This is the last blog required, as well as the last one documenting major changes..
This blog includes my final thoughts, and potential future direction.
Let's first jump into what I did in the past few days. I've made the system's pump system with a small container that stores water. It looks large at 16.9OZ (it's totally not a Pepsi bottle! Totally not!) but it is rather small considering the strength of the pump.
Here's the video demonstration of the pump blasting out water onto the soil.
I won't need to show any more about the overall project- I've already shown enough, I hope.
If you do want me to take images / video of a specific location, I'll happily update this post.
Here's a bit of my thought process on the device:
Additionally, the cables and hardware are now above the water bottle, in case of a leak the water will leak into the soil, and not short circuit the equipment.
Of course with a more professional and space-grade setup, this would be much more durable.
rockcacti discussed the project and mentioned a wick system. I have seen such systems in operation, and in hindsight that should have been considered.
Please note: the current system is in no way space-grade without extremely large modifications. None of the components used are harsh environment grade, and even a Raspberry Pi is not suitable for such tasks, but is a great idea for rapid prototyping requiring a CPU.
Such system would require intensive integration. By integration, that does not imply an embedded bare 328P chipset. It has to be an extremely durable with space grade parts, that is temperature, radiation, and vibration resistant.
As I may have outlined previously(if not, I did in my application), a NASA report stated that it was observed that more water applied than Earth normal would yield greater results.
The original design called for drawer systems. This certainly *was* a drawer system albeit with only 1 such "drawer". Due to limitations in materials I was unable to use a custom made enclosure and drawer and needed to use pre-made ones.
This project turned out remarkably different than I anticipated. However, into the project I realized that with a lack of time and skills, and the parts needed, it was a hopeless effort to stick to the original plan, causing such different results from original plan.
In theory, however- when theory meets reality and I am the one who's doing that, things do not go as planned.
But in theory: as I mentioned an embedded PCB, it would be remarkably thin and fit to size. This would cause the pumps and PCB on a same level, and lighting would be very flat, causing a very modular and large space to grow.
With different grow mediums, this could be more micro/zero gravity suitable.
With further direction this concept can be transformed into a design that competes with the NASA Veggie.
This includes;
- Embedded system with space-grade parts
- Air Circulation
- More efficient unified water pumping system
- Multicolored RGB lightning, pre-programmed for different plants
- Daylight/moonlight simulation with dimming control, and multiple strips / drawer.
However, if I may point out some issues.
No matter how efficient the system is, unless if it can accurately represent a miniature ecosystem with supporting organisms, fresh plant life cannot be relied on as a stable source of food. It lacks many essentials humans need. For examples, a prime example is grain- wheat is not able to be grown in a 1m^3 area.
Supporting organisms, like bacteria, other supporting organisms such as earthworms, some decomposers, etc.
Before I get into how the ecosystems of Earth work, I won't but there are many crucial parts that cannot fit inside 1m^3.
This is, however, a great psychological benefit by increasing crew morale with fresh food.
All that I pointed out, is for a confined space area such as a transport ship. while we are decades if not centuries away from true ships that can carry thousands of people, our current designs cannot truly include too much.
In a habitational dome, however, this can be easier to accomplish.
I am truly grateful for element 14 and the Raspberry Pi Foundation for providing me with an opportunity to participate in this contest and provide *somewhat* of a working concept.
The process has given me a great learning experience and I hope to revisit this in a few years to make a better and more functional prototype.
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