Date of Award
2022
Degree Type
Capstone Project
Abstract
Conventionally, a pool's surface is cleaned by two main methods; by stationary skimmers built into the walls of pools, and by hand. Stationary, built in skimmers are connected into the pool’s plumbing system and use the water recycling and cleaning system built into the pool. As water flows to these outlets on the side of the pool, the water flows through a one-way flap and into skimmer baskets. The other method, by hand, involves someone using a skimmer on a long pole to scoop out leaves and other debris by reaching the pole out and under the debris and lifting the skimmer up to grab it off of the water’s surface. Skim Team Six was given the assignment to create an autonomous device that can do the job of these two methods for a 30 foot by 50 foot pool in under two hours without any human assistance.
The design requirements in this report are to be met by creating and using an arduino controlled vessel that will be able to autonomously navigate the pool's entire surface and collect debris near the water's surface with no human interaction after set up.
This report presents the design specifications that were created for this project and the research that went into those specifications. As well as the original 120 design concepts that were created to meet those specifications. From those 120 concepts the team narrowed them down to their top 3 designs and chose the one that they would move forward with by doing a QFD and analyzing the different designs for what they thought would work best. Since then the team chose to move forward with a pontoon style skimmer with a single collection basket in between the two hulls. A proof of concept was then done showing how this skimmer design will be their best option.
In the following 5 months after the proof of concept, a full size model of the SkimShark equipped with a collection basket, underwater propulsion, and autonomous movement was successfully built, tested, and optimized. The SkimShark is expected to be a successful product.
Recommended Citation
Hill, Nick; Pratt, Austin; Darkow, Grace; and Annantuonio, Matthew, "SkimShark" (2022). Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects. Paper 212.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/mechanical-engineering-capstones/212
Comments
Team Name: Team 29, SkimTeam Six
Sponsor: Professor Bahram Nassersharif
Document Reference: URI-MCE-402-29-2022