Build Blog 7: Integration Progress

Hi everyone! Last week, we outlined all of our recent manufacturing work. This week's blog post is focused on our team's progress related to Integration and Testing!

Overview

During the past week we've worked on integrating the different parts of our project. Finally time to turn on the plant lights!

Looking awesome!

Software and Electrical Integration

We have also completed and verified operation of all our software components. Through our Raspberry Pi, PCB, and mobile app, we have successfully tested:

• Automated pH adjustment and nutrient dosing

• Plant light automation, according to sunrise/sunset times

• User control through Mobile App

• Collection and viewing of sensor data

• Livestream of webcams - 1 for each tray.

The next video shows a demo of automatically controlling the Plant lights and water pump, through the Mobile App. We've also performed system testing to appropriately handle system failures, should they arise

Switching the plant light settings to 'auto' in the mobile app turns the plant lights off in the below video, since we were testing at night time - when the plant lights should be off.

Screenshots of the completed mobile app

Mechanical

We've also now had a chance to test the flow rate and behavior through the system.

Shown below is the flow through the top plant tray at the lowest pump speed.

Stay tuned as we add the cover panels, flow restrictions for even flow between the trays, and the sliding mechanism for the nutrient dispensing module!