Strawberry Hydroponics with Monitoring System

(HydroBerries)

EPCOT

Team Introduction

● Ray:○ Lead Electrical Engineer

● Ryan:○ Mechanical Engineer○ Communication Coordinator

● Thierno:○ Electrical Engineer○ Team Facilitator

● Nate:○ Project Manager○ Electrical Engineer

● Dan:○ Mechanical Engineer○ Purchasing Coordinator

● Kevin:○ Lead Mechanical Engineer

● Jerry:○ Computer Engineer○ Purchasing Coordinator

From Left to Right: Raymond Zhang, Ryan Asplen, Thierno Diallo, Nathan Tiberio, Daniel Lynch, Kevin McGraw,

and Jerry Affricot

Project Background - What is Hydroponic?● A method to grow plants

using no soil.● Nutrients supplied by

a water solution● Can provide increased

yields, longer season,use less water, etc…

● Controlled environmentto grow plants. For ourapplication - Strawberries

http://c8.alamy.com/comp/D392YE/rows-of-ripe-red-strawberries-and-foliage-of-plants-growing-in-greenhouse-D392YE.jpg

Project Background - Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Hydroponics

http://www.homehydrosystems.com/hydroponic-systems/nft_systems.html

http://www.grozine.com/2014/05/05/american-hydroponics-nft-systems/

Problem StatementIn order to avoid the costs associated with a proprietary hydroponic product, our team will design an open source NFT system with climate control and a monitoring system that will be implemented at Durgin Family Farms at 1175 Martin Road and be available to other interested hydroponic.

Goals

● Develop a stand alone unit consisting of pipes and support

● A modular design of how the units should be tied together with a reservoir

● A microelectronic control system● A proof of concept prototype of the system built at the

farm

ConstraintsCost: < $3,000 for prototype model built at Durgin Family Farms.

*Cost does reflect the cost to build system after designing, should be much lower. The $3,000 is budgeted for design, testing, etc…

Weather: System will be constructed outside on Durgin Farm, consideration of building in the elements is crucial (i.e. rain, snow, cold conditions)

Customer RequirementsKey requirements

● Grow highest quality strawberry possible● Achieve the highest productivity possible● Optimize convenience to the end user

Further requirements

● Monitor and control physical properties of the hydroponics system, ideally temperature, conductivity, pH level, and dissolved oxygen. Other sensors possible (flow meter)

● Remote control ● Weather protection (snow, wind, rain)● A full hydroponic system design and implementation with an electronic system● Easy to use: u-pick customers can easily and safely access strawberries● Safe: System abides by all required safety standards (OSHA, UL, etc)● Documentation ● Bill of materials● Prevent water contamination ● Affordable ● Repeatable (scalable)

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5332/9576522655_6c40cc46f0.jpg

Engineering Requirements● Sensors and sensor accuracy required: Temperature +/- ?, dissolved 02 +/- ?,

conductivity +/- ?● Water/Air temperature control 62 F to 85 F. (62F

berry production, 77 F growth, 85 F too hot) Heating and cooling required● Module size ~ 20 ft long with multiple rows of plants● Plant height 3 ft to 5 ft in height for easy picking● Maintenance requirements?● Energy Consumption?● Ethernet connection to computer for central control

Requirements will be refined throughout design process

Engineering Requirements Continued ● Limit levels of harmful chemicals

Dissolved sodium levels < 20 ppm, Iron levels < 1 ppm, etc

● Provide correct proportions of all nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, etc…)

Requirements will be refined throughout design process

Use Scenario (overflow of water)

Alternate Use Scenario(s)● Other sensors present in the system will follow the same use case as the

overflow scenario● Control System automatically changes (increase/decrease) the water flow

after alerting the user

BenchmarkingTemecula Valley Strawberry Farms (TVSF)

● Hydroponic strawberries● Drip/Trickle System (VertiGrow)● $3/lb● 2.5 lb/plant/year● $33,000/acre implementation

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/the-farm-of-the-future-will-grow-plants-vertically-and-hydroponically

BenchmarkingLow Tunnel Strawberries

● Conventional Soil grown● Longer growing season● $40,000/acre implementation

“27% higher yields and 15% higher marketable fruit under tunnels averaged across five varieties. In a cold spring yields were 239% higher with 37% higher marketable fruit due to the frost protection provided by the plastic cover. Similarly, in a study in Maryland, season length was extended to 9 months with low tunnels. Total yield and marketable yield under low tunnels were 188% greater and 313% greater, respectively, compared with open beds” http://www.hort.cornell.edu/fruit/pdfs/low-tunnel-strawberries.pdf

BenchmarkingGroMoore Farms

2811 E. Henrietta Road,

Henrietta, New York 14467

Hydroponic U-pick strawberries

NFT System

http://www.gromoore.com/

http://www.gromoore.com/GroMoore_Hydroponic-Strawberries.htm

Resources

instructables.com

Technical Risks/Challenges

● The system that will be built this spring may become damaged in winter.○ Freezing in the reservoir, tubes or pipes could create cracks.

○ The weight of snow on the system may cause a collapse.

● Water contamination, keeping proper nutrient formula for macronutrients (N,

P, K, Mg, and Ca) in proper proportions is especially difficult for NFT systems

(Morgan 53)

● The strawberry season won’t align with the project build and test season

● Pumps failing (they run continuously).

Safety Risks/Challenges● The framework could be unstable in the wind and could pose a hazard to the

customer and his customers.

● The system may become infected and taint the strawberries making them

unsafe to eat.

● Low risk of electrical hazards.

http://www.safetysign.com/images/source/large-images/J5337.png

Societal, Environmental, and Resource Risks/Challenges● Invasive animals (deer and insects)

● Infection (fungal, bacterial, viral, algal), danger from dirt splashed by rain

● In the event nutrient water escapes the system it could cause local unwanted

fauna to flourish undesirably. (Weeds beneath the system)

● Customers may be opposed to the means by which the strawberries were

produced. (Not Organic)

● Weather may make outside construction difficult

Project Plan Research

Timeline: Week 3-4

● Establish contact for RIT professor concerning hydroponics and embedded systems (i.e. Professor Barrios for microcontroller selection)

● Visit comparable hydroponic strawberry farms (i.e. Gro-Moore Farms) ● Research hydroponic systems in general and learn nutrient requirements and

conditions for optimal growth ● Research to find the most cost efficient/reliable sensors to use (Digikey) ● Research DIY builds for information on cost savings / purchase

Project Plan (Continued) Design of Module

Timeline: Week 4-7

● Draw a rough draft of hydroponic system (structure and layout)

● Decide specifications of system (i.e. dimensions, sensor placement, heating/cooling of water)

● Create a CAD of the structure of the system for better understanding of layout

http://www.bee-engineers.com/sites/default/files/Drafting_3.jpg

Project Plan (Continued)Electrical

Timeline: Week 4-7

● Choose a microcontroller

● Choose sensors that meet requirements for monitoring system

● Layout schematic of electrical system

● Design housing for electrical components ( i.e. chassi)

● Create a top level flow-chart of program that will provide feedback

http://www.microchip.com/_images/ics/medium-PIC16F887-PDIP-40.png

Project Plan (Continued)Purchases

Timeline: Week 7-15

● Perform a cost analysis for material/parts

● Create a bill of materials

● Confirm materials will fit the design as intended to

● Purchase confirmed parts that will be used

hydroponics.com

Questions?