Month: March 2025

Potential Risks and Risk Management
The risks remain the same as they were last week. We were hoping to get started with the conveyor belt build as soon as Monday’s lab, but some of the necessary components did not arrive by then. We will be working over the weekends to compensate. Additionally, we were unable to access some of our project’s remaining components as they were stored in ANSYS Hall prior to break due to ECE Inventory running out of red bins. We received word the building will be re-opened on Monday. 

Overall Design Changes
No major design changes have been made since the last Team Status Report.

Schedule
We are slightly behind schedule when it comes to the mechanical portion of the project, especially due to shipment delays mentioned in Progress Update. We hope to continue building over the weekend (previously labeled as slack time) in addition to beyond the scheduled class time to compensate. 

Schedule – Gantt Chart

Progress Update     
We have obtained the remainder of the project’s mechanical components as of Friday. Due to unfortunate shipping complications that were beyond our control, the belt’s physical infrastructure did not arrive by Monday. We did, however, begin familiarizing ourselves with the project’s actuators (the servo and DC motor) as they arrived on time. Furthermore, we have started 3D printing the necessary belt components using the 3D filament that arrived earlier this week.                                                                                             

Potential Risks and Risk Management
The potential risks remain the same. As we begin the process of building the mechanical belt, we may potentially run into unforeseen circumstances with respect to compatibility during the integration of all our individual mechanical parts. However, we are confident that our risk mitigation strategies of purchasing components that are rated for loads greater than those for our purposes and thorough mechanical planning will not compromise the structural integrity of our project. 

Overall Design Changes
No major design changes have been made since the last Team Status Report.

Schedule
We are slightly behind schedule when it comes to the mechanical portion of the project. To get back on track, we will be building the mechanical belt and sorting mechanism this week. 

Schedule – Gantt Chart

Progress Update
We have obtained the camera, Jetson, and Arduino from the course inventory. Additionally, we ordered the remaining mechanical components necessary for the project’s completion. The items should arrive following Spring break, in time for us to begin both construction and programming the cohesive system. 

Applications of Product Solution

Part A (Written by Erin)
The main premise of our project is a scalable solution to the global issue of recycling. Different regions have different approaches to handling waste categorization; some of these solutions are more labor-intensive or machine-intensive than others. A consensus, however, is that these solutions are expensive and in need of refurbishment. Our solution takes into consideration these factors and proposes a simple approach with a short-range camera and a system equipped with a CV model and robust sorting mechanism. This approach considers global factors that tackle the availability of labor across different regions, technical expertise, and various economic factors that inhibit large-scale automation of categorization processes. Through our thorough selection of widely available and affordable parts, we are able to accommodate these economic factors. Moreover, the simplicity of this 4-fold approach eliminates the requirement of technical expertise for operation, allowing the product to be used in regions where this may not necessarily be available. 

Part B (Written by Mohammed)
In terms of cultural factors, the project may impact laws as well as the culture surrounding recycling. As the project aims to minimize recycling laws relying on public awareness of efficiency, perhaps government bodies and institutions can place less of an emphasis on spreading awareness regarding what is and what is not recyclable waste. This may also cause a culture change in the different waste bins present (e.g., trash, plastic, paper, and metal) as the trash will be re-sorted through the product afterward regardless. The difference for the everyday person will be that they can simply dump their waste and forget about it rather than doubt themselves when attempting to recycle. This cultural impact can spread at both a local and national level depending on the frequency of the product’s implementation. 

Part C (Written by Mohammed)
A large aspect of our project is its environmental impact, of course, as we aim to integrate more efficient recycling. The designed product will separate recyclable material from general waste before further categorizing it. The increase in recycling will be naturally accompanied with a reduction in pollution. Furthermore, an increase in recycling will result in a decrease in the demand for natural resources such as paper and metals, thus conserving natural resources. The project’s impact will also extend towards living creatures and wildlife by removing harmful pollutants in their natural habitats in addition to minimizing habitat destruction in favor of obtaining more raw materials. Additionally, reducing the amount of waste in landfills will contribute to decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted, such as methane, which will, in turn, help combat climate change, offering yet another environmental benefit.