Inclusions of ICT skills, digital literacy and open source platforms in the teaching of industrial design applied to smart agriculture

This paper discusses how Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills and digital literacy when combined with open-source platforms and low-cost electronics such as the Raspberry Pi, could form the basis for a Product Design project. The project focuses on the subject of smart agriculture. The agricultural sector exerts a considerable influence on the environment. Of particular concern is the utilisation of pesticides, which have deleterious effects on biodiversity. The 4.0 viticulture system, with its digital connections and IoT (Internet of Things) systems, facilitates the prevention of diseases, parasites and general nutritional deficiencies that could affect the vineyard, in addition to providing a comprehensive overview of the health of the plants. Consequently, the precise rates of fertiliser can be determined and administered in a targeted manner, thereby ensuring environmental efficiency. Consequently, production processes are optimised, enhancing their quality and sustainability. The project proposes a solution that is both innovative and unique: a rover-quadruped that is capable of monitoring the biotic and abiotic stresses of the vine using multispectral and hyperspectral cameras. This rover-quadruped is also able to fertilise rationally. The vehicle's four-wheeled and four-legged design offers unparalleled mobility, effectively overcoming limitations posed by ground-level obstacles such as hill slopes. A transformative capability is exhibited, allowing it to transition into a four-wheeled robot or a four-legged mechanical animal, depending on the operational requirements. Its adaptability is a key asset, enabling it to traverse challenging terrain with ease on its legs and navigate flat stretches efficiently on its wheels. The utilisation of open-source platforms, cost-effective technology and information technologies has expedited the process of democratising knowledge and developing the project. The development of the working prototype was facilitated by the implementation of rapid prototyping techniques, involving the assembly and disassembly of an open-source quadruped robot, which serves as a case study. This robot is accessible and can be used to develop fundamental knowledge at both the hardware and software levels. The electronic components that were already present and immediately usable were reassembled on the Raspberry Pi, an open-source platform that facilitates rapid and functional programming of the board, thereby enabling efficient training on the subject. Similarly, the codes downloaded from the GitHub community and the laser-cut and 3D-printed mechanical parts have enabled the rapid creation of additional training prototypes. It is acknowledged that some errors occurred during the assembly and disassembly process; however, these were deemed to be an integral component of the learning process. The widespread availability of low-cost electronics and the ease with which ICT technologies can be accessed have enabled designers to approach challenging robotics scenarios creatively. The integration of the Raspberry Pi and open-source learning was imperative in the creation of a functional prototype, which was subsequently utilised to verify the efficacy of the proposed solution. The outcomes at the educational and design levels demonstrate that the incorporation of ICT skills, digital literacy and open-source platforms in the education of industrial design fosters the expansion of young designers' creative problem-solving skills.