Artificial intelligence-assisted conceptual and detailed design of a plant-growing cup.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the integration of artificial intelligence specifically generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the traditional product development process (PDP). GenAI is transforming different industrial sectors like medical, aerospace and agriculture. Therefore, its application in agriculture particularly in the development of a plant-growing cup is explored in this research. A plant-growing cup is an enclosure that is used in automated farming systems for growing plants.

In the product development process, the conceptual and detailed design stages in-clude functional requirements, concept generation, designing, and product manufacturing. GenAI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot are explored as assistance tools in these two stages to enhance the workflow. GenAI tools provided 3D concepts, CAD modelling instructions, materials, and manufacturing methods recommendations. Human collaborator evaluated these outputs and merged them with their expertise to develop a functional prototype of the cup. This process helped in reducing the timeline for generating multiple 3D concepts as compared to the traditional process. It also highlighted the importance of the human and AI collaboration in the product development process to develop a product. For developing a physical prototype additive manufacturing is used as the primary manufacturing method of the cup because of its ability for quick prototyping and a suggestion by AI tools in terms of manufacturing. After the prototyping, the cup is experimentally tested, and design iterations are performed based on real-world testing. A cost break-even analysis between injection molding and additive manufacturing is also performed to determine the cost-effectiveness of both methods and assistance in decision-making for mass manufacturing of the cup.

As a result of this study, a functional plant growing cup was obtained, which improved plant health, reusability, and ease of cleaning while being compatible specifically for the Herby appliance of Arctic Farming Oy.