scholarly journals Prototype of a Low-Cost Compact Horticultural Chamber for Indoor Cultivation of Tropical Highland Wetland Flora

Technologies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Mateusz Wrazidlo ◽  
Anna Bzymek
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Living Plant ◽  
Testing Effects ◽  
Plant Cultivation ◽  
Natural Factors ◽  
Evaluation Phase ◽  
Environment Control ◽  
Environmental Requirements ◽  
Growth Chambers ◽  
Wetland Habitats

An environmental chamber is a specialistic device used for testing effects of given controlled conditions on a variety of objects. In case of plant growth chambers, the conditions are controlled usually for plant cultivation and propagation or botanical examination undertaken on living plant material. The aim of the project was to design and build a prototype of a desktop device with a control system capable of being used as a chamber supporting plant cultivation and propagation processes by the means of partial automation of environment control. The conditions controlled in the chamber are based on the environmental requirements of plant genera, such as Heliamphora, Drosera, Orectanthe, Cyrilla, Stegolepis, Maguireothamnus, or Utricularia. These plants occur naturally in the Guiana Highlands region of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana, especially around the upper parts of table-shaped mountain massifs called tepuis. The chamber was designed to simulate some of the peculiar natural factors and phenomena occurring in the high-tepui and surrounding mid-elevation wetland habitats, being the most significant for amateur-level plant cultivation, keeping the design as simple and low cost as possible. It was proven on the basis of the results of several tests made during the evaluation phase that the designed prototype of the chamber operates in a satisfying way, providing basic functionality matching the base assumptions.

scholarly journals A Cost-Effective Embedded Platform for Greenhouse Environment Control and Remote Monitoring

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu L. Sumalan ◽  
Nicoleta Stroia ◽  
Daniel Moga ◽  
Vlad Muresan ◽  
Alexandru Lodin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Monitoring ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Control Network ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Embedded Platform ◽  
Environment Control ◽  
Functional Features ◽  
And Control

This paper presents the development of a cost-effective automatic system for greenhouse environment control. The architectural and functional features were analyzed in the context of the realization of a controlled-environment agricultural system through all its stages: installation, deployment of the software, integration, maintenance, crop control strategy setup and daily operation of the grower. The proposed embedded platform provides remote monitoring and control of the greenhouse environment and is implemented as a distributed sensing and control network integrating wired and wireless nodes. All nodes were built with low-cost, low-power microcontrollers. The key issues that were addressed include the energy-efficient control, the robustness of the distributed control network to faults and a low-cost hardware implementation. The translation of the supervisory growth-planning information to the operational (control network) level is achieved through a specific architecture residing on a crop planning module (CPM) and an interfacing block (IB). A suite of software applications with flows and interfaces developed from a grower-centric perspective was designed and implemented on a multi-tier architecture. The operation of the platform was validated through implementation of sensing and control nodes, application of software for configuration and visualization, and deployment in typical greenhouses.

Web-Based Supervisory Control System Based on Raspberry Pi

2015 ◽  
Vol 764-765 ◽  
pp. 640-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wu Jeng Li ◽  
Shu Chu Tung ◽  
Shih Miao Huang
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Supervisory Control ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Environment Control ◽  
Uninterruptible Power ◽  
Supervisory Control System

This research designs a web-based supervisory control system based on Raspberry Pi. The system consists of one Raspberry Pi single-board computer and multiple data acquisition modules. The sensing and driving of the system are completed by reading/writing those data modules through RS485 interface by Modbus RTU protocol. Embedded database is used to store input/output data. Embedded web server provides interface for remote monitoring and control. The system was applied to environment control for computer room. It monitors air-conditioning systems, room temperature and humidity, fire alarm systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, electricity supply systems and door access control systems. If something happens, it can drive buzzer, alarm, voice dialing, or air conditioning. The focus of this paper is using software to integrate hardware available in the market to form a low cost reliable supervisory control system.

scholarly journals Bioinspired Temperature Responsive Multilayer Films and Their Performance under Thermal Fatigue

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Athanasopoulos ◽  
Nicolaos J. Siakavellas
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Fatigue ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Thin Layers ◽  
Internal Stresses ◽  
Living Plant ◽  
Responsive Materials ◽  
Temperature Changes ◽  
Thermal Requirements ◽  
Multilayer Materials

In Nature, it is common for living plants and non-living plant tissues to consist of materials with anisotropic multilayer and non-homogenous structure. The structure of tissues determines their self-shaping and self-folding capabilities in response to a stimulus in order to activate different functionalities. Predetermined movements are realized according to changes in environmental conditions, which trigger the fibrous anisotropic structure of the plants’ material. In this study, we present the fabrication process of low-cost anisotropic multilayer materials that are capable of realizing complex movements caused by small temperature changes (<40 oC). The mismatch in the thermo-mechanical properties between three or more anisotropic thin layers creates responsive materials that alter their shape owing to the developed internal stresses. Isotropic layers can perform only bending movements, whereas anisotropic multilayer materials can perform bending, twisting or complex combined modes. The movements of the material can be controlled by forming anisotropic homogenous metallic strips over an anisotropic polymer. As a result, inexpensive responsive materials can be developed to passively react to a very broad range of thermal requirements. We studied the major parameters that affect the sensitivity of the developed materials, as well as their failure modes and crack formation under thermal fatigue conditions.

scholarly journals OpenWeedLocator (OWL): an open-source, low-cost 1 device for fallow weed detection.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Coleman ◽  
William Salter ◽  
Michael Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Weed Detection ◽  
Living Plant ◽  
Detection Technology ◽  
Assembly Instructions

Abstract The use of a fallow phase is an important tool for maximizing yield potential in moisture limited environments. There is a focus on ensuring these phases are maintained weed-free as even low weed densities can be detrimental to fallow efficiency. Repeated whole field herbicide treatment to control low-density weed populations is expensive and wasteful. Site-specific application of herbicide treatments to low density fallow weed populations is currently facilitated by sensor-based devices that detect chlorophyll fluorescence from living plant tissue. The use of image-based weed detection technology for fallow weed detection is an opportunity to develop an approach that can be translated for in-crop weed recognition. Here we present the OpenWeedLocator (OWL), an open-source, low-cost image-based approach for fallow weed detection that improves accessibility to this technology for the weed control community. A comprehensive repository, containing all code and assembly instructions, has been developed that will allow for community driven improvement over time. Four different colour-based weed detection algorithms were tested with the OWL system over seven fallow field scenarios under varying light, soil and stubble conditions. Across all scenarios, the four algorithms were similarly effective in detecting fallow weeds with average precision and recall of 79% and 52%, respectively. In individual transects, precision and recall values of up to 92% and 74%, respectively, suggest the potential fallow weed detection performance of the colour-based system. OWL represents an opportunity to redefine the approach to weed detection by enabling community-driven technology development and implementation in the weed control industry.

scholarly journals Environment Control with Low-Cost Microcontrollers and Microprocessors: Application for Green Walls

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yair Rivas-Sánchez ◽  
María Moreno-Pérez ◽  
José Roldán-Cañas
Keyword(s):  
Query Language ◽  
Transmission Control Protocol ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Water ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Green Wall ◽  
Environment Control ◽  
Green Walls ◽  
Internet Of Things Technology

Green wall irrigation procedures are a particularly important and hard task, given that the quality of the green wall depends on them. There is currently a wide variety of irrigation programmers available, with a range of functions and prices, thereby replacing manual activities and making it easier to maintain green walls. This paper proposes the use of low-cost automated irrigation programmers via a freeware called Arduino. The system is based on air and substrate measurements to ensure optimal plant growth and high water-use efficiency. At certain thresholds, the irrigation system is activated. This not only makes irrigation more convenient but also helps to reduce energy consumption, increases irrigation efficiency and saves time. The data is then sent via Transmission Control Protocol using Internet of Things technology, in this case ThingSpeak. The platform compiles the data and presents them in simple graphical format, thus enabling real-time monitoring from wherever there is Internet access. Together with Arduino, the project incorporates the Raspberry pi system that operates like a database via Hypertext Transfer Protocol Wi-Fi received by a Structured Query Language (MySQL) server using Hypertext Preprocessor. These data are used for the subsequent analysis of green wall performance.

scholarly journals A simple and inexpensive method for producing and maintaining closed pot cultures of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

1994 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Walker ◽  
Mauritz Vestberg
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Gaseous Exchange ◽  
Inexpensive Method ◽  
Single Spore ◽  
Ready Availability ◽  
Growth Chambers

Trials and experiments were carried out to develop and test a simple and inexpensive method for producing and maintaining pot cultures of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. A commercially available, transparent bag, incorporating a micro-filter to allow gaseous exchange, was successfully tested, and found to satisfy the basic requirements of low cost, ready availability, ease of use, and adaptability. Pot cultures were produced and maintained in various substrates with several different plants. The system can be used for producing trap cultures, or for initiating and maintaining pure (multi- and single-spore) ramets of mycorrhizal members of the Glomales in growth chambers and greenhouses. As well as providing a means for maintaining fungal ramet purity, the system has the advantage of requiring less watering and maintenance than open pot cultures.

Characterization of Commercially Available Turbochargers for Possible Application in the UPS System Scenario

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Facchini ◽  
Lorenzo Tarchi ◽  
Pier Francesco Piccardi
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Expansion Ratio ◽  
Base Stations ◽  
Storage Device ◽  
Mechanical Resistance ◽  
Uninterruptible Power Supply ◽  
Environmental Requirements ◽  
Uninterruptible Power ◽  
Set Up

Standard uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for radio base stations use lead acid batteries stacks as energy storage device; the fairly short life cycle of such systems, not more than 3 years, together with the presence of highly polluting components make it costly in terms of money and environmental aspects. From these considerations originate the idea to develop an alternative UPS system based on compressed air storage able to replace the battery stacks and to satisfy more restrictive environmental requirements. This work is developed within the European project PNEUMA (PNEumatic Uninterruptible Machine - LIFE 04 ENV/IT/00595) with the final aim to develop some UPS demonstrators for an on site experimentation. In this paper it is described the way followed to set up an air turboalternator with a maximum power of 10.0 kW. Starting from the selection of the turbine, we decided to extract it from an ICE turbocharger because its size and its low cost matches our requirements. First of all, an experimental survey has been realized to test two turbines of different size: expansion ratio, corrected mass flow and efficiency have been measured varying inlet pressure and temperature. This activity led us to select the smaller turbine to develop the first pilot demonstrator; the turbine has been coupled to an high speed alternator (max. 60’000 rpm) by means of an elastic coupling. Some shakedown testing have been performed to verify the mechanical resistance and to test the power conversion system and the control system.

scholarly journals Polymer Nanocomposites for Lowering Heating and Cooling Loads in Buildings

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
George T. Stiubianu
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Management ◽  
Polymer Nanocomposites ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Thermal Control ◽  
Point Temperature ◽  
Set Point ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Environment Control ◽  
The Individual

Worldwide, buildings consume over 40% of the total commercial energy, and 36% of this amount is dedicated to the heating and cooling of buildings. Therefore, building environment control systems require efficient thermal management. An ideal thermal management that could lower the energy load for cooling and heating respectively would combine passive strategies for thermal control, which are characterized by low cost, straightforward implementation, and energy efficiency, with the on-demand control of heating and cooling, specific for active thermal management strategies. The scientific challenge of building an efficient platform for thermal control was addressed by using block copolymer materials in the development of nanocomposites with dynamically tunable thermal infrared properties. The polymer nanocomposites manage 60–70% of the metabolic heat flux from sedentary individuals and can modulate changes in the individual body temperature within a set-point temperature range of 8 °C. This increase in the set-point temperature translates into use of air conditioning for cooling/heating with a significantly lowered load, which would further translate into a 4.3% decrease of global energy consumption.

scholarly journals Performance and Evaluation of Low Cost Sugarcane Bagasse - Polypropylene Biocomposites as Candidate Material for Automotive Parcel Tray

2018 ◽  
Vol 923 ◽  
pp. 40-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Anggono ◽  
Suwandi Sugondo ◽  
Rassy Alim ◽  
Hariyati Purwaningsih ◽  
Aria Wibawa
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Flexural Strength ◽  
Sugarcane Bagasse ◽  
Natural Fiber ◽  
Alkali Treatment ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Longitudinal Orientation ◽  
Environmental Requirements ◽  
Performance And Evaluation

Many auto manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler have already embraced natural fiber composites into both interior and exterior parts and are looking to expand the uses of this composites. They have to balance the changing public demands of greater comfort, better driving performances, and higher safety standards with the environmental requirements. Based on the preliminary study using 20 to 30 wt.% NaOH treated sugarcane bagasse fibers to make biocomposites with polypropylene matrix, the tensile strength obtained was variably, in the range between 8.31 to 20.59 MPa. A further study was required to improve the strength of the composites in comparison with the specified flexural strength required by the industry for automotive parcel tray. The sugarcane bagasse fibers obtained from the sugar mill were used and alkali treated with 10% v/v NaOH at various soaking time of 2, 4, and 6 hours. Biocomposite samples were prepared from 25/75 wt.% ratio sugarcane fibers/polypropylene (PP). The highest tensile strength of 14.35 MPa was obtained from the samples with sugarcane fibers receiving two-hour alkali treatment. However, the highest flexural strength (37.78 MPa) was gained on the samples made from sugarcane fibers with 4 hours alkali treatment. This value has met the strength specification of two materials for current parcel trays which were made from monomaterial of polypropylene and woodboard composite which their flexural strengths were 35.6 MPa and 37.57 MPa, respectively. Structural studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the fracture surface of tensile tested samples show two different orientations of bagasse fibres in PP matrix, i.e. a group was in longitudinal orientation and other in transversal orientation.

scholarly journals Poplar Biochar as an Alternative Substrate for Curly Endive Cultivated in a Soilless System

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1258
Author(s):  
Leo Sabatino ◽  
Giovanni Iapichino ◽  
Rosario Paolo Mauro ◽  
Beppe Benedetto Consentino ◽  
Claudio De Pasquale
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Pyrolysis Temperature ◽  
Particle Density ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Plant Cultivation ◽  
Head Height

Imminent necessity for eco-friendly and low-cost substitutes to peat is a defiance in the soilless plant cultivation systems. Wood biochar could entirely or partly substitute peat as a plant growing constituent to produce vegetables. Nevertheless, knowledge concerning potential plant performance of leafy green vegetables grown on wood biochar is restricted. The present study assessed the main physicochemical traits of various growing media constituted by decreasing the content of peat and by increasing the percentages of poplar wood biochar. Yield, nutritional and functional properties of curly endive plants cultivated in a protected environment were also tested. Biochar was pyrolyzed from poplar (Populus nigra L.) at 450 or 700 °C for 48 h. Increasing biochar concentration and pyrolysis temperature resulted in higher pH, EC and K content of the growing mediums. Biochar was also effective in increasing particle density and bulk density. Biochar at 70% and pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C significantly increased head fresh weight by 47.4%, head height by 24.9%, stem diameter by 21.5% and number of leaves by 80.8%, respectively compared with the control (100% peat). Head dry matter content, root dry matter content, SSC, ascorbic acid and total phenolic were also significantly affected by this treatment. Furthermore, the addition of biochar and the use of higher pyrolysis temperature decreased N leaves concentration. This represents a particularly important target for leafy green vegetables healthiness.

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