULT Forward Button on a TV remote pressed. The lawn mower moves forward Rightward Button on a TV remote pressed. The lawn mower moves to the right. Lefttward Button on a TV remote pressed. The lawn mower moves to the left. OK Button on a TV remote pressed. The lawn cuts grass. Backward Button on a TV remote pressed. The lawn mower stops moving. The different units of the project were interconnected, and the following procedure was carried out to test the workability of the final product.

25. DISCUSSION The remote-controlled lawnmower is designed for simplicity, accessibility, and efficiency, catering to both novices and experienced users. It reduces physical effort, enhances convenience, and undergoes rigorous testing to meet user expectations

26. 26 SUMMARY,CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY This project: Design and Construction a Remote – controlled Lawn Mower is a device that is constructed using the ATmega328 microcontroller. The key component being the microcontroller. Other components surrounding this microcontroller are MOSFETS used as sensitive electronic switches, resistors used to limit current, capacitors used as filters and as de-couplers, relay used as an electromechanical switch, linear voltage regulators to give fixed voltage, LEDs as indicator, motor to generate motion, among others. The project is designed to make lawn mowing automatically and conveniently. The comprehensive execution of our project involved intricate work across mechanical, electrical, and mechatronic dimensions. Each component was meticulously selected to harmonize with our overarching objectives, emphasizing transparency, care, and integrity as outlined in previous chapters .

27. 27 CONCLUSION The primary aim of this project has been achieved with good results. The project after construction was tested and found to work effectively as predicted from the design. Currently, lawn mowing is done manually, or using semi - automated devices. With this project, lawn mowing can be easy, and conveniently done. In general, like every other programmable logic, this project is flexible and can be modified for a different functionality. .

28. 28 CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED Components Breakdown Components Complexity Transport Fare Intellectual Property Protection

29. 29 RECOMMENDATION The following recommendations are hereby made for future improvement to this project: Design and Construction of a Remote – controlled Lawn Mower.. Through the use of internet of things ( IoT ), the project can be interfaced with a personal computer (PC) or a mobile device. In this way, lawn mowing can be done even if the user is not physically present at the lawn. With Machine Learning, the product can learn when the user normally needs lawn mowing. The device will then operate itself as the learned time.

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