Project Title: Mechanical Lid Opener – An Automated Jar and Bottle Opening System

Team Members: Zach Kline, Jaden Wurm
Course: ECE 414 – Embedded Systems

Project Overview

This project aimed to design and build an automated device to open jar and bottle lids, applying embedded systems skills to create an assistive tool. The goal was to construct a system that could securely grip both a container and its lid, applying the necessary torque to open it. The project involved significant mechanical design, 3D printing, and the integration of multiple motors under microcontroller control.

Key Features & Objectives

The system was architected to meet the following requirements:

  • Automated Head Adjustment: A motor-driven threaded pole was designed to raise and lower the gripping head onto a container.

  • Adaptive Gripping: The system was designed to use motor-driven hose clamps on both the head and body to adjust to different lid and container sizes.

  • Torque Application: The head was designed to rotate the lid while the base simultaneously spins the container in the opposite direction to apply opening torque.

  • User Interface: An LCD screen was intended to provide user feedback, such as notifying when sufficient pressure was applied to the lid.

  • User Control: The system was designed to respond to button inputs from the user to initiate the opening sequence.

  • Performance Goal: The device was intended to open a lid within 20 seconds of initiating the process.

Technical Implementation

System Architecture:
The project was broken down into two main mechanical subsystems:

  1. The Body:

    • Housed the majority of the motors.

    • Contained a rotating platform to spin the container.

    • Incorporated a large motor connected to a threaded pole to raise and lower the head.

    • Featured a motor-driven hose clamp to secure the container’s body.

  2. The Head:

    • Lowered onto the container by the body’s threaded pole.

    • Featured a motor-driven hose clamp to securely grip the lid.

    • Was designed to rotate the lid during the opening process.

Hardware Core:

  • Actuation: Four DC motors for clamping and rotation.

  • Mechanical Frame: Custom 3D-printed parts for the head, body, and rotating platform.

  • Drive Mechanism: A threaded rod and nut system for precise vertical movement of the head.

Challenges & Learning Outcomes

The project presented significant challenges that provided valuable learning experiences in embedded systems and mechatronics:

  • Motor Control Complexity: The team encountered difficulties in the software implementation to correctly drive and coordinate the multiple motors, which prevented full functional testing.

  • Sensor Integration: The planned integration of pressure sensors to ensure proper grip force was not completed, highlighting the complexity of closed-loop control systems.

  • Mechanical Design Iteration: A substantial amount of time was dedicated to designing, 3D printing, and assembling the custom mechanical components, which is a critical part of bringing an embedded system into the physical world.

  • System Integration: Coordinating the hardware assembly with the software control proved to be the most significant hurdle, a common challenge in complex embedded projects.

Results & Conclusion

While the team successfully completed the hardware construction and wiring of the system, the project was unable to achieve full operational status due to unresolved issues in the motor control code. Consequently, the planned validation tests could not be performed.

This project served as a comprehensive exercise in the end-to-end process of embedded system design, from conceptualization and mechanical fabrication to the challenges of software-hardware integration. It underscores the iterative nature of engineering design and the importance of allocating time for debugging and integration phases. The completed mechanical design and partial software implementation provide a strong foundation that could be fully realized with additional development time.