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Automated Aerial Seed Planting Using Biodegradable Polymers http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/ Research Commons at the University of Waikato Copyright Statement: The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). The thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. Authors control the copyright of their thesis. You will recognise the author’s right to be identified as the author of the thesis, and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate. You will obtain the author’s permission before publishing any material from the thesis. Automated Aerial Seed Planting using Biodegradable Polymers A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Waikato by Wade Cozens 2019 The purpose of the thesis was to undertake a preliminary product design to assess the feasibility of using drone technology to aid reforestation for automated seed planting. This product would be able to increase productivity and reduce labour costs, especially when applied in difficult to reach terrains around New Zealand. Ultimately, the final product would be a weaponised drone or a swarm of drones that can fire plastic seed capsules into soil to a specific depth to prevent predation and ensure optimal germination conditions. The proof of concept hinges on the success of three objectives: Assessing and controlling the capsule’s biodegradability in soil. A method of mass manufacturing projectile seed capsules that can be delivered at high velocity and the ability of it to be fired into soil to a specific depth to ensure safe germination. Novatein was blended with poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) to aid sheet extrusion and improve water resistance. Biodegradability was tested by measuring the ability of bacteria and fungi to metabolise the polymer blends into CO2 by enclosing samples in soil at 25 °C. PBAT showed very little biodegradation under these conditions, where approximately 3 % of the theoretical carbon content of the sample was converted to CO2. Novatein reached 20 %, and the blends were intermediate, based on the amount of PBAT present. It was concluded that PBAT can effectively control the rate and extent of biodegradation in blends with Novatein. A method for mass manufacturing seed capsules was evaluated by compression moulding spheres to test mouldability and manufacturing lap welded samples to quantify weld strength. Blends of Novatein and PBAT were successfully moulded and welded above the glass transition temperature of the material; optimal parameters were 105 °C with a three minute hold time. Lap welds were tested by varying the compression force and sheet thickness and thereby reducing the weld times to approximately eight seconds. Welded samples were tested for tensile and peel strength, where 0.68 mm thick sheets, welded at 750 N compression force, yielded the highest tensile strength (88 % that of an un-welded samples). Thicker sheets (1.52 mm) welded at 900 N compression force, resulted in the highest peel force. Producing capsules capable of penetrating soil would benefit from thicker sheets using sufficient pressure to prevent peeling at the seam. I Finally, seed capsule delivery was assessed using empirical modelling in combination with controlled soil conditions. Models created by Young and Lorenz used a dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) to measure the soil’s penetration resistance to predict the penetration depth of a known projectile. These models were developed for considerably heavier projectiles (> 2.2 kg) and penetration depths much greater than considered here. Considering the DCP measures the soils resistance to penetration at a depth of one meter, a comparison to a 10th scale model was investigated. Contrary to expected, the standard DCP predicted the penetration depth of high velocity projectiles to a reasonably accuracy (~20 %) using two different types of homogenous sand, tested at three moisture contents. The scaled model failed to account for soil types, which was shown to have significant influence during high velocity testing. The work here highlighted the importance of considering realistic forestry soil, despite the accuracy of the prediction in homogenous sand. Although an integrated product has not been developed, this project has shown that a strategy exists for controlling the rate of biodegradation of Novatein/PBAT. A plausible method for mass manufacturing seed capsules was demonstrated using compression moulding of Novatein blends. Penetration depth was predicted accurately for homogenous soil, this requires further research into applying the model to realistic top soil conditions. The final stage of the larger project is to integrate a firing mechanism with a drone for automated delivery of seed capsules produced from vacuum forming. II First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor associate professor, Casparus Johan Verbeek, for all the encouragement, support and guidance. Not only the support for this master’s thesis, but during a summer scholarship, and with my honours research, you have certainly given me the skills to excel to heights I would not have expected when we first meet. Thank you very much for the over and above support and friendship. I would like to thank members at the University of Waikato for their friendship, help and support. Technical support from Jonathan van Harselaar, and Peter Higgins. Samuel Hodder for the quality honours research that contributed to the results of Chapter 2, and for the technical support. Matthew Smith, Chanelle Gavin and Jim Bier for the guidance, advice and encouragement. Safiya Noorzai and Maria Flor, for sticking it out with me till the end. Alex Tibshraeny and Francis Bridge for the help, laughter, coffee and distraction when it was much needed. I would like to say a special thank you to my parents, Garry and Jenny Cozens, who taught me that I have the ability to do anything I set my mind to. A lesson not forgotten. For the love and support, both financial and edible, that they have given me throughout my academic career. Last but not least, to the amazing Lauren Paxton-Denny, encouraging me to take on this challenge, and giving me the love and support I needed to complete it. III Abstract .................................................................................................................... I Acknowledgements ................................................................................................ III Table of Contents .................................................................................................. IV List of Figures ..................................................................................................... VIII List of Tables ...................................................................................................... XIII Nomenclature ..................................................................................................... XIV Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 1 .................................................................................................................. 7 Biodegradability in Soil ........................................................................................... 7 1.1 Literature ....................................................................................................... 8 Synthetic polymers ................................................................................ 8 Non-degradable polymers ................................................................... 8 Degradable polymers .......................................................................... 8 Biosynthetic polymers ......................................................................... 9 Biobased polymers and Novatein .......................................................... 9 Abiotic degradation ............................................................................. 11 Thermal degradation ......................................................................... 11 Photo-degradation ............................................................................. 12 Biotic degradation ............................................................................... 12 Visual ................................................................................................ 13 Mechanical properties ....................................................................... 15 Mass loss ........................................................................................... 15 1.2 Experimental Methods ................................................................................ 19 Biodegradation method ....................................................................... 19 Soil Preparation method ...................................................................... 22 Sample Preparation method ................................................................ 23 IV Experimental procedures ..................................................................... 23 Scrubber efficiency and air flow calibration ..................................... 23 Experimental loss .............................................................................. 24 Scrubber
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