EPS@ISEP | The European Project Semester (EPS) at ISEP

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report [2014/06/27 15:31] – [7.7 Conclusion] team1report [2022/11/03 10:45] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 ===== 8. Conclusions ===== ===== 8. Conclusions =====
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 +The main purpose of this report was to start developing a construction kit for a swimming robot with biomimetic features in order to arouse children´s curiosity and enthusiasm for technology. The research focused on enabling children to experiment on the physics of floating objects and drawing attention to sustainability problems of the oceans. During the entire development, the team had to bear in mind the marketability of the final product, sustainability issues as well as ethical and deontological concerns.
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 +At first, this chapter presents and discusses the main achievements obtained during this project. Finally, an outlook on future developments is going to be provided.
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 ==== 8.1 Discussion ==== ==== 8.1 Discussion ====
-//Provide here what was achieved (related with the initial objectives) and what is missing (related with the initial objectives) of the project.//+ 
 +In the beginning of this project, detailed knowledge about the research field has been gathered. Analyzing several natural and manmade mechanisms and products served as groundwork for the product development and confirmed the innovative character of the toy in the market. 
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 +Before starting to develop the actual product, several preparations were performed. The team successfully elaborated and applied project management tools to create a positive, effective and efficient working atmosphere that helped to finish deliverables in time. The marketing plan helped to define the final product in detail. It was revealed that the construction kit for children of eight to twelve years has a unique combination of educational values. A market survey was conducted and plans for a successful product´s promotion and selling developed. In addition to that, research on eco-efficiency measures for sustainability revealed the importance of addressing these topics in order to create a profitable company. As a final preparation, ethical concerns regarding this project were addressed. 
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 +Based on this groundwork, a prototype was developed in theory that resembles a fish successfully, ensures steering with a command-response pattern that is easy to handle and makes experimenting on the physics of floating objects possible. A user’s manual has been prepared to guide children through experimenting on their final toy. The key concept is an innovative tail mechanism that required functional tests due to its novelty character. Therefore, a prototype has been implemented that is able to float on the water surface. Due to the short amount of time available for the experimental evaluation, not all functionality tests could be performed. Nevertheless, the tail mechanism already revealed its potential to propel the robot forward. It is expected that its efficiency can be increased significantly by applying a list of proposed adaptations to the mechanism. 
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 +If the future experimental tests confirm the expected high feasibility and efficiency of the robot with its new propulsion mechanism, this project has not only performed first step towards developing an innovative educational toy for children, but also made an important contribution to the scientific research field of biologically inspired swimming robots. 
 ==== 8.2 Future Development ====   ==== 8.2 Future Development ====  
-//Provide here your recommendations for future work.//+ 
 +Following this project, the proposed modifications to the tail mechanism can be performed. They mainly consist of increasing the dimensions of the spring steel shaft and torque of the DC motor that activate the tail segments. When also the longitudinal balance of the prototype is improved, the remaining functionality tests for steering left/right and submersion can be performed. At this state, the prototype will fulfil the initially proposed requirements. 
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 +In addition, different fin models (varying in shape and size) can be experimentally tested in order to detect their effectiveness of steering and stabilizing the robot´s locomotion. Also, it is important to develop easier and safer waterproofing mechanisms because children are expected to easily loose their enthusiasm if water leaks inside the robot and components break. 
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 +Finally, the other proposed features of the toy, which are to teach mechanics and programming, can be further elaborated by providing a user´s manual for the assembly and templates for programming. Before the final toy is ready for sale, the amount of toxic materials and harmful pieces has to be minimized, holding paramount the enhancement of safety for the user.
  
  
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 The following survey was done in the “EscolaSecundária do Agrupamento de Escolas de ÁguasSantas” in Porto, Portugal. The results were displayed in the marketing plan in Chapter 4. The following survey was done in the “EscolaSecundária do Agrupamento de Escolas de ÁguasSantas” in Porto, Portugal. The results were displayed in the marketing plan in Chapter 4.
  
-{{::survey_português.pdf|}}+{{::survey_portugues.pdf|}}

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