Development of solar power operated grass cutter

Introduction

Grass cutting is a common task in both agriculture and landscaping, playing a crucial role in maintaining green spaces and farmland. However, traditional methods of cutting grass often rely on manual labor or fossil fuelpowered machines, both of which can have negative environmental impacts and may not be economically sustainable. In response to the increasing demand for ecofriendly and cost-effective alternatives (Duenas et al., 2024) [2] . Highlight the availability of affordable grass cutter machines in hardware stores. These machines are commonly used in residential areas with landscaped gardens. The modern designs of these machines are now safer for residential use. Although a variety of grass cutters are available in the market today, particularly from an ergonomic perspective. Certain aspects, such as the blade shape and material, as well as issues related to fuel usage, limited electric movement, and lack of flexibility, still require redesign (Sachin Prabha and Panshetti Sachin, 2016) [4] . This proposal introduces a solar-powered grass cutter that incorporates ergonomic design principles, focusing on safety, user-friendliness and cost-effectiveness for farmers.

The key innovation is the use of solar energy, harnessed by a solar panel to replace the petrol-powered systems commonly found in current grass cutter machines. The cost of manufacturing and assembling products is often high, with a significant portion of these costs attributed to the labor-intensive nature of assembly. To address this, the design approach simplifies the product structure, reduces both assembly time and cost, and enables measurable improvements. This report primarily focuses on a specific landscape tool, the solar grass cutter. The solar panel captures sunlight, with light rays causing temperature changes on its surface, thereby creating the optimal conditions for solar energy generation (Sachin Prabha and Panshetti Sachin, 2016) [4] . The photovoltaic cells in the solar panel absorb photons and store energy for use.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Traditional

Grass Cutting Methods: The goal of this research is to advance sustainable agricultural practices and foster technological innovation in grass cutting machinery. According to (Duenas et al., 2024), [2] by creating an efficient and eco-friendly solution, we expect to achieve positive outcomes in environmental conservation, economic www.extensionjournal.com sustainability and enhanced agricultural productivity.

Solar-Powered Agricultural Machinery Opportunities and Challenges

Solar energy offers a promising solution for powering agricultural machinery, providing a renewable and ecofriendly alternative to conventional fossil fuel-powered systems. This study investigates the opportunities and challenges involved in incorporating solar power into farming equipment. By assessing the feasibility, efficiency and potential uses of solar energy in agriculture, the research aims to highlight the contribution of solar-powered machinery to sustainable farming practices (Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., & Li, H., 2021) [7] . The energy captured by the solar panel is transferred through cables to the battery, where it is stored for later use. This stored energy can be accessed when needed. The entire system is regulated by a timer, which controls all activities based on a set schedule. Charge control mechanisms are incorporated to prevent the battery from overcharging, particularly during sunny days. The output from the battery is used to power various equipment as needed. A significant drawback of petrol-powered brush cutters is that they cannot be operated continuously for more than half an hour, and frequent refueling is necessary, making them inconvenient. Additionally, they are not suitable for use in rainy conditions. The main objective of this research is to improve efficiency, eliminate fuel costs, and save time. To address these issues, the proposed solution is the development of a solar-powered grass cutter, with the following specific objective: To develop a manually controlled, solar-powered grass-cutting machine that reduces fossil fuel consumption and pollution while enhancing cutting accuracy and minimizing human effort.

Materials and Methods

In this chapter, various practices followed, identification and procedure to determine the selected electronic components are detailed. The procedure for the selection and evaluations of solar power operated grass cutter was explained. The procedure for analysis to optimize the selected levels of parameters for desired performance and development of the solar power operated grass cutter was detailed. The methods followed for testing of the developed solar operated grass cutter was explained.

Aim of the Research

Aim is to prevent energy shortages in our country by reducing human labour, operational costs and maintenance expenses. Additionally, a solar-powered grass cutter helps maintain a clean and hygienic community. It is used to remove different types of grasses for various purposes.

Scope of the Research

The solar panel is connected to the batteries, allowing it to charge them while in operation, ensuring sufficient battery capacity even during cloudy days. This way, the stored energy in the battery can be utilized. A fixed solar panel typically comes with a long-lasting warranty and requires minimal maintenance. In contrast, solar trackers have shorter warranties and require one or more actuators to move the panel.

Objective

The main objective of this project is the development of a solar-powered grass cutter that operates on solar energy, addressing the limitations of traditional lawn cutters. The objective is to prevent power shortages in India while also reducing manual labour, walking time, and maintenance costs. Additionally, using a solar-powered lawn cutter helps promote environmental sustainability and health. This technology has long been used for managing various types of grass for different purposes. The system is powered by solar energy stored in the batteries, and a solar charge controller ensures proper charging to maintain sufficient power. To protect people, animals and objects, a 30-amp switch is used to operate the motor that drives the blades and brushes.

Development of a Solar Power Operated Grass Cutter

A prototype of solar power operated grass cutter as an attachment to existing weeder was developed. The prototype of solar power operated grass cutter consists of two handles, cycle wheel, supporting bars between handles, flat supporting bars, tines and leveller. The views of developed solar power operated grass cutter were shown below. The details of the solar grass cutter were shown from

12 Volt Battery

Exide Xplore 12XL14L-A2 bike battery, the only zeromaintenance VRLA motorcycle battery with the X-Factor. Built with world-class Calcium Effects Technology, it delivers a power-packed performance and endures tough Indian road conditions. Xplore comes with a 24-month prorata warranty that includes a 24-month free replacement warranty. We offer a free installation service at our store.

(24 Months Full Replacement + 24 Months Pro Rata) Capacity: 12v. 14AH Battery as shown in below Fig. 2.4.

Fig. 2.4: 12 Volt Battery

DC Motor

The motor drives the rotation of the blade, enabling it to cut the grass. This device converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. The blade is connected to a DC motor, and once the motor is activated, the blade rotates quickly, allowing it to cut the grass effectively. The 12 Volt DC motor as shown in below Fig. 3.5.

Results and discussion

In this chapter, influencing the time interval, voltage and temperature were determined and analysed. The results pertaining to the testing and evaluation of a solar power operated grass cutter with electronic components were investigated for development of grass cutter.

Prototype analysis

Readings were taken at a specific time interval using a temperature gun, solar power meter, and multimeter.

Temperature gun

The temperature of the solar panel was measured by using the gun at the panel, and the readings were recorded in Celsius.

Solar power meter

The device was used to measure sunlight intensity by pointing it towards the sun. A similar process was followed to measure the intensity of the solar panel by directing the device at the panel. The data collected was recorded in W/m².

Multimeter

It was used to measure the voltage of the solar panel during a specific time interval, with the data recorded in volts. Similar results followed by Das et al. 2022 [1] . www.extensionjournal.com The voltage trend suggests it may be linked to a solarpowered system where voltage output varies depending on sunlight intensity. The initial increase in voltage could be due to increasing solar radiation in the morning. Midday fluctuations might be attributed to variations in sunlight exposure, shading effects, or load changes. The decline in voltage in the late afternoon is likely due to decreasing solar intensity as the sun sets. This graph can help in understanding the efficiency and performance of a solar power system over the day. Similar results followed by Das et al. 2022 [1] . 2022 [1] . www.extensionjournal.com This type of grass cutter is suitable for residential lawns, institutional campuses and areas that cannot be accessed by tractor-based machinery. Its performance is appropriate for routine grass-cutting tasks and demonstrates strong potential to replace traditional petrol-operated grass cutters. The concept presented addresses the "Development of a Solar-Power Operated Grass Cutter," where a solar panel generates the required electrical energy to operate the cutting motor. All necessary hardware components have been integrated into the system with proper planning to ensure smooth and efficient functioning. Additionally, the implementation makes use of advanced integrated circuits and modern technology, contributing to a well-engineered and thoroughly evaluated solution.

References

1. Das S, et al. Design and fabrication of solar powered grass cutter [B.Tech thesis]. Chennai: Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology; 2022.
2. Duenas RS, Santiago FSA, Gacutan WB. Development of an improvised solar powered e-grass cutter: Utilizing microcontroller technology. Int J Latest Technol Engg Manag Appl Sci. 2024;13(7):69-81.
3. Ulhe PP, Inwate MD, Wankhede FD, Dhakle KS. Modification of solar grass cutting machine. Int J Innov Res Sci Technol. 2016;2:2349-6010.
4. Sachin P, Sachin P. Solar grass cutter machine. Int J Technol Res Engg. 2016;3:2702-2706.
5. Sujendran S, Vanitha P. Smart lawn mower for grass trimming. Int J Sci Res. 2014;3:2319-7064.
6. Ambekar YD, Ghate AU. Solar based grass cutter. In: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Latest Trend in Engineering, Science, Humanities and Management; 2017 Feb; p. 322-326.
7. Zhang Y, Liu Y, Li H. Development of a solar-powered grass cutter based on renewable energy. Energies. 2021.