Gr0G - 18 - Conclusions

Here is a list of the posts in this challenge

Gr0G - 01 - Introduction

Gr0G - 02 - Why aeroponics?

Gr0G - 03 - High-pressure system design

Gr0G - 04 - Mechanical design

Gr0G - 05 - Electrical design

Gr0G - 06 - Building the box

Gr0G - 07 - Playing with the Gertbot

Gr0G - 08 - Installing LEDs

Gr0G - 09 - The control board

Gr0G - 10 - Software design

Gr0G - 11 - Building the box (2)

Gr0G - 12 - Building the high-pressure system

Gr0G - 13 - Building the high-pressure system (2)

Gr0G - 14 - Piping

Gr0G - 15 - Improvements

Gr0G - 16 - Remote UI

Gr0G - 17 - Remote UI (2)

Gr0G - 18 - Conclusions

Source code available at https://github.com/ambrogio-galbusera/gr0g, https://github.com/ambrogio-galbusera/gr0g-ble-android and https://github.com/ambrogio-galbusera/gr0g-ble

Here we are, at the end of this challenge

This challenge was a little bit unusual from my point of view. I tried to design and build something that was intended to be used in microgravity. And when I started to think of how a world without gravity would be, I realized the extents our life depends on gravity. Most of the tools we have works thanks to gravity, so it was really challenging to design something that can accomplish the same tasks without the help of this pervasive force.

I tried at my best and the Gr0G is the result of all my efforts

The most relevant achievements of this project are

• Works both in microgravity and in planet gravity conditions. I built a high-pressure system to feed plants with water and oxygen that does not relies on gravity but "pumps" air-water mixture by leveraging the difference of pressures created by Venturi-shaped ducts
• Maximizes the use of space both in microgravity and in planet gravity conditions. When in microgravity, plants can be housed on all the six faces of the cube. On the destination planet, the same six faces can be laid down on a surface and still be able to maximize the use of available space for farming
• Overcomes the most common problems related to farming in microgravity, in particular poor root oxygenation
• Fully-enclosed design: the Gr0G requires only a 12V power supply to be operated. No other external connections (like air, water or network connectivity) are required
• Lightweight

Obviously, a number of improvements are possible

• I realized a ph meter is of paramount importance to monitor the quality of the mixture sprayed to the plant roots, and this is going to be the first thing I will do in the new year
• The cartdridge is a little unconfortable to fill. May be a tap would help a lot during the refilling of water and nutrients

• It would be great to have different solenoid valves (one for each container) so to have plants in different growth phase and provide the correct amount of nutrients to each
• The amount of light and water should change over time to follow the growth phase
• There are some little air leaks that make the compressor start and stop very often. Though the high-pressure system works properly, for sure this is not good for the health of the compressor

I think I am now ready to leave for our new home, wherever our vessel will take us. But first things first: let's buy one way ticket. According to the ticketing website, fee for sending baggage to Mars is $20/kg. Gr0G weights a mere 9.7 Kg (mostly due to the compressor), so I'm going to spent $194, which is a great achievement and, after all, quite a cheap way to start a new life! I will leave all of you with some postcards of this exciting challenge

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All my best wishes to all of you!!