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A project log for Hacking the way to growing food

Using Technology And A Hackers Mindset To Grow Food. Last Updated [16/01/2021]

michael-ratcliffeMichael Ratcliffe 08/17/2015 at 17:440 Comments

Today I got three unit housing from the factory to put my electronics inside, The next Step is Buying the components to poulate the housings and building a GUI.

The key to the success of this product will be an easy to use product contained within quality housing with a great user interface. To keep this unit Simple it must be plug and play, the user will input a few key aspects of their setup and the mcu will take care of the rest. The inputs and outputs that can be accessed via the compact on board screen are summarized below:

The Unit will pull the time from a internal GPS module so the user wont have to set time and it will work anywhere in the world, the user will then input details about his system via the 5 button interface or view key logs/details of his unit by the on board screen:

Case

This Product must be durable and just as importantly portray a sense of quality. I really do like the heated bed controller I included in the parcel [I will be needing this back for testing].

Screen

For the temperature compensated model a simple Alphanumeric LCD or Graphic Display will suffice, on standby it will list the time now, time of next feed and current water temperature, illuminating when any button is pressed and give acess to a log of recent water extreme temperatures and feed rates.

Vision control systems could also be packaged with this screen, displaying the food count as a number. Larger bespoke units would encorperate a true screen to show the

Buttons

This is the interface by which the user will define his system, most selections will be made from pre set options.

Versions

In order to reduce production costs I would like to keep the number of different versions limited, all utilizing the same main chassis/case and being available in 12v and mains power because we will need to be compatible with all commercial feed dispensers. Remember it is all about the control strategies and not the tiny mechanical feeders you have in front of you.

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