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STEAM Club Fab Lab Design Challenge (Spring 2025)

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Raima Kazi

Project Timeline

Feb 2025 - May-2025

OVERVIEW

The STEAM Club participated in the Spring 2025 Fab Lab Design Challenge by designing the Branch Out Modular Harvester which is a multi-purpose gardening tool to assist home gardeners with harvesting their crops. Essentially, this tool is an adjustable, telescopic pole that ranges from 13 inches to over 4 feet, including 4 different gardening attachments such as a trowel, shear head, curved saw head, and fruit picking head intended to be used with a net beneath it. This tool benefits home gardeners by serving as a lightweight tool with detachable tool heads for accessibility and convenience. By combining these functions into one, the Branch Out Modular Harvester encourages a more enjoyable way to garden and harvest crops.

HighlightS

1st Place in Club Division for NOVA Fab Lab Design Challenge

SKILLS

Fusion 360 CADDocumentationResearchTeamworkProblem-Solving

Additional Details

What is the Problem?

At-home gardeners typically carry a variety of heavyweight tools such as shovels, rakes, shears, and other items to help them clean up and harvest crops. This can potentially become a big issue when it comes to storage, safety, and a risk to the elderly.


Our Idea

The STEAM Club brainstormed through many ideas, and our base prototype was a telescopic pole with different tool head attachments that come with it. This was inspired by a garden hose which typically comes with different hose heads that can twist off and be replaced. Overall, this design checked off the boxes for accessibility, comfort, and is easy to store!


Affordability

To ensure this tool is lightweight and affordable for consumers, the telescopic pole is made with lightweight aluminum. For durability and longevity, the tool heads should be made with steel.


Different Mechanisms

To attach the tool heads, it is a simple process that requires a twist-lock mechanism. The tool heads can also be rotated if necessary when attached. Additionally, there is a retractable handle at the bottom of the pole that can be connected to the shear head which allows the consumer to cut items when that handle is pulled. Lastly, the pole itself is telescopic and locks when the consumer pulls it upwards or pushes it downwards.

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