[D&E] The Next Evolution of the Gardening Tools!
It is now time for the first full Action Project of our STEAM course, Design and Engineering. We have been learning a lot in this first unit. We have learned about simple machines like levers and wedges, we have learned about common tools like shovels and rakes, and we have been learning about empathy and what that means for us. We went on a field experience to The Home Depot as well as a clock museum where we were able to examine many different clock designs and functions. For this Action Project, we have been tasked with taking an existing common gardening tool and redesigning it to better suit elderly and disabled people’s needs. For my project, N.M. and I have taken the shovel and tried to figure out how to take this ancient concept and improve it in the modern age. I believe it came out very well, and we won the shark tank-esque pitch that we did in class, so here is the Versatool!!
As you can see, this is a revolutionary redesign not just for shovels, but also for garden tools as a whole. Shown here is the original idea for the shovel, but there is absolutely no reason why it can’t have attachments for things other than shovels, from hoes to rakes to pitchforks. Additionally, one thing we learned from our host at Home Depot is that there is a massive variation in shovel size, shape, and purpose, so even if it was just a shovel it would be very useful. That’s only one reason why the Versatool is better than any competitors. The Versatool is designed to work at a variety of heights, so there will always be a size that works for you. If you have back pain or other hindrances from bending over, the Versatool has got your back. If you are short or have a hard time standing, the Versatool can bring you to never before seen heights!
We have been examining the concept of empathy. Empathy is the ability to step into someone's shoes and view things from their perspective. For this project, empathy is extremely important because it allows us to attempt to figure out the problems that the current design of a shovel has. For me as an able-bodied person, a traditional shovel works fine, so to find issues in something that has always worked for me personally before I have to use empathy and imagine the issues that other people might have.
We have done a lot of research, we researched the struggles people have with different tools that are not made for everyone. We went on a field experience at The Home Depot, and while there my partner and I analyzed the different types of gardening shovels. We also learned from our host at The Home Depot, Holly. We were able to test out some of the shovels and figure out their strengths and weaknesses. We then started brainstorming and problem-solving to figure out what our final design would incorporate. We went through a lot of ideas before eventually narrowing it down to three that work well together and create a cohesive design.
As you can see, this is a revolutionary redesign not just for shovels, but also for garden tools as a whole. Shown here is the original idea for the shovel, but there is absolutely no reason why it can’t have attachments for things other than shovels, from hoes to rakes to pitchforks. Additionally, one thing we learned from our host at Home Depot is that there is a massive variation in shovel size, shape, and purpose, so even if it was just a shovel it would be very useful. That’s only one reason why the Versatool is better than any competitors. The Versatool is designed to work at a variety of heights, so there will always be a size that works for you. If you have back pain or other hindrances from bending over, the Versatool has got your back. If you are short or have a hard time standing, the Versatool can bring you to never before seen heights!
As you can see based on this image, our tool can be classified as a lever. A lever has two basic parts to it: the fulcrum and the lever. The fulcrum is the middle part that allows the lever to rock back and forth which in this case is the lower hand. The lever is the part of the shovel that allows the input, or higher hand, to create an output, the dirt flying, by balancing on the fulcrum. This would be classified as a type one lever, as the fulcrum is in the middle.
(measuring the largest cylinder)
H= 10in
R=2.5in
pi=3.141592
V=pi*2.5^2*10
V=pi*6.25*10
V=pi*62.5
V=196.3495in^3
SA=2*pi*2.5*10+2*pi*2.5^2
SA=2*pi*25+2*pi*6.25
SA=6.28318425+6.283184*6.25
SA=157.0796+39.2699
SA=196.3495in^2
L.H. Input/Output 2022
Volume equation of a cylinder: V=pi*r^2*h
Surface Area of a cylinder: SA=2*pi*r*h+2*pi*r^2(measuring the largest cylinder)
H= 10in
R=2.5in
pi=3.141592
V=pi*2.5^2*10
V=pi*6.25*10
V=pi*62.5
V=196.3495in^3
SA=2*pi*2.5*10+2*pi*2.5^2
SA=2*pi*25+2*pi*6.25
SA=6.28318425+6.283184*6.25
SA=157.0796+39.2699
SA=196.3495in^2
Purple: Handle/Handle Button
Grey: Retractable Shaft
Green: Blade/Blade Button
Here is an illustration of how the Versatool would be used.
L.H., Judith and the Shovel, 2022
That was my Action Project! I had a very good time brainstorming ideas and finally seeing them through to a final design. I really enjoyed working with a partner and we came up with something I'm proud of. In addition, I'm really proud of our pitch and I'm glad we won. If I were to do something differently I suppose I would have liked to create a physical prototype, but other than that it was a very good project. There are two more to come in Design and Engineering, so stay tuned!
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