Testing and Results
Spring 2022 Test Results
IMG_2427.MOVThis video shows the entire system functioning, where nutrients and pH down solution are dosed, and the mixture enters the recirculation line. The recirculation line goes from the water tank up into the flood tray with plants and continues the loop until the sensors indicate that the setpoint has been met.
Graphical User Interface
This user interface allowed for the group to get sensor readings and also manually input setpoints for pH and EC. The team was able to control the lights, dosing volumes, and the various setpoints to determine the accuracy of the system. The values seen in this screenshot are actual readings coming from sensors, and the lights are currently on, as the button gives the option to turn them off.
The team successfully sprouted lettuce from seeds in the system with a control tray for comparison. The seedlings on the left grew with outside light and an initial dosing of nutrient-filled water. The seedlings on the right grew within the system with the grow lights and properly dosed water. This photo is of the seedlings following 5 days of planting the seeds.
This is the whole system, where the sensors are in a PVC line lying on the ground. The interface can be viewed on the monitor against the right wall within the image.