a portable corn stalk strength measurement devicecapstone project presentation: a portable corn...

Engineering Design Studio | January 2016Prof. Felix Hardmood Beck

A Portable Corn Stalk Strength Measurement Device

Shien Yang LeeEngineering Design Studio | 8 May 2016

»The engineer’s first problem in any design situation is to discover what the problem really is.«The Door

Shien Yang Lee | Engineering Design Studio | 2016Capstone Project Presentation: A Portable Corn Stalk Strength Measurement Device

Problem Definition

$49 bn – value of 2015 US corn crop

5% – proportion of annual US corn crop lost to lodging

18% – fraction of strength variation accounted for by Rind Penetration Resistance

81% – fraction of strength variation accounted for by Stalk Flexural Stiffness

»Design depends largely on constraints.«Charles Eames, 1972


Typical field conditions

Design Constraints


Design Requirements and Test Criteria

Portable

Weigh < 5 kg for single-user operation

Fit between 20-inch wide corn rows

Accurate

Account for at least 50% of observed strength variation

Durable

Function reliably under field conditions

Rapid

Collect data on at least 180 plants per hour of testing


Overall device architecture

Proposed Design


Device in operation

Proposed Design

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWmtT3DhSX8

»Great design is iteration of good design.«Onur Mustak Cobanli, 2014


First-generation design

Design Development

Proof-of-concept

Emphasis on stability and flexibility

Tested in Huxley, IA – November 2015


Second-generation prototype

Design Development

Revised design

Emphasis on ergonomics and usability

Tested in Vijayawada, India – January 2016


Third-generation prototype

Design Development

Current design

Emphasis on reliability and manufacturability

Tested in Guntur, India – March 2016

»In God we trust, all others must bring data.«W. Edwards Deming


Field test of first-generation prototype

Test Results

Approx. 2 weeks post-harvest

Field-modified version of 1st-generation prototype

1 variety, 2 locations

Operator: Shien Yang Lee


Field test of second-generation prototype

Test Results

Late flowering stage (green stalks)

Second-generation prototype

1 variety, 2 locations

Operator: Shien Yang Lee


Field test of third-generation (current) prototype

Test Results

Immediately post-harvest

Current prototype

18+ varieties, 2 locations

Operator: Dr. Daniel Robertson


Discussion & Future Work

Predictive power of stalk flexural stiffness have exceeded expectations

Current prototype provides a portable, accurate, rapid, and durable platform for further validation of model

Large-scale field test planned for the fall

Future work: improving reliability and documentation for manufacturing and use by field personnel


Acknowledgements

Prof. Douglas CookDr. Daniel RobertsonDr. Michael DavisProf. Felix Hardmood BeckMatt Karau

Monsanto CompanyNYU Abu Dhabi Office of Undergraduate ResearchNational Science Foundation (Grant #1400973)US Dept. of Agriculture (Grant #1008002)

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The content of this presentation is protected by copyright law. All rights tothe presentation and its contents rest with New York University Abu Dhabi.

The content of this presentation may not be copied in part or as a whole, published, altered, translated, sold or used without the prior written consent of the author:

Shien Yang Lee,[email protected]

We hereby expressedly state that the surrender, sending or consignment of this presentation do not grant any rights of utilisation. The information, ideas and content on this presentation may not be passed on to third parties without the permission of the author.

© Shien Yang Lee, New York University Abu Dhabi, 2016

New York University Abu DhabiPO Box 129188Saadiyat IslandAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirateshttp://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/academics/academic-divisions/engineering.html

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a portable corn stalk strength measurement devicecapstone project presentation: a portable corn...

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