We aimed to create a low cost automated system capable of robustly cooking chicken to perfection by creating a linear motion system which transports a spatula underneath a chicken breast which is then flipped by two servo motors. Additionally, we programmed and calibrated a load cell and an infrared (IR) sensor in order to realize our project.
For more detail on our project, please see the additional tabs, or the videos below for a demonstration!
Demonstration of an actual chicken breast being cooked! This chicken breast was delicious, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it!! The estimated cooking time for this particular chicken breast was ~10 minutes at ~350 degrees Fahrenheit due to it being especially thick.
Because of health concerns and logistical complications, we did not bring actual raw chicken to the expo. However, we brought a fake chicken breast with pictures of chicken on each side to demonstrate how our project would work!
The initial lifting of the griddle was done to mimic the reduction of weight from cooking an actual chicken breast. This triggers the motors to search for the chicken breast using an IR sensor affixed to the top of one of the servos. Once detected, the motors move an additional 300 steps, at which point the servos rotate to flip the chicken. Finally, the servos and motors return to their initial position.
Here is an advertisement-type video that could be used in a startup pitch kind of setting! Check it out!
I am a senior undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. I love dynamics and solid mechanics and I hope to study computational mechanics in grad school. I did not have a lot of experience with hands on design or with mechatronics prior to this class. I am happy to say that I have learned a lot and have gained a lot of confidence in my ability to realize designs. Outside of academics I enjoy music and the outdoors.
I am an undergraduate Mechanical Engineer who is about receive his Bachelors Degree in December 2017. My passion for innovation and design played a big factor in achieving my goal for this project. I plan to work full-time for 2-3 years and then work towards a Masters Degree in a specialization of my choice. As of right now, I am leaning towards Aerospace or Biomedical engineering, however the field is very broad that it is subject to change! Outside of school, I enjoy basketball, watching movies, and hanging out with friends.
I am currently a senior in Mechanical Engineering set to graduate in May 2018. After struggling for the past few years to cook healthy protein options for myself, I managed to convince my 102B group to take on the challenge of revolutionizing the world of chicken cooking! This has been an amazing interdisciplinary engineering experience that has given me hands-on experience with not only mechatronics, but also biomaterials, heat transfer, and especially manufacturing. Outside of academics, I enjoy sleeping and watching Netflix in bed.
I am a junior undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering. Through this project, I gain some hand on experience in designing a real product and learn about how sensors, actuator, microcontroller connect together to give a particular mechanical movement, the flipping action. It also makes me realize how important is coding to a successful mechatronic design. This project certainly gives me some insight into mechatronic design. In my spare time, I watch Arsenal and read history.
I am a senior undergraduate mechanical engineering student. My interests mostly revolve around product design, especially computer-aided design. It was very satisfying being able to see a project begin as a picture on a computer screen and slowly develop into an actual, physical product. I would like to eventually work in an aerospace or transportation-related field. Outside of school, I enjoy exercising the privileges of my private pilot certificate.