Embedded Files
Farming Application
Farming Application
This case is dedicated to a large quantity farmer (pigs, chickens, fish…) whose concern is to make his feeding system following a specified feeding profile. He'd also liked it to be easy editable with alarm and logging functionality.
Recipes Editor
Let's take a look at the farmer, who understands that the key to the successful growth of his stock lies in the correct feeding profile. So based on his experience he creates the feeding table that tells exactly how much feed should be given to attain the optimum weight and how their feed blend should be changing during the life cycle.
Often he would have a manual system that is prone to error and labour intensive. Fortunately new technology has been developed which can simplify the whole process and save time and effort. Multiple 'recipes' can be simply stored in internal memory and precisely followed every day, with the possibility of editing them at any time.
Logging (Storing) Process Information
The unit would also keep track of all operations, temperatures, alarms, and convey the feed to the point of feeding etc. All process data can be logged on the removable flash memory (up to 2 GB).
Alarm Messaging
Any event (radical changes in temperature, drop in feed storage level, etc.) can be associated with a descriptive message that will pop-up on the OCS display like 'Tank1 almost empty'. All alarm messages can be personalized to meet the needs of any customer.
SMS Maintenance
All Alarm messages can be sent directly to your cell phone. Multiple phone numbers can be preconfigured or made dynamic, so you can change the recipients from the level of your OCS screen.
Not to mention the advantage of monitoring the bulk feed storage level and reordering (via SMS) before it runs out.
Sample Hardware Configurations
All of the above can be achieved in a several different ways. Let's say our farmer is going to monitor:
- 3 temperature levels
- 2 storage tank levels
- status of an emergency butto
and that he'll need to operate:
- 10 feeding station valves
- 2 conveyor belts
- 2 ventilation fans
That gives us 1 DI, 14 DO, 2 AI and 3 Temp Inputs.
Here are the sample solutions:
Cscape Program Example
Click here to download the Cscape configuration file (Cscape 9.10B or higher needed).
The file consists of:
- hardware configuration form solution #1
- Overview screen (Screen 1)
- Recipes configuration (menu Program -> Recipes Editor)
- Recipes Screen (Screen 2)
- Datalog Configuration (menu Program -> Datalog Configuration…)
- Alarm messages configuration (Screen Editor -> menu Config -> Alarm)
- SMS configuration (menu Program -> Messaging -> SMS…)
- SMS screen (Screen 3)
- Code for handling SMS (Logic Modules -> Main Loop Modules -> SMS)
- Code for handling Alarms (Logic Modules -> Main Loop Modules -> Alarms)
Summary
Presented example can work as a base and be easily expanded to suit bigger farming applications. Advantages of automated solution over manual approach are quite obvious: time, security and overall cost savings. All these are factors that cannot be overlooked by any professional farmer.
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