Field Tests and Improvement of Sensor and Control Interface Modules with Improved Compatibility for Greenhouses
Number of greenhouses has been increased in many countries to control the cultivation conditions and improve crop yield and quality. Recently, various sensors and control devices, and also wireless communication tools have been adopted for efficient monitoring and control of the greenhouse environments. However, there have been farmers’ demands for improved compatibility among the sensors and control devices. In the study, sensor and control interface modules with improved compatibility were developed and tested in field conditions. Sensing parameters may include light intensity, temperature, humidity, CO2, wind, and rain for ambient environment, and EC, pH, and nutrient contents for root zone environments. Control devices may include lamp, heater, cooler, humidifier, fan, CO2 generator, and window motor for ambient environment, and nutrient and water supply devices for root zone environment. For monitoring and control of greenhouse environment, sensors and control interface modules were fabricated using atmega128 as the mainboard with 8-channal relay for control, LCD for display and checking, zig bee for wireless communication, and the termite software for cording. The module was designed so that could send and receive data from computer and control a window opening and closing motor, a cooling & heating unit, ventilation fans through comparison operations of the measured and input setting values. Using the interface module and user computer, the operating conditions and the environmental conditions of the greenhouse were monitored, and the changes in temperature, humidity, light intensity, carbon dioxide, and other environmental parameters were confirmed in real-time, and also the environment setting values were easily changeable. Fabricated interface modules were tested in strawberry and chrysanthemum fields. The experiments were conducted five times and each experiment took about one hour. Optimal temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide conditions were checked whether it was maintained or not through the change of temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide artificially with sensor and control interface module that was developed. After confirming the maintenance of optimal growth conditions, table and graph were created by the result values and required time. For advancement of our sensor and control interface module, tuning, safety and emergency handle function was considered. First, since the malfunction and shorten the life of the product concerned by the resonance phenomenon in the greenhouse to prevent this phenomenon was ensuring the safety of products. Second, electrical safety certification was given by the electrical appliances safety certification system through the institute for safety assessment for safety of greenhouse sensor and control interface module Third, the module was controlled by the optimal safety conditions in the greenhouse through the disaster emergency response algorithms, such as hurricanes and earthquakes and torrential rains. It’s also expected that resolving difficult to deal with greenhouse environmental programs and contributing to technical improvement of the control program related field and greenhouse environmental control system.