Inspiration
I was inspired to design a trash-collecting raft when I thought about the most polluted areas. The ocean. The ocean is also the most essential for humans to thrive, producing roughly half our planet's oxygen. It is home to so many lives that maintain a balance in the ecosystem. This balance in the ecosystem is important but when oceans are filled with trash, many sea creatures are harmed by the toxic waste. Though there are groups of people trying to clean the polluted beaches, most of the trash is collected all around the vast ocean, making it very hard to reach. This is how I was inspired to make a device that can grab trash in places we can't normally reach.
What it does
This design shows an effective way to pick up trash from the middle of the ocean. I considered ways so it can float, collect a lot of waste and to make sure the raft is powered by solar panels and that it doesn’t use all the energy. A camera that is built to identify creatures can signal the device to push the animal out.
How I built it
I built this design using TinkerCad, a website that allows me to stretch and shrink shapes as you want to make any 3d models. I also put a link to narrate each part and how it works. I explained how many of the features work which can be seen through the model I created.
Challenges I ran into
A challenge I faced is thinking about how to make it as effective as possible. For example, when the raft collects the trash, how does it rotate containers and how does that work? I also had to think about how to make sure sea creatures aren’t hurt in the process. Speaking in designing terms, making the 3d model took a lot of time because I had to make sure every piece is fitted perfectly and looked connected because using a 3d panel means in one perspective it can look great but when we rotate the plane, the object can be very far away and unfitted. Making my own shapes, connecting all the blocks and making sure it looks clean in all perspectives was challenging.
Accomplishments that I am proud of
Something I am proud of is taking my time to overcome my challenges. Though the design part took me some time to think thoroughly, the building part got very complicated but I took the time to make sure it looks functional. A part I am proud of is the conveyor belt, because I had to figure out how to take up less space while rotating the bins.
What I learned
This project has helped me learn a lot about the ecosystem around us, and the statistics really show that we need to take action to make the planet better now. Through the process of designing, I had to research a lot which not only helped my model become more functional, but also helped me learn about how quickly our planet is changing. In terms of myself, I noticed that perseverance and determination gives you a good result. I enjoyed making this project.
What's next for Trash collecting Raft
In the future, if this idea is improved and worked on to make it even more cost-effective and practical for common people, I think it can change our world for the better, so the future generations can enjoy the beauty of our Mother Earth.
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