Week 17: Application and implication


This assignment is about the development and the definition of the final project. I'll try to define all the parts of the project, decide in which days I'll work on it, how much it will cost etc.

What will I do?


The purpose of my final project is to make the breeding of edible insects (in this case the larvae of the tenebrio molitor beetle) more practical and interesting, following the classic method of drawers. The idea is a system created specifically to follow the life cycle of the beetle, where temperature and humidity will be monitored constantly by sensors. In fact, to have a homogeneous and regular growth it is essential that these parameters are always constant. In amateur breeding this is a problem that is often managed by checking personally and with rudimentary methods, or even they realize they have not optimal parameters when it is too late (insects die earlier than expected or they put too much to grow). Whit those sensors the data can be viewed on the PC or tablet via a Bluetooth connection. Moreover, the project could to simplify the harvest of mealworms destined for food consumption from those for reproductive purpose

Who's done what beforehand?


After some research I discovered LIVIN Farms Hive and it seems to be the only structure of its kind at the moment, since the edible insects sector has expanding only in recent years.

What materials and components will be required? How much will they cost?


  • Bluetooth module x1 - 7.99 eur
  • Temperature and Humidity sensor DHT11 X 3 - 6.00 eur
  • PLA - 5 eur
  • Plywood panel(6x40x120 mm) x1 - 13.50 eur
  • Satshakit x1 - around 9/10 eur

TOTAL: 42 eur

Where will they come from?


All the components were in the FabInventory

What parts and systems will be made?


I'll made the Satshakit, the drawers, I will shape the "home" for the beetles, the harvest box for the topsoil layer and the two networks.

What is the schedule?


  • 12-13 November learn about Bluetooth module
  • 13-14 Do the Satshakit and test the sensors
  • 16-17 do processing interface
  • 19-21 create the solid parts
  • 22-25 problem solving

What processes will be used?

  • Computer aided design
  • computer-controlled cutting
  • electronics production
  • electronics design
  • embedded programming
  • 3d printing and scanning
  • input devices
  • interface and application programming