Food Insecurity

To create a Marketable product that measures stalk strength and is durable and user friendly to the agricultural industry.

Background
2016-2017



During the Fall semester of 2016 & the Spring semester of 2017 the team working on the Food Insecurities project created a device that measures the stalk strength of corn using the bending moment created by pushing the corn stalk over until it breaks. They were able to create a device that has since gone out in to the field and been used by seed research companies like Monsanto.

Design Task
Problem Statement

Dr. Daniel Robertson of the Mechanical Engineering Department wants to create a smaller, quicker, easier to use device that uses non-destructive testing to measure the stalk strength of corn. This device must be quicker than the current device and easy for the operator to use all day.

 Goals 

1. The device must be able to be operated by one person and be able to take its measurements and show the results within 30 seconds.

2. The device must be able to last a full work day and must use non-destructive testing to measure the stalk strength.

3. A working device must be complete by the end of the Fall 2017 semester.

4. Create documentation for how to connect the wires of the robot so that they may be unplugged and moved easily if needed.

Design Process
 Mechanical Components 



The design of our device uses a several key components - a linear actuator, load cell, needle, and back plate. The Linear actuator is used to push the needle attached to the load cell through the stalk to gather data on force. The back plate is used as a support for the stalk allowing for more accurate force measurements. The back plate is also used as a absolute zero when measuring distance with the linear potentiometer attached to the actuator. This data is then graphed and shown on a touch screen on top of the device.

 Electrical Components

The device uses a Raspberry Pi and a Arduino Controller to run the software and algorithms to create the force distance graph giving the stalk strength and diameter. The software is also able to track where the sample was taken using GPS and the plot number of the sample is able to be inputted.

Project Learning
 Software 

Most of the software has already been developed by the previous device's team, however changes must be made to allow for how the force is gathered relative to the distance of the needle.



 Fabrication 

The team worked together and with the team mentor in the machine shop to begin creating the needles, chuck adapter, load cell adapter, and actuator connector that will be used in device.

Team Members
 Josh Warnick 

My name is Josh Warnick. I am a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Idaho. I am from Lewiston Idaho and enjoy long walks on the beach.

 Drew Owens 

I am a Electrical Engineering major from Boise. I've always been interested in learning how things work and building things so I decided to go into engineering. Other hobbies of mine include running,skiing,hiking and camping.

Spencer Hauck

I am a Mechanical Engineering major from Sand Point Idaho where I grew up with a fascination skiing and traveling.

Justin Nesbitt

I am a Biological Engineering major from Meridian. As I have grown up, I have always enjoyed trying to figure out how things work and have been fairly successful at putting them back together again.