27th Dec 2022, Tuesday

[0W3NK0H]

Prof Vera: Director of NUS Regenerative Technology Centre

Actions by 11th Jan, following Wednesdays weekly

• Sampling Chamber: Include slot for temperature sensor to check for water stability
• Try to get off-shelf components for the container and adapt cover design to it
• Find similar materials to aluminium for nuts to reduce corrosion
• Consider implementing coverage and lights to control light input for outdoor system better
• Figure out flushing system for recalibration of EC and pH sensor (once every week)
• Find out how often to collect sample for the volume of reservoir
• 2nd GEN: Water level indicator and latch for maintenance on platform
• Add ribs below platform for better reinforcements latch for easy access to maintenance
• Smaller reservoir compartment
• App Pages Outline Products to Try
  1. Intellidose (dosage sensor) with sensor connected to it: Readily available in market, can use for reverse engineering
  2. In-line sensor, in-line pH
  3. Good for high value crop
  4. Rotating system: M&E system

Suggestions and Advice

• Do not let sensor drift, big problem for a million dollar crop - commercial farming (medicinal crop)
• Red-blue wavelength and white (6000K) - not purple light
• Use right terminologies for light wavelength
• Germination - don’t use light too soon (4-5 days in dark, expose light for short period to strengthen roots) - To research more
• Use spectrometer to measure the light intensity in system (measure colour temperature) varies from distance
• Sun direction can change due to solstice so observe carefully
• Can consider going straight to 40 by 40 profile (incremental upgrades will cost more, so can consider direct implementation)
• White plastic is not viable for outdoors due to light reflection causing algae growth, so use black for outdoors
• Get extractor fans instead of PC fans at Jalan Besar (ensure lower flow rate for ventilation and not dry out plants) - removes excess heat and humidity
• Galvanised steel cannot be used with aluminium (Jurong has acid rain - can speed up corrosion)
  • Look up periodic table and distance between elements
• Application Uses (Volunteer Management)
  • Specific lot allocation
  • Scheduling of Personnel Duties
  • Checking Routines and Cleaning
  • Harvesting
  • What to cook with it to reduce food wastage
• Aim to achieve easy to assemble and transport/modular and scalable hydroponics system (IKEA concept)

PENDING (TBC) EVENTS

1. Attend Prof Vera’s lecture on plant growth
2. Come to Greenology Makerspace to discuss CAD design further
3. Farmer’s Market - check with RC for approval for to sell spare vegetables
4. Greenology Industrial Visits

Other Matters

1. Germination viability depends on seed packet - expired seeds can cause decreased germination rate
2. Possibility to Use smart sensors to automate irrigation - open farm

Case Studies

1. Community use: Yishun Hydroponics Farm (Sheltered, plug-and-play, 5 hydroponics system) (MTI harvesting vegetables every 2-3 weeks)