Rice Transplanter - designed.mit.edudesigned.mit.edu/gallery/data/2005/sketch/slides/orangeA1.pdf · Rice Transplanter . Rice Market ! 20% of the world’s calorie supply, and 30%

Rice Transplanter

Rice Market

n  20% of the world’s calorie supply, and 30% of Asia’s

n  Top producers are China (31%) and India (20%)

n  Grown primarily for domestic use

Photo by Stuart Ling - Wikipedia

Current Products n  Cost

n  Price of equipment: $250-17,500 (used)

n  GDP per capita: ~$5600 (China), ~$3100 (India)

n  Technical limitations n  Need large, flat fields n  Cannot plant on field

edges n  Frequently overturn in

the mud

YanMar Agricultural Equipment, Co.

Photo by Aaron Kingsbury

Technical Requirements n  Prevent back-problems

in field workers n  Extremely low-cost n  Simple and rugged n  Easily transportable n  Can be repaired using

local materials n  Usable in a variety of

terrains Photo by Jan-Pieter Nap - Wikipedia

Sketch Model

Sketch Model

Open initial position Closed position after retraction