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Soil Sampler

#Solidworks  #Arduino  #C++  #3D-Printing  #Lathe #Welding

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SUMMARY

I was commissioned to design and built this project by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Agronomy and Horticulture as part of their turfgrass science program. The program's mission is to provide pertinent research-based information to turfgrass managers throughout the year and address agronomic issues as they come up across Nebraska, the Great Plains region, and the country. Soil Sampler is an autonomous system explicitly developed for quick extraction of intact soil samples from the ground. Equipped with top-of-the-line force sensors and an easy-to-use interface, it enables the researcher to monitor multiple data inputs in real-time or save them for further processing later. 

At the heart of the Soil Sampler, you can find a linear actuator capable of handling up to 2200 lbs of load. This actuator is furnished with a hall effect encoder that enables one to control the actuator's speed and direction while also reporting its position with high precision in real-time. Moreover, a load cell sensor mounted at the actuator's tip reports the load in both compression and tension. The device is controlled using a custom-built controller box, allowing operation both through physical switches and a touch display. The LCD touch display allows the control of the actuator in both up and down directions. It also enables the user to navigate the device to pre-set distances of 5,10 and 15 inches from the home position. Lastly, while the load cell's input is plotted in real-time, the data is also saved on an SD card with the exact date and time to facilitate data processing at a later instance.


​Despite working with a very limited budget and timeline, I successfully led every stage of the product development cycle for this project.  The Soil Sampler's development resulted in a significant reduction of sample extraction time from 30 minutes to less than 5 minutes. This innovative solution has not only enhanced turf conditions in 3 golf courses across Nebraska but has also preserved the environment and saved thousands of dollars for resort owners.

Graphical User Interface(GUI)

Field operation

Final Design Render
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