Automatic hay feeder for horses: design and make a prototype
Trinh, Hung (2018)
Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulu
2018
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805087228
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201805087228
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this thesis project was to design and build an automatic horse feeder which would be used at a family’s farm. An additional objective of this project was to use Arduino platform to control the machine. A micro-controlled horse feeder is extremely useful in providing assistance to people who are usually busy at the feeding time to have their horses fed steadily and on time while keeping the horses healthy and safe. The thesis project was inspired by Mr. Markku Kippola and carried out under his supervision. This was also a major advantage for the author to gain more experiences about mechanical design and microcontrollers.
The main purpose of this design was the automation of a horse feeding device with an accurate and precise time set for the feeds to be released. The feeder was designed so that it was suitable for hay. It came with an implemented LED indicating when the container was empty, with an LCD to indicate steps of the process, and smart switches to control the solenoids of the gates. Furthermore, the mechanism of the prototype played an important role in order to achieve effectiveness and simplicity for the project.
The final prototype was completed and tested which met the arrangements between the commissioner and the author. Moreover, the outcome of this thesis project is that the design could be extended to implement at individual stalls. All cabinets are operated by setting the real-time and by assigning the desired time for the horses to be fed at the same time.
The main purpose of this design was the automation of a horse feeding device with an accurate and precise time set for the feeds to be released. The feeder was designed so that it was suitable for hay. It came with an implemented LED indicating when the container was empty, with an LCD to indicate steps of the process, and smart switches to control the solenoids of the gates. Furthermore, the mechanism of the prototype played an important role in order to achieve effectiveness and simplicity for the project.
The final prototype was completed and tested which met the arrangements between the commissioner and the author. Moreover, the outcome of this thesis project is that the design could be extended to implement at individual stalls. All cabinets are operated by setting the real-time and by assigning the desired time for the horses to be fed at the same time.