3. PROBLEM STATEMENT - N-div-2026-27-Odd/Repo-01 GitHub Wiki
Need statement:
Devotees and elderly individuals perform daily pooja rituals at home and small temples. Due to busy daily schedules and physical limitations, the user wishes to go for automating devotional rituals like aarti rotation, bell ringing, and abhishekam.
3.1: Question And Answer
| Sl.No | Questions | Answer | Objective/Function/Constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Should the machine be automatic, semiautomatic, or manual? | The machine should be an automatic (push-button or sensor triggered ritual cycle) | Objective |
| 2. | Should the machine be fixed or portable? | The machine should be portable and easily placeable on a home altar/pooja table | Objective |
| 3. | What should be the maximum weight of the machine? | Less than 3.5 kgs | Constraint |
| 4. | What should be the size of the machine? | Dimensions: 1.5 ft × 1.5 ft × 1.2 ft | Constraint |
| 5. | How should the aarti motion and bell ringing operate? | Smooth reciprocal aarti rotation (10–15 RPM) and synchronized rhythmic bell strikes (1–2 strikes/sec) | Function |
| 6. | What should be the capacity and rate for liquid abhishekam? | Dispense 50 ml to 100 ml of water/milk per cycle without splashing | Constraint |
| 7. | How should floral offerings and prasad drops be handled? | Controlled servo linkage to tilt and release flowers onto the deity platform | Function |
| 8. | Should the machine be user-friendly and safe? | Yes, plug-and-play operation with no risk of oil spillage or electrical shorting | Objective |
| 9. | What other features are expected? | LED status indicator for cycle completion, emergency stop, and hygienic food-grade tubing | Function |
| 10. | How much can the machine cost? | Try to make it within Rs 5000 | Constraint |
3.2 BASIC SURVEY AND REQUIREMENTS
| Sl.No | Observation from Surveys | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Altar Space Constraints | The bot footprint must not exceed 300 × 300 mm to fit standard home mandirs without crowding deity idols. |
| 2. | Spill and Liquid Management | The teertha (holy water) dispenser must feature a drip-proof valve and isolated pump housing to protect electronic circuits. |
| 3. | Acoustic Disturbance | Operating motor noise must stay below 45 dB so it does not drown out quiet meditation or audio recitations. |
| 4. | Autonomous Operation | The system must initiate the puja routine via touchless ultrasonic sensing when a devotee approaches within 40 cm. |
| 5. | End-Effector Stability | The wrist mechanism holding the diya plate must maintain active horizontal leveling throughout all arm angles to prevent hot oil spills. |
2. Market & Field Survey Summary
| 2. Market & Field Survey Summary | Details |
|---|---|
| Target Stakeholders | • Temple priests, elder devotees, temple administrative staff, and home altar users. |
| Workflow Gaps | • Physical Strain: High fatigue from handling heavy brass vessels, ringing bells, and repetitive tasks.• Safety Risks: Danger of burns and fabric catches around open flames (diyas) and hot oil.• Navigation Issues: Difficulties moving through narrow circumambulation (pradakshina) pathways with offerings.• Language Barriers: Devotees need step-by-step mantra recitations and explanations in regional languages. |
| Key Survey Takeaways | • Compact Footprint: Must fit tight sanctum spaces without blocking walking areas.• Cultural Acceptance: Quiet, smooth motions to respect and preserve altar sanctity.• Simple Controls: User-friendly operation via push buttons, mobile apps, or WhatsApp prompts. |
3. Engineering & Design Requirements
| 3. Engineering & Design Requirements | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Functional Requirements | • Path Navigation: Follows designated lines or waypoints safely within the temple layoutspan_0span_0.• Item Delivery: Stable tray mechanism carries flowers and vessels without spillingspan_1span_1.• Audio Module: Plays multilingual mantras, ritual guidance, and chants clearlyspan_2span_2.• Obstacle Detection: Ultrasonic/IR sensors detect devotees or barriers and stop immediately to prevent collisionsspan_3span_3. |
| Non-Functional Requirements | • Speed & Safety: Operates below 0.3 m/s for safe movement around barefoot devoteesspan_4span_4.• Power & Runtime: Dedicated rechargeable battery for continuous autonomous cyclesspan_5span_5.• Chassis & Payload: Compact footprint sized for narrow altars with sufficient payload capacityspan_6span_6.• Acoustic Compliance: Low-noise motors and actuators to preserve quiet prayer and meditationspan_7span_7. |
3: Objectives identified
| Sl.No | Objectives |
|---|---|
| 01 | Machine should be automatic. |
| 02 | Machine should be portable. |
| 03 | Machine should be hygienic and spill-safe. |
| 04 | Machine should be User-friendly. |
Problem definition version 1.1 :-
Design and fabricate a portable, automatic Pujari Bot to perform automated devotional rituals including aarti plate rotation, bell ringing, controlled abhishekam dispensing, and flower offering. The system must be user-friendly, safe from oil or liquid spillage, hygienic, and realized within a compact desktop footprint and budget constraint.
3.4: Identified Constraints
| Sl.No | Constraints |
|---|---|
| 01 | Machine should be lightweight (weight less than 3.5 kg). |
| 02 | Dimensions must not exceed 2.7 cubic ft (1.5 ft × 1.5 ft × 1.2 ft). |
| 03 | Aarti turntable must rotate smoothly (10–15 RPM) without spilling diya oil. |
| 04 | Abhishekam pump must accurately meter 50 ml to 100 ml per ritual cycle without splashing. |
| 05 | Solenoid bell striker must deliver consistent rhythmic strikes (1 to 2 strikes per second). |
| 06 | The machine should operate continuously for at least 30 to 45 minutes per pooja session without motor overheating. |
| 07 | Tubing and contact surfaces must be made of non-toxic, food-grade material. |
| 08 | System must operate on safe low-voltage DC power (12V / 5V). |
| 09 | Cost of the machine should be within Rs 5000. |
Problem definition version 1.2 :-
Design and fabricate a portable, automatic Pujari Bot capable of performing hygienic, accurate, and spill-safe devotional rituals including smooth aarti rotation, rhythmic bell striking, metered liquid abhishekam, and flower offering. The machine must be user-friendly, not exceed a volume of 2.7 cubic feet, weigh less than 3.5 kg, operate continuously for at least 30 to 45 minutes on safe low-voltage power, and be developed within a budget limit of Rs. 5000.
3.5: Identified Functions
| Sl.No | Functions |
|---|---|
| 01 | Rotate aarti plate in smooth clockwise and counter-clockwise motion. |
| 02 | Ring the brass temple bell with rhythmic percussive strikes. |
| 03 | Pump and meter liquid precisely for abhishekam rituals. |
| 04 | Actuate linkage mechanism to gently release floral offerings / prasad. |
| 05 | Detect presence of offering tray / liquid reservoir level using sensors. |
| 06 | Indicate operational status and cycle completion to the user via audio-visual alerts. |
Problem definition version 1.3 :-
Design a automatic Pujari Bot capable of performing hygienic, accurate, and spill-safe devotional rituals, which should be portable and user-friendly. Machine must not exceed the volume of 2.7 cubic feet, weigh less than 3.5 kg, operate continuously for at least 30 to 45 minutes, and budget to build should not exceed Rs. 5000. Machine should indicate the user after ritual process is completed and should halt fluid dispensing in case the reservoir is empty or no collection vessel is detected.