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JUNIOR YEAR STUDIO PROJECT AT ASU


DESIGN BREIF
Fabricating a mobile rice cooker intended for outdoor adventures and camping trips.




USERS
During my research, it was necessary to fully understand what the average camper brings with them on camping trips. In addition, I needed to obtain specific information on how users utilize their rice cookers at home. Bridging this gap was top priority, and I ended up finding three people who regularly go camping and use rice cookers.

AMALIA, 18
Amalia is a young adult that uses a rice cooker 3 times a week and enjoys camping with friends during the summer on the beaches of Hawaii. She usually camps for 2-3 days at a time and tends to stay in a tent. At home, she uses an Aroma 6 Cup Rice Cooker. Amalia mentioned that she would like to have a cooker with a timer, rather than waiting for it to pop open. She looks for ease of use, ease of cleaning, and an included rice paddle. When asked if she would bring a rice cooker with her on camping trips she said “Yes, I usually bring rice with me on camping trips so having a rice cooker with me would be something I would do.”

MICAH, 19
Micah is a Sophomore in college at ASU who uses rice cookers pretty regularly. He enjoys going camping and backpacking on wooded trails in the St. Louis, MO area. Packing light and bringing essential items are his main priority. When cooking rice, he prefers simplicity and efficiency. He is most familiar with the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy, which he says is “easy to use and easy to clean.” In my final question, I asked if he would consider bringing a rice cooker with him on camping trips. He replied “Yes, I would bring it because it can be used in many different meals.”

JACOB, 21
Jacob is a Junior in college at ASU and uses a rice cooker once a week. He enjoys camping and occasionally goes backpacking with friends during fall in Littleton, CO. He prioritizes bringing essential gear: sleeping bag, tent, bear spray, lighter, knife, and food and water. In regards to cooking rice, he uses an Aroma 6 Cup rice cooker. He appreciates ease of use and the ability to remove the bowl for serving. His main issue is the efficiency of the cooker, saying “sometimes the rice is undercooked and can take a while to finish.” When asked if he would ever consider bringing a rice cooker on camping trips he said “Yeah If there was an easy way to cook it.”

SKETCHES
During the ideation phase, it was crucial to keep each idea simple yet innovative. With exception to 3 designs, all are battery powered and can be charged either with a cable or included solar panels. After sketching 19 designs, I chose three which I felt were most suitable for the next phase and further development.
CONCEPT
In the concept phase, I moved forward with these three designs: one being slim, tall with interchangeable batteries. The second incorporated a foldable silicone sleeve wrap around and heat the pot. The third, which was my final, is similar to other traditional rice cookers, with the ability to be transported and recharged.




MODELS
To develop my designs further, I made three rough models out of cardboard and paper, which helped me consider scale and form. I then took the final concept and created a detailed CAD model with all of the components of
a traditional rice cooker. My camping rice cookers used the mechanics of traditional rice cookers, with one exception: a rechargeable, replaceable battery and a screen that showed cooking times.


Once I had my final CAD model, I was able to render my product in Keyshot. The materials used in the Orez Traverse are the same/similar to those in other camping products. I added battery indicator lights on the front of the control panel and a USB-C charger. The intended use of this product is the same as traditional rice cookers. The user puts rice, water and other desired ingredients into the cooker. Closes the top, places the pot onto the heating element and presses the lever to start the cooking process.
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