Chapter 1

1.1 Background of the Study

Whiteboards, erasers and markers. These are the common instructional materials that instructors
have been using nowadays in classroom for discussing lessons every day.

Many teachers believe they have found a better way — with whiteboards. There’s no more chalk
dust filling classroom air, no more chalk residue on your fingers, no more clapping the erasers outside after
school. Instead, glossy white boards line the walls in a growing number of classrooms (Stockdale,
2012).White boards are the modern day chalkboards. They replaced these older contraptions when people
saw the need and the advantages for such an enhancement. Blackboards used to dominate classrooms.
These days, however, more and more white boards are penetrating the school scene, taking the place of
the boards we grew up with as kids. A white board is a panel with a shiny, smooth surface that is usually
white – thus the name. They can be seen in various locations on campus – in classrooms, lecture halls,
laboratories, libraries, and meeting rooms. Some white boards come equipped with a frame and wheels.
These versatile boards can be extra useful and handy anywhere on campus (Trinsick, 2012).

Erasing while discussing is such a waste of time and interrupt the discussion. However it was just
a bit of time that has been consumed by erasing but the time that had been wasted plays big importance in
the discussion part because we have a saying that “TIME IS GOLD”. This was just a common problem that
happens inside the classroom while the discussion is being conducted. Designing a eraser in such a way
that it is not difficult for an instructor to erase the writing while he/she is conducting the lesson without
interrupting the class just because to erase the board writing. In this manner the automatic eraser will be a
thin devices attached to the both sides of the length of the board operated automatically with a remote
control. Along the length of the board will be a tracking that allows the device to move back and forth. The
device will be powered by an electric motor. There will be holes in the device where an alcohol based
solution will be place in the eraser material to help provide a clean surface on the white board(Ali,2013).

Our idea for making the whiteboard was to make a robot/moving cart that moves left and right
across the top the board. Also, the robot would have an expo eraser at the end of the pole that moved up
and down the board. First, our group worked on making a holder for the motor, which took a long time. It
started out as a little cart that moved with four wheels across the floor and then changed into a cart that
moved across the top of a white board. One day of working on the project, a few problems occurred on how
to move the robot across the whiteboard. Our group decided to build double tracks, out of wood, and put
them on both sides of the board and have the cart move along them with two wheels on one side and
another wheel on the other, which would be attached to a motor. Also, there would be four holders across
the whiteboard to make sure the track was stable. Then the wheels were made out of acrylic so it would
ride across the tracks. This feature finally made our robot move smoothly across the board(Paige
D'Angelo,2014).

Whiteboard as required. Cleaning of the whiteboard by a damp cloth is, of course, a technique that
has long been employed but is only used when immediate use of the blackboard/whiteboard is not required.
But today many teachers/instructors are having problems in erasing the writings at the board while making
a lecture to the class. This can cause a little waste of time for lectures especially when it is very important.
This is why some researchers have an interest in making such device that can be efficient enough to erase
the board without human interaction and discussing a lesson. The automated whiteboard eraser system
using a micro plc, a DC motor for driver, a lead screw and linear bearing with drive shaft as main
components. The implementation of this research consists of eight stages; i) manual sketching and
modeling some ideas through literature review, ii) selected the best design and make-up the drawing, iii)
categorized all components according to final design, iv) done fabrication job and bought selected standard
components such as a micro set plc parts, motor driven, and electronic components, v) assembly process
was done by referring the assembly drawing, vi) testing the major function of the eraser, vii) minor
modification was done on the eraser system, viii) final test for overall function of the automated whiteboard
eraser system. In the first stage, the manual sketches on the overall system had been done through some
reviewed on the past designs or products. Earlier, Autocad 2008 software was used for modeling purpose.
Then in stage two, selection of the final or the best design for this research was done according to scoring
scheme. In third stage, all parts or components were categorized according to their functions and
sequences. Here some parts were identified as standard components and the other parts could be
fabricated on the lab. Meanwhile in fourth stage, started ordered and bought the components and parts
according to the early stage task. After all components were ready assembly process was done by referring
the assembly drawing. Here members in this research were worked together as a team to make sure that
all parts were assembled exactly following the drawing. Then in sixth stage, testing process on the overall
system was done to ensure the system totally function without any difficulties. According to the result of the
testing stage, some minor modifications had done to make the system more effective. In the last stage, final
test on the overall system and all minor defects were fine tuned. (Mohd, Khairul 20-Jun-2009)

1.2 Statement of the Study

The main purpose of the project is to develop and implement a microcontroller based detachable
or adjustable board eraser. There are many problems that had been experienced by teachers in classroom
but some of these common problems that need to be considered while making the design of the project
like:

 What would be the appropriate design in order to achieve the desired function and specification of
a microcontroller based board eraser?
 What materials are needed to be considered to have a durable design for the project?
 Whom we need to address the projects purpose?
 How to evaluate the functions and specification that has to be used in the desired project?

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The mentioned statements and arguments above were the main objectives for the development
and implementation detachable or adjustable board eraser using an Arduino microcontroller. The following
function of the project is to erase the board writings without having an interruption of the discussion of the
class. The main objective of the project is stated below:

 To design a microcontroller based board eraser that has a functionality of erasing up and down
movements and the users desired part of the board to be erased.
 To develop a concept that is suitable for that common problem that is experiencing by some
teachers in class discussions.
 To implement the develop project to be used as an classrooms instructional material.
 To evaluate the possible outcome of the project and gather some feedback that is needed for the
project in future developments.
1.4 Scope and Limitation

The research project focuses on the development and implementation of a microcontroller based
automated whiteboard eraser. The projects functions on the specific duty on erasing the writings on the
whiteboard. It will be having a remote control as its main control for the erasers modes and functions. For
the teachers desired part to be erased. The project uses chain to move along the boards and the servo
motor that drives the eraser linkages. The function of our project is the use of erasing only the writings as
for the whole part of the board. The projects function is erasing from its original position up to its full extend
of the design.

We only limit and focus our study in the function and specification of the project. We didn’t attach
ourselves in the calculation of some materials that we are using.

CHAPTER 2

2.1 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

An automatic eraser apparatus, comprising, a blackboard plate, the blackboard plate including a
plate upper edge and a plate lower edge, the plate upper edge and plate lower edge are arranged in a
spaced parallel relationship, the plate upper edge including an upper metallic strip continuous with and
coextensive with the plate upper edge, and a plate lower metallic strip contiguous and coextensive with
the plate lower edge, the upper metallic strip arranged in a parallel relationship relative to the lower
metallic strip, and An electrical transmission line, the electrical transmission line including a first
transmission line connection directed into the upper metallic strip, and A second transmission line
connection directed into the lower metallic strip, the electrical transmission line including an on/off
switch, and A guide track spaced from and parallel the upper metallic strip coextensive therewith, and
an eraser housing mounted to the guide track and the eraser housing including a rotary cylindrical
brush contained within the eraser housing, the rotary cylindrical brush extending between the plate
upper edge and the plate lower edge, and the rotary cylindrical brush including a reversal drive motor
means arranged for effecting selective rotation of the rotary cylindrical brush, with the rotary cylindrical
brush in contiguous communication with a blackboard plate top surface, and the drive motor means in
electrical communication with the upper metallic strip and the lower metallic strip for directing electrical
energy into the drive motor means, and the eraser housing includes a housing bottom wall, the housing
bottom wall including a lower strip spring contact in electrical communication with the drive motor and
the lower metallic strip, and an upper strip spring contact directed through the housing bottom wall in
electrical communication with the drive motor and the upper metallic strip, and the eraser housing
includes a top end wall spaced from a bottom end wall, the bottom end wall including a wheel support
socket projecting orthogonally relative to the bottom wall and adjacent the bottom end wall, with the
wheel support socket reciprocatably mounting a guide wall support there within, and the guide wall
support rotatable mounting a lower guide wheel projecting beyond the housing bottom wall for relative
mounting below the lower metallic strip and support of the eraser housing, and a threaded rod directed
orthogonally through the eraser housing received within the guide wall support, whereupon rotation of
the threaded rod effects reciprocation of the guide wall support within the wheel support socket, and a
drive motor chamber positioned adjacent the wheel support socket, the drive motor chamber mounting
the drive motor means there within, the drive motor means including a reversible drive motor, with the
reversal drive motor including a drive motor gear, the drive motor gear in mechanical communication
with an axle lower end gear, and the rotary cylindrical brush including an axle upper end projecting
through an upper end portion of the rotary cylindrical brush received within an upper bearing and an
axle lower end coaxially aligned with the axle upper end directed through a lower end portion of the
rotary cylindrical brush received within a lower bearing, the axle lower end directed through the lower
bearing and terminating and orthogonally mounted to the axle lower end gear, and the rotary cylindrical
brush is contained within a brush chamber within the eraser housing positioned adjacent to the motor
chamber, and a dust accumulation chamber is provided and oriented between the brush chamber and
the drive motor, the dust accumulation chamber in communication with the brush chamber, and the
dust accumulation chamber having a dust accumulation chamber door directed through the eraser
housing, and the guide track includes a guide track chamber coextensive with the guide track, and the
housing bottom wall includes a guide wheel axle orthogonally mounted to the housing bottom wall
adjacent the housing top end wall, and the housing guide wall axle includes a track chamber wheel
rotatable mounted to a free distal end of the guide wheel axle, with the track chamber wheel received
within the guide track chamber, and a vacuum housing mounted to the eraser housing bottom end wall,
the vacuum housing including a vacuum housing switch for effecting selective actuation of a vacuum
means contained within the vacuum housing, and a collector bag suspended below the vacuum
housing, with the collector bag including a collector bag hose directed from the collector bag through
the dust accumulation chamber door into the dust accumulation chamber.

Chapter 3
Methodology

FIGURE 3.1 FRONT VIEW OF THE DESIGN 1

FIGURE 3.3 ISOMETRIC VIEW OF THE DESIGN 1

3.2 Development Phase

In this phase is the process in which the project is being organized and being made by the
researchers, putting all the materials that is needed in designing the project. The Arduino Microcontroller
plays the biggest role in this research because in here, the program for the process of the project is being
put. The outcome of the project relies in this phase. The better the installation of the material the better the
outcome of the research that is being conducted. The second main material is eraser and whiteboard. The
idea and the design of the research study is all about the board and the eraser. This two material should
not be absent in making the outcome. Lastly, the third material used is the servo motor for moving the RIM
up and down forward-reverse, sensors for detecting while the servo motors stops the process that is being
conducted and the linkages and metal supports. Linkages this are the one that is attached at the eraser to
move it up and down. The metal supports are the one that make the outcome more durable and not easy
to break. Also wipe should not also be absent because this will connect all of the electrical design of the
research project especially for the Arduino and Servo Motors.

3.3 Implementation

Problem of existing design and objective of new design. In the light of designing an automated
whiteboard cleaner, the limitations of two major existing designs will be considered. That is, the electric
board cleaner and the automatic whiteboard cleaner which makes use of belts. Most belts have low wear
and tear resistance and with the frequent operation of the duster (i.e the cleaning process), the belt is likely
to cut and hence makes the device or the cleaner less useful. In the process of trying to change the belt,
the whole components may have to be loosened which is time – consuming.

However, as for the case of the electric board cleaner, the idea of applying manual effort still comes in. The
difference being that effort applied is less since it is powered electrically. This project is aimed at modifying
the automatic whiteboard cleaner by replacing the belts with chains which will improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of the

Cleaner. The objective of this project is to reduce the stress of cleaning the board by using an automated
duster. This objective would be achieved through the following specific objectives (i) conceptualization of
an automated whiteboard cleaner (ii) preliminary and detailed design of new mechanism.

3.4 Evaluation

In fact the research study make is to develop and implement a microcontroller based
detachable/adjustable eraser. Discussing about the function of the device is not easy especially in the
design parameters that can fit the working process of the desired project. In order to minimize the
interruption of the discussions in classes, the microcontroller based eraser has been decided to be the
research study of our group.

Our specific evaluators will be the instructors because the decided research project will serve as a
part of teaching material that will be used by instructors in the classroom. To maintain the flow of the
discussion and not interrupting it the microcontroller based eraser will be one of the solution of these
common problem in classrooms because the instructors will not pause there discussion just to erase what
they write on the board but instead they will just use the eraser and continue on what they are discussing
in the class.