A Model of Magnetic Material Separating Robot
Ituma Chinagolum, Agwu Chukwuemeka Odi, Ajah John Nnaemeka · 2015
Every aspect of human endeavor is being controlled by computing and the application of computers in solving human needs has enhanced man's performances. No doubt, as other areas of computing (Networking, Database administration, software engineering, web design, etc) delve into critically solving human basic problems, the area of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence is not left out as well. In material separation, different particles of varying degree are being separated with different separating mediums. Magnetic materials can be separated from non-magnetic materials and that is the sole basis of this research project. Humans find it difficult to separate magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials due to the fact that there is limited equipment that can handle the automatic material separation available in some places. The Magnetic Material Separating Robot Arm is a robot that is capable of making four movements (clockwise, anticlockwise, upward and downward movements), to enable it move the arm to the direction of the metal, pick some of the materials and drop them in a collecting provision that has been made. In an age where the need for automated systems is on the increase, automated system developers will have to put more effort to see that the need is being met. Meeting the needs of computer automation as well as taking into consideration some precautionary measures is very vital when it comes to automated system development. As in the case of the killer robot, the machine malfunctioned and got an operator killed due to negligence on the side of the system designers; the wrong methodology was adopted and instead of the robot working in favour of humans, it got the operator killed. This paper discusses the steps involved in the design of magnetic material separating robot which is fully computer controlled, the interfacing circuit and control software.