Driven by the need to make mowing the lawns easier for his grandparents [and the desire to get out of doing it himself] Kevin invented a remote control lawnmower!
Here's where you can check out the 2009 Bright Sparks Competition finalists. Click on each finalist to view their project, read their profile and make a comment. Don't forget to cast your People's Choice Award vote!
Remote Controlled Lawn Mover
Kevin Huang
Category: Open
Age Group: 17+ years
Mowing the lawn is not easy for old people like my grandparents, and my grandparents have an electric eco-friendly lawnmower, which requires a long extension cable for power. This means every time I mow the lawn for them, both of my grandparents have to move the cable around so that I don't run over the cable. Not only is this a hassle, it's also very dangerous for older people to walk on the slippery fresh cut grass. To solve this problem I came up with a few solutions. They could get a ride-on lawn mower, but they are too expensive. They could get a petrol lawn mower, but they'd still have to push it. They could get someone else (like me) to do it, but with my school work and sport trainings increasing it's getting harder and harder for me to find the time to mow the lawn for them. With none of these solutions ideal I decided to make them a Remote Control Lawnmower, so they can mow their lawn by themselves, sitting down while having a cup of tea.
The hardest part about developing the lawnmower was getting the motors to work. I've used windscreen wiper motors, but I didn't know that there's some gearing inside which makes it go one direction. I wanted my motors to go both directions, so the lawn mower can go forward and backward and when I forced the motor to go the opposite direction it is designed to go, the motor heats up to 80C in a very short amount of time! Finding and solving this problem was definitely the biggest challenge.
I've been a Bright Sparks member for about a year and a half - the best part is getting to order cheap parts from the 'Hub'. I planning on going to Auckland University and my dream is to become and electrical engineer.
Good~
VERY GOOD!
excellent!
very good!
It is a full of originality design
outstanding!
very good
very good
Good!!!!!!!!!!!
Very Good!
Very creative,
Starting from everyday life is very good!
bloody awesome. if i had to lawn mow with ur one.. i'd be able to sit in the shade and watch it move ^.^ less energy expended.
I LOVE THIS IDEA! ITS SO INGENIOUS AND FUN. Good job!
Great work. Ingenious, must have taken hours, well done.
Pretty cool man. It actually works! BTW your grandparents mow like pros! =D
Omg, this is SO COOL! :) Awesome job
Awesome !!!
amazing stuff kev!
Can you make one for me?! This is so cool!
Your lawn mower rocks!
Cool... go Mt Roskill Grammar School
Brilliant!
Stop removing my comments, I have a right to freedom of speech. "It is a full of originality design" no its not its been done and the winner of the 07/08 brightsparks won it with an rc lawnmower nothing new here
Nice! I like it!
Bright Sparks is not simply about innovative ideas, it's about applying technology in innovative new ways, something that Kevin has evidenced here - his project is different to anything Bright Sparks has seen before.
i saw u on sunrise!! luv it ay~
"Public Enemy" just dont be a hater, ur jst jealous
"Public Enemy" agreed there. why is somthing that has already been invented beeing published/made again. whats up with that. o look i want to win the competition ill build and rc lawnmower. im sure to win. there are other (mosly all the rest) project that are completly new and are "innovative new ways, something that" all other applicants "has evidenced here". freedon of speech so dont delete.
@ Innovativelol & Public Enemy
Projects in the competition are judged on a number of different criteria, such as: is it a new and novel idea, does it show evidence of technological sophistication, does it fulfil a need etc. Each project is considered entirely on its own merits regardless of what has been entered in the past. This is why a robotic arm can do well in the competition if it's a great concept and design, despite the fact that they're a common entry. Why? Because the entrant still had to design and build a robotic arm, which is not easy to do. Also, a later robotic arm might be different or better than one that was submitted in previous years.
Kevin saw a need to help his grandparents mow their lawn, and he applied technology to meet that need [creating a fantastic design in the process.] That's what Bright Sparks is all about, and Kevin should be proud.
Incredible bro!
good job kevin.
ummm isnt it supposed to cut grass??. i see it making loud noises and moving forward???. thoes lwans dont look hard to mow???
Kevin - what an incredible remote controlled lawnmower you have built! I'm sure your grandparents will find it easy to mow the lawn now with this invention! Nice work man
Kevin you're greatla。你很孝顺家人。支持支持
Thats Wicked Hope you still get pocket money for mowning the lawns with that!!