Project Description:
This project focuses on developing an automated soil sampling system designed to reduce the time, labor, and physical strain associated with traditional soil collection methods. The system uses modular extractor probes that are automatically loaded, aligned, inserted into the soil, extracted, and stored without human intervention. Key subsystems include a gantry-driven lead screw powered by a NEMA23 stepper motor for vertical and rotational motion, a revolving barrier and rotating trapdoor for controlled probe handling, and custom probe designs optimized for easy soil penetration and sample retention. The full system is intended to operate on various soil types, store individual samples for later analysis, and fit within the footprint of a consumer-grade agricultural vehicle. The prototype phase focuses on validating the soil sampling mechanics before integrating locomotion, full probe storage, and user interface subsystems.
