Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | Adaptive Solar Panel Canopy for Vineyard Microclimate Control |
Titouan Louis Matthieu Morel Zikora Okonkwo |
Zhuchen Shao | design_document1.pdf final_paper1.pdf photo1.jpg photo2.HEIC photo3.jpeg photo4.jpeg photo5.jpeg presentation1.pptx proposal1.pdf video |
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| # Problem : Climate change is increasingly threatening vineyards by exposing plants to heat stress and water scarcity. During hot, sunny periods, leaves can overheat, soil moisture evaporates rapidly, and crop yield and quality can decline. Growers currently lack a localized, automated system to manage sunlight and humidity at the plant level without frequent manual intervention or excessive irrigation. # Solution We propose an adaptive shading and microclimate control system that combines a motorized solar-panel canopy with a moisture-capture foam layer beneath it. By using environmental sensors such as soil moisture, air temperature, humidity, and light intensity we can continuously monitor the conditions around the plants. The system will automatically adjust the title and height of the panels to regulate sunlight exposure and local humidity. The foam layer captures and retains ambient moisture to further mitigate heat stress. By using real time data, the system can optimize plant protection and water conservation which will provide precise and low maintenance solution for growers. # Solution Components ## Subsystem 1: Environmental Sensing ### Function: Monitor the microclimate around plants to inform adaptive responses. ### Components: Moisture sensor for soil → Capacitive sensor (DFROBOT SEN0193) Air temperature & humidity sensor → DHT22 Light intensity sensor → BH1750 Microcontroller → Arduino Uno # #Subsystem 2: Moving Canopy ### Function : Thermal Protection : Orient the panels to cast shade over the plants Humidity Management : Adjust the height and tilt to trap or release humidity of the air generated by water capturing layer ### Components : Linear Actuators → Progressive Automations PA-14 Distance/Height Feedback → Ultrasonic distance sensor HC-SR04 Tilt Control → Stepper Motor NEMA 23 + IMU BNO055 Orientation Feedback → IMU Sensor (BNO055) # #Subsystem 3: Water capturing Layer ### Function : Absorption : Capture the humidity of the air when it’s high Release : Release the water when it’s needed ### Components : Hydrophilic medium → Polyurethane Foam Moisture absorbing material → Calcium Chloride CaCl2 # Criterion For Success Soil moisture retention is improved about 10-15% compared to uncovered soil during test periods System operates autonomously for about 24hrs without manual intervention Canopy height responds to local humidity levels where height adjusts within 60 seconds to increase or decrease humidity Canopy tilt responds to changes in light intensity where the panel tilts within 30 seconds of sensor threshold breach The air temperature at the plant canopy reduced by at least 3 degrees celsius under high solar exposure # Demonstration : For the demonstration, we propose building a microsystem that simulates an environment with a bell jar, a lamp, a hair dryer, and a humidity diffuser. The demonstration will focus on showing the system’s response to an increase in temperature as well as on measuring and capturing humidity. We also propose adding a display to check the sensor readings and lowering the thresholds for the demo. |
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