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2. Project Proposal
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*What will it do?*
**What will it do?**
The machine's purpose is to bridge the gap between large scale production and home practices. Therefore I will try to make all environmental conditions controllable by the user, so they can experiment, record and figure out what works best for different types of plants in different conditions. This machine will be a tool to prototype ideal conditions before scaling for larger production.
*Who's done what beforehand?*
**Who's done what beforehand?**
I started by learning what work is already done. Both, for the overall project as well as systems in parts.
There are many commercially available hydroponic growing systems.
Some particular ones I like are:
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@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ This [Modular Vertical Farming projects](https://hackaday.io/project/5084-modula
A common project using DHT11 and OLED display to make a [Weather station](https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/herolivechannel/weather-station-arduino-dht11-sensor-oled-display-2f8e50).
And the best reference for everything from a product to a system to developing a community and a business model - [Aquapioneers: business integrating product and services for aquaponic farming](http://aquapioneers.io/)
*What will you design?*
**What will you design?**
I will make all fabricatable parts individually using different processes and integrate all them cohesively.
1. A phototransistor to sense daylight intensity and change brightness of the LED growlight accordingly.
2. A temperature and humidity sensor to measure and display values on an OLED screen.
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@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ I will make all fabricatable parts individually using different processes and in
9. Making a 3D model for planning and extracting 2D cutting files.
10. 3D printing parts
*What materials and components will be used?**What parts and systems will be made?*
**What materials and components will be used?What parts and systems will be made?**
The main body of the machine is made from 3mm acrylic in a frost white finish. Acrylic is not reactive to water, it can be laser cut easily accurately and joints can be waterproof using silicon sealant.
It doesn't react to the nutrient solution in the reservoir.
It can be joined without using any fasteners.
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@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ I ordered A SSD1306 OLED screen with I2C, a generic sprinkler system, some spina
The major parts of the machine are the body and the net pots, the pump and sprinkler system, the electronics including the inputs/outputs, the PCB and wires.
*Where will come from?**How much will they cost?*
**Where will come from?How much will they cost?**
I have added all sources and costs of all materials used in the project in this [Bill of Materials File](./images/final-project/v7.bom.xlsx).
*What processes will be used?*
**What processes will be used?**
Parts of the machine will incorporate 2D and 3D design, additive and subtractive fabrication processes, electronics design and production, embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming, system integration and packaging.
**CAD** - make 2D for cutting/production files & make a 3D model to plan, animate and render
**Inputs** - sensors to measure temperature, humidity and, switches to power and regulators to control
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@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ Parts of the machine will incorporate 2D and 3D design, additive and subtractive
**Network and Communication** - Add WiFi module to control it remotely? (maybe in later spirals)
**Interface and Application programming** - To make a GUI (phone app?) (maybe in later spirals)
*What questions need to be answered?*
**What questions need to be answered?**
My initial questions during the process were:
1. How to choose the right microcontroller?
2. How do the readings on the sensors translate to physical properties?
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4. What are the different techniques of aeroponics? Which is ideal for this machine?
5. If I add a wifi-module later on, do I need to change the microcontroller?
*How will it be evaluated?*
**How will it be evaluated?**
The best way to evaluate the project is to successfully grow a plant in it. I made spinach seedlings from seeds and have put them in the machine to grow further. The success will depend on the right temperature, humidity and light conditions.
@@ -70,14 +70,15 @@ I have added all sources and costs in the [Bill of Materials File](./images/fina
The major parts of the machine are the body and the net pots, the pump and sprinkler system, the electronics including the inputs/outputs, the PCB and wires.
4. Parts fabricated in other weeks
<!--4. Parts fabricated in other weeks
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[Computer-aided Design](./Computer-aided Design.md) for the 2D and 3D design of the project
[Electronics Design](./Electronics Design.md) page for ducmentation of the PCB Design process
I have answered all questions of the [final project requirements](http://academy.cba.mit.edu/classes/project_presentation/index.html) in the [Applications & Implications page](./Applications & Implications.md).
[Computer-aided Design](./Computer-aided Design.md) for the 2D and 3D design of the project
[Electronics Design](./Electronics Design.md) page for documentation of the PCB Design process
[Electronics Production](./Electronics Production.md) for step-by-step documentation of the PCB fabrication
[Input Devices](./Electronics Production.md), [Output Devices](./Output Devices.md) and [Embedded Programming](./Embedded Programming.md) for all the sensors, actuators and their programming
[IIIP](./Invention, Intellectual Property and Income.md)
