Auto Whiteboard Cleaner

Design Notebook:

drive.google.com/file/d/19IAPeylGjffk3epNZ7wEylJirHjkwYRW/view?usp=sharing

Thesis:

We have created a product that cleans a dirty whiteboard in order to prevent distraction for teachers and students. We used a sponge rod, stepper motor, a rack and pinion mechanism, an Arduino board, and a button to create our product.

Abstract:

Whiteboards are a product found in almost every classroom in America; they are an essential product for learning and teaching. According to Global News Wire, statistics show that more than 250,000 whiteboards are used each year. The global traditional whiteboard market has a CAGR (Compounded Annual Rate of Growth) of 3.1% due to expanding education infrastructure in developing economies and health awareness. Dirty whiteboards, however, make it difficult for teachers to teach and students to learn. Cleaning the whiteboard results in a loss of teaching time and attention from students. We have created a product that solves this issue: an automatic white board cleaner. Our system uses a sponge rod, a stepper motor, a rack and pinion mechanism, an Arduino board, and a button. The rack and pinion are responsible for carrying the load (sponge rod). Once the button is pressed, the pinion will move across the rack. Simultaneously, the sponge rod will move vertically across the board until it reaches the end and then goes back to its original position. The sponge rod will clear the board of any dirty contents. Our system creates efficiency, less distraction, and requires less energy. Educated people help to create a better society; therefore, it is essential that teachers are given the proper tools to aid students' success. A clean whiteboard can help students and teachers every day in such an impactful way.

Why did we decided to make this product?

As current tenth graders, we wanted to make a product that we could benefit from and feel passionate about. After a few days of keeping our eyes open for problems, we finally came up with something: a device to clean a whiteboard. The whiteboards in a majority of our classrooms were filthy. The erasers designated to clean the board were also dirty, so they could not be used. Every teacher wants a clean whiteboard to teach from; therefore, the solution was simple: a automatic cleaner. This was an idea we felt enthusiastic about and seemed manageable. What started as just an idea is now a fantastic product.