OZ/AF

Honors Biology Biomimicry 2024 | Projects
Precedents
Documentation

Final Presentation

Andrew Jiakang Feng and Oliver Zhang

Desert Beetle Water Collector

OPERATION

Inspired by the Namib Desert Beetle

Andrew Feng & Oliver Zhang

1 / 19

01/26 Finished electronics

Oliver Zhang and Andrew Jiakang Feng

Ok we added velcro onto the water tank and the electronics box so that they could attach and detach easily. Then we added wooden sticks and lego pieces so that the solenoid piston could stay in place and its power would be optimized. After we test the leaves tonight, we will stick them onto the wooden rod attached to the piston.

01/26 Leaves

Oliver Zhang and Andrew Jiakang Feng

So the superhydrophobic coating and the hydrophilic coating both arrived on Friday, and we worked on finishing the leaves today.

A quick update on the leaves, here's how they are made:

1. laser cut a piece of wood to the correct shape

2. cover the piece with a layer of tin foil (must be very very smooth)

3. spray paint the leaf with hydrophobic paint

4. Use the previous method to make grids of hydrophilic paint on the leaf

With this method, we made 3 leaves that are ready to be tested tonight.

01/26 Actual finalized code

Oliver Zhang and Andrew Jiakang Feng
void setup() {
  pinMode(A0,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(A1,INPUT);
  pinMode(7,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(8,OUTPUT);
}
int water=0;
int time=0;
const int T=7500; //2.5 minutes
void loop() {
  water=analogRead(A1);
  if(water>550){
    digitalWrite(8,HIGH);
  }else{
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
  }
  time+=1;
  if(time>=T&&time<=T+1){
    digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);
  }else if(time>=T+2&&time<=T+3){
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }else if(time>=T+4&&time<=T+5){
    digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);
  }else if(time>=T+6){
    time=0;
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }else{
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }
  delay(20);
}

01/24 Updates on Water Collector

Andrew Jiakang Feng and Oliver Zhang

*Image files were corrupted

Updates: 

- Finished on both of the laser-cut acrylic boxes (One for electronics, One for water collection)

- Arduino and Hardware are functional, we just need to work on the angles and placements to maximize the solenoid effects 

- Leaves are coming along (just waiting for Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic coating) 

Summary: Operation Beetle Collector is almost complete! Many of the things we need to work on are just time variables and decorations to enhance the quality and function of our collector. After we finalize the leaves with a hydrophobic and hydrophilic coating, we will be done. Friday will be used to put everything together. 

01/24 Code 2

Oliver Zhang and Andrew Jiakang Feng
  if(time>=T&&time<=T+2){
    digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);
  }else if(time>=T+3&&time<=T+4){
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }else if(time>=T+5&&time<=T+6){
    digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);
  }else if(time>T+6){
    time=0;
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }else{
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }

01/24 Final Code

Oliver Zhang and Andrew Jiakang Feng
void setup() {
  pinMode(A0,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(A1,INPUT);
  pinMode(7,OUTPUT);
  pinMode(8,OUTPUT);
}
int water=0;
int time=0;
void loop() {
  water=analogRead(A1);
  if(water>600){
    time=0;
    digitalWrite(8,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7,LOW);
  }else{
    digitalWrite(7,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
  }
  time+=1;
  if(time>=9000&&time<=9001){
    digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);
  }else if(time>52){
    time=0;
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }else{
    digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
  }
  delay(20);
}

01/12 Documentations of Arduino

Andrew Jiakang Feng and Oliver Zhang

Mid Review

Oliver Zhang and Andrew Jiakang Feng

Cool Water Collector

Inspired by the Namib Desert Beetle

Andrew Feng & Oliver Zhang

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01/11 collection system design version 1

Oliver Zhang and Andrew Jiakang Feng

This was the first design. The main wooden "stem" with all the metal "leaves" on top will stick out through the middle. All the electronics will be connected through the central hole down a hollow cylinder to the bottom of the water collection tank. Water will drip down the leaves into the funnel and down the sides, leaving the electronics connected in the middle intact.