Lydia Kuo’s Final Project - The Fab Academy 2021¶

My Final Project - AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS)

Last 3 weeks, I have a great progress on the development of my final project. You can find some related preparation as follows:

Week 17 Applications and Implications

Week 18 Invention, Intellectual Property and Income

Week 19 Project Presentation

This week is the project presentation week. I have concluded on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process of my APPS.

I have tried to use all knowledges, skills and techniques those I have learnt last 20 weeks from The Fab Academy to complete my independently operable APPS individually. I would like to use the following questions to guide you to follow my study journey.

Question 1 - What does it do?¶

I have a chance to attend the Asia Pacific Tertiary Education Conference in Singapore since 2019 to discuss many hot topics about global education trend in 2030. “Dance with Robots” was an impressive idea for me to think more about the relationship between NATURE and TECHNOLOGY.

Sometimes I think NATURE and TECHNOLOGY are friends? or Enemies? Should they be inclusive harmonically? How can I modify a huge solar energy system for fishes and herbs in our school campus for my students, my teachers and other schools as sharing platform in order to the discussion between their mutual relationship between Ecology and different advanced Technology? I hope I can make a device for finding the answer from it. Therefore, the idea of my final project was come out,that can be multi-purpose use. The name of my device is called AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS).

My APPS is designed as a powerful multi-subject tool for STEM education as a sharing platform of learning and teaching for the Ecology between herbs and fishes with different technical techniques for How to Make Almost Anything from Professor Neil Gershenfeld

2D and 3D Design, Additive and Subtractive Fabrication are applied and through Electronics Design and Production Processess, I can use any mobile device to control the work of Water Pump, LED Grow Light Bulbs, Solar Panels and the color Sensor for testing ammonia concentration in water. A specific silicon supporting component are moldesd and casted for herbs’ growing.

This device is not only to provide an environment for fishes and herbs to live in the fish tank and herb pot area, but also to monitor the water quality by the color sensor testing for ammonia concentration. This can ensure that the water circulation is good for the growth of the fishes and herbs at the same time. The wastes of the fishes which contained nitrogen components which can be utilized by the plant for nutrition. Since this device is made for the study and exchange purposes, this device is designed for smaller size to put anywhere in the workplace and school. This is very obvious different when it is compared with other normal aquaponics project. Connection with LED grow lightning and automatic solar systems, my APPS can be self-sufficient for showing ecosystem and the relationship among solar energy, herbs and fishes.

Recently I have a chance to know more about the daily application of AI techniques for school. I would like to have further development on Herb Identification in the future. I would like to continue to conduct different new project to inherit the spirit of The Fab Academy, Learn to Make (Almost) Anything.

Question 2 - Who’s done what beforehand?¶

During my study of The week of Applications and Implications, I have found similar previous Similar Great Projects from The Fab Academy as follows:

Similar Products with the same theme was found in the Market.

The difference between my design compared with the others is that data collection can be done continuously by the presence of colour sensor in the sensory area. Many students and teachers can use thess data for further STEM studies. The smaller device is also designed for movable and saved space.

Question 3 - What did you design?¶

After searching for many different products, I have designed my own device for showing the mutual relationship between the ecosystem and the technical techniques. The co-relation of the living of Goldfishes and the growth of Herbs were chosen to apply into this project. A movable and self-designed system is my outimate goal for my sharing learning platforms. There are 7 main parts setting as my scope of this project.

Question 4 - What parts were made?¶

Part 1: The formation of Fish Tank by Laser cutting & The Water Pumping System by Embedded Interfacing and Programming

Part 2: Electronics Design and Production by CNC Milling, Stuffing, Debugging and Programming

Part 3: System Integration and Control by Machine Design Concepts

Part 4: Color Sensation Sytem by Embedded Interfacing and Programming & Herb Support by molding and casting

Part 5: Lightning System by Embedded Interfacing and Programming

Part 6: Base of this APPS

Part 7: Solar Panel System by Embedded Interfacing and Programming

Question 5 - What systems were made? What Processes were used?¶

The incoporation of My APPS Project are shown in the following steps:

Step 1 Inspiration of Final Project¶

Sometimes I think NATURE and TECHNOLOGY are friends? or Enemies? How can I modify a huge solar energy system for fish and herbs symbiosis in our school campus? I hope you can find the answer by my smaller and similar device in my final project, AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS), which has been designed for my students, my teachers and other schools as sharing platforms for discussion between mutual relationship between ecosystem and different advanced technology.

Another reason why I would like to make a device which is related toMore and more students would like to grow their herbs from the seeds and pisciculture.

Even they used by the latest hydroponics method......

or by the traditional soil method......

On the other hand, many students like to take care of fishes......

I hope this APPS can arouse more and more students to aware of the importance of ecosystem in the same device as convenient teaching tool for teachers.

2D and 3D Design, Additive and Subtractive Fabrication Processes were applied into my APPS project. Through Electronics Design and Production Processes, I can use the mobile device to control the work of Water Pump, LED Lights, Solar Panels and the color sensor for testing ammonia concentration in water. A specific silica gel supporting components are Molded and Casted for herbs’ growing. The System Integration and Packaging were shown after the following steps.

Step 2 Electronics Design and Production¶

I have remembered that ATTiny44 was one of my study electronics topics and had to study many related references to finish one assignment. At the same time, new ideas come up during the course- network control, interfacing with computer, etc. It was very smooth with the study of ATTiny44 for the first 2 weeks at the beginning. A big drawback had found during the test of color sensor – I2c communication was not working. I had used much time to find and tackle this problem. At the end, I knew lack of program space could not satisfied the requirement of my final project. Changing to a powerful and more functional controller – ESP32 was necessary and was a good decision.

ESP32 is highly integrated and save time in PCB design – just break out the traces from the controller. Relay: to control the LED and water pump via IO pins of ESP32. The IO pin could not provide enough electric current directly to the above devices.

This is the draft of electronics design between power supply system and all signals via ESP32 circuit board.

One of the Eagle board file types is (.brd)

I use thin electical wires to connect relays and the other related components with PCB Board.

There is still a great problem is messy wire and components in a small case. It should be improved to integrate all components on one board.

Step 3 Subtractive Fabrication Process¶

Fish tank was made of 5 pieces of acrylic plates and fixed them by glass glue. It should be placed few days before use.

Step 4 [3D Design]¶

Source File for AquaPonics Pilot System - Fusion 360

Step 5 Additive Fabrication Process ¶

We Use our Raise3D N2 Plus for 3D Printering for all parts of my APPS

Part 2 This case is used for Electronics Design and Production

Part 3 This case is used for System Integration

Part 4 This case is used for Herb Pots and Color Sensation Areas

Part 5 This case is used for Lightning System

A method for sticking the acrylic plate with the outer frame which is produced by 3D printer altogether was used by PMMA with UV light.

Part 6 Base for the APPS

Step 6 Embedded Microcontroller Interfacing and Programming¶

During the Machanical Design, our lab group project, CAT EYE, are very warm for me that I can play with my lovely with self-invented product which included my contribution. Moreover, I knew this powerful ESP32 Web Server and then search many information about it.

I have found a powerful function which is Control Outputs with Timer. This function can solve my problem that slow down my progress of my final project.

A web server was built to control the ESP32 outputs with a pulse using Arduino IDE. The pulse width (“timer”) can be adjusted using a slider on the web page. When you click the ON button, the ESP sets the output state to HIGH for the number of seconds defined in the slider. This can be specially useful to control appliances that need a HIGH signal for a predetermined number of seconds to actuate.

I change programming code to let any mobile device acting as the User Interface control the water pumping, lightning and color sensory systems. I can connect any mobile device to the APPS via wifi through HTML executed programmed instructions.

There are two examples shown how to change the coding to execute the instruction as follows:

The screen of the user interface was set to see from “second” to “minute”, the VS code would be changed as below:

The colour of sensor value changes according to the readings. The VS code were changed in order to set the index exceed the value of 2500, it would be changed in red colour. If not, the index would be green in colour.

Step 7 Color Senor Calibration for Ammonia Concentration Test¶

Color Sensor test was done as same as ammonia concentration test by color sensor in week 11.

Step 8 System Integration and Packaging¶

Water Pumping from Fish Tank to Color Sensation Chamber by 2-way Switch

Solar Energy System were connected to the electronics, water pumping, lightning and color sensory system.

Step 9 - Systems Testing¶

The following video can show that the lightning system can be controlled by two way. One way is controlling by sliding the timeclock bar. When the countdown timer turned to 0 minute, the usb LED grow light bulb would be turned off. The time length of lightning could be adjusted from 0 minute to 240 minute which was depended on the choice of the user.

Another way is turning on and off by sliding the button designed on the user mobile screen.

Similar test for the Control of Water Pump as Lightning System

Water Pump will also be connected to ESP32 circuit board and controlled by the any mobile device to turn on and off. This was because some programming were installed to ESP32 microcontroller to execute scheduled tasks.

Normal Operation of my APPS After all systems integration, this device can remote control the work of water pumping, lightning system. Data from the color sensor can be measured and shown it on any mobile device. Energy conservation can be taken place in this device to save energy because solar energy system worked as the power supply for this device.

Step 10 - Molding and Casting with 3D Printing ¶

I have use cotton wool for students to grow the herbs in daily activities. Since I had found that some fungi would like to grow in the cotton wool which must be replaced very frequently. Therefore I would like to design a new thing to replace the cotton.

I have used FUSION360 to modify the file from the open source. Some points should be notified that the thickness of each line could not be too narrow. If not, it would be very hard to dettached from the mould. Next time, both top and the bottom of the mould would be porous. This design will more convenient to dettach and less materials and time will be used to produce. The final design as below:

Source File for AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS) - Herb Holder (FUSION360)

This herb holder take 1 hour to print and pouring silicon mixture onto the mould. It could be used 2 days later.

The technique of Molding and Casting for Herb Holder by Silicon could be as reference in my week 12 study.

This is the silicon product and the size liked Hong Kong 5-dollar coin and put it in tthe herb pot for the growth of herbs. It is only cleaned every day but still resued.

Step 11 - 2D design¶

I use the vinyl cutter which have learnt in week 4 printer the sticker to represent my APPS

This is my Sticker for my APPS

Question from 6 to 8 - What materials and components were used? Where did they come from? How much did they cost?¶

The table for material and components used and the places I bought in this final project were shown in the following table. The total I have used in this project was HK$783 (US$100).

If you want to see the details or use this form, you can click the following link:

Source File for AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS) - Information for Components in All Systems and Processes(Excel)

Question 9 - What questions were answered? What worked?¶

Q1: What is the appropriate method for leaking of my APPS?

Answer to Q1: I have used diluted trichloromethane (also called chloroform and gluewater) to spread all over the surface of all profiles, 5 parts of 3D printing products, and Glass Glue for combination of Acrylic pieces for the fish tank.

Q2. What is the design of water pumping system in order to complete water circulation in my APPS?

Answer to Q2: Since the water pipes must go through different parts of the device, the pipes will crook several times in order to pass throught 4 areas. I have used silicon water pipes which are softer than the other materials for passing through from fish tank (Part 1) to herb pots(Part 4a) and color sensation areas (Part 4b)easily via electronics components (part 2) and system integration areas (part 3).

Q3. How can be the water flow divided into two routes for normal water circulation and ammonia test?

Answer to Q3: I have used plastic junction and 2-way switch to manage the shunt operation of waterflow from the fish tank to both herb pots and color sensation areas.

Q4. What can I do to solve the energy supply for my APPS automatically?

Answer to Q4: I have use the solar panels and the rechargable battery for supplying enough and free power for each system to work continuously.

Question 10 - What questions were not answered? What didn’t worked?¶

Q5 5. What is the future development for my APPS which is used as a teaching tool?

Answer to Q5 Recently, I have a chance to know more about the daily application of AI techniques. I would like to have further development on Herb Identification in the future.

Question 11 - How was it evaluated?¶

The following outcomes can be acted as the indicators for the successful operation of my APPS.

The water circulation can be worked continuously for the fish living and the plant growing.
All electronics components can be worked properly for supporting all systems.
No leaking can be found in my APPS.
All working systems can be controlled by mobile interfaces.
The energy can be supplied constantly for my APPS.

Question 12 - What are the implications?¶

I would like to development AI Technique for Herb Identification to integrate the curriculum of the growth of herbs and their usage in the subject of Integrated Science and Home Economics respectively.

After the lecture of week 18 about Intellectual Property, I have know about Creative Commons. This information has been attracted me a lot because helping people building a vibrant, collaborative global commons are their aims and we are free to share and adapt under attribution, non-commercial, shareAlike under the same license.

After consideration, my Final project, AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS), will be under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).

A Presentation Slide and A 1-minute Video¶

I have prepared a slide as the poster for summarizing the key points of my APPS and a 1-minute video for my final project presentation showing the conception, construction, and operation of my APPS.

My Final Project - AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS)

Slide Presentation¶

The following poster is used to show what I have done to summarized the theme and different techniques to demonstrate learning outcomes in this first half of the harvest from The Fab Academy 2021.

Nature vs Technology¶

Sometimes I think NATURE and TECHNOLOGY are friends? or Enemies? How can I modify a huge solar energy system for fish and herbs symbiosis in our school campus? I hope you can find the answer by my smaller and similar device in my final project, AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS), which has been designed for my students, my teachers and other schools as sharing platforms for discussion between mutual relationship between ecosystem and different advanced technology.

2D and 3D Design, Additive and Subtractive Fabrication Processes were applied into my APPS project. Through Electronics Design and Production Processes, I can use the mobile device to control the work of Water Pump, LED Lights, Solar Panels and the color sensor for testing ammonia concentration in water. A specific silica gel supporting components are Molded and Casted for herbs’ growing. The System Integration and Packaging were shown as the above slide..

Video Presentation¶

The following video showed all Conception, Construction and Operation of different systems in AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS).

Source Files - AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS)¶

Source File for AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS) - All parts of APPS Profile and Appearance (Fusion360)

Source File for AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS) - PCB Production(BRD)

Source File for AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS) - PCB Production(SCH)

Source File for AquaPonics Pilot System (APPS) - Gantt Chart Project Planning Tool (Excel)