Sponsor Meeting Time:

Tuesdays (9:30am - 10am)

MAE/BAE Group Meeting Time:

Fridays (1pm - 6pm)

Potential Team Meeting Times:

Tuesdays/Thursdays (5pm - 7:30pm)

Fridays (1pm - 6pm)

Saturdays (9am - 12pm)

• Meeting Time Calendar

• Project Group Folder

• Final Folder

• Meeting Minutes Folder

Sponsor: Mike Frinsko and Dr. Steve Hall

Mentor(s):

Mike Frinsko mofrinsk@ncsu.edu

Dr. Steve Hall shall5@ncsu.edu

Project Background and Need:

Aquaculture is fast growing; larval (baby) fish development and feeding is required. One aspect is microfeeds (very small 100-1000 micron diameter) dry feeds. These must be fed very regularly around the clock (every 2 hours) and must be fed accurately (1-30 grams at an accuracy of 0.1g/<10% accuracy per feeding). A preliminary design is provided, but improvements are needed. A very user-friendly GUI must be (further) developed for use by biologists. The system must work and be programmable (and reprogrammable) for up to 24 units (wirelessly); and must operate for at least 96 hours at 2 hour increments (48 feedings, 30 g per feeding). An existing system can be further developed to a fully automated set of systems with good accuracy, reliability and repeatability.

Note: this project is expected to be multidisciplinary, and a number of the specific deliverables have aspects of electrical, computer, mechanical and biological/agricultural engineering. Students will be expected to communicate well across disciplinary boundaries.

Problem Description/requirements (List of high-level functionality you expect to see in the end product):

This automated feeding system design must achieve the following:

• wireless control of multiple (24) systems

• system design: automated feeding of dry microdiets for larval finfish (100-1000 microns)

• accuracy must be within 10% down to 0.1 gram (smallest feeding increment 1+-0.1g)

• system must feed automatically over a 96 hour period at 2 hour increments.

• system must be adjustable from 2 to 12 hour increments and from 1 to 30 g feedings

• stretch goal: GUI enhancement for use by biologists

Required Skills / Desired Competencies (in order of importance):

Electrical:

• Embedded hardware and programming

• Robotics/mechatronics

• Wireless communications

• Programming experience

• GUI development

• PCB design and layout

• Power electronics

• Sensor interface

Mechanical/Biological:

• Hydrodynamics (water flow/mixing)

• Mechanical design (CAD/3D printing)

• Mechanical assembly

• Biological feeding behavior and feedback

How often and how would you be available to meet/chat with the team (Zoom, Hangout, Skype, Phone)?

weekly, zoom or in person

Will the students be required to sign any of the following before they start with the project? NDA / CDA / IP assignment / IP protection form

No.