To begin this whole-class project, we considered the similarities and differences to our previous sorting project.

Each person in the class researched four examples of recycling systems. Since most of the available examples were large-scale municipal waste systems, that is reflected in the options I chose. However, I also tried to find some information that is more applicable to the small-scale system we are making.

Each student sketched a design for the machine, and presented it to the class. Mine is shown to the left.

I wired a STEPPER motor, and used basic starter code to confirm functionality. This is the main motor we will use in the Recycling Project

There were two main forms of ideas, the static bins design, and the rotating base. Our class split into two groups to test the competing ideas. I worked to build the static base design.

As a class we discussed the possible improvements we could make to our designs.

We made a second iteration of our prototypes, with measurements at 1/4 of the eventual size we will use for our sorter.