Project Development

Individual Assignment

My Project Development Plan

The report on project progress should be structured as a series of questions and answers.

What tasks have been completed, and what tasks remain?

Task Completed:

To begin, I calculated the necessary torque to determine the suitable motor, which resulted in an approximate value of 100 N-m. Using this calculation, I chose a motor from our stock. I then tested the motor and built a stand to hold it in place. Concurrently, I designed the circuit and milled the PCB. Once the milling was complete, I soldered the components onto the board and conducted tests on the circuit, which included a Phototransistor. Afterward, I connected the relay and additional components to the microcontroller board.

Tasks remain

I need to establish the connections between the motor, relay, and microcontroller for the shadenet automation system. When the light intensity exceeds the optimal level for the plants, the motor will activate to close the shadenet. Conversely, if the light intensity falls below the desired threshold, the motor will turn in the opposite direction to open the shadenet.

What’s working? What’s not?

I Utilized a single-phase induction motor to drive a shaft connected to the Shadenet with a wire rope. The shaft rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, and it is working very well. I used a relay to change the motor's rotation direction by switching the current connection on and off, enabling the motor to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise. I created a PCB with a phototransistor, but I discovered an issue with the signal pin connection, which was not properly configured.To fix this problem, I soldered a jumper wire, and now everything functions properly.

What questions need to be resolved?

How to use the Phototransistor if there is big area of polyhouse and the light intensity is different over area?
How to code if we are having different plants in polyhouse for which different light threashold required?

What will happen when?

Completed Tasks:

Torque is calculated for motor selection and selected the single phase induction motor on trial and error basis.
A motor stand is necessary for mounting the motor, ensuring that the motor shaft aligns properly with the shaft to which the shade net is attached. This connection is made using metal wire and clips.
I created the circuit, milled the PCB, and then completed the soldering and testing processes.

What have you learned?

During this project, I learned many things. My first challenge was calculating the torque and selected motor accordingly.

The next task was to choose a motor.I chose a motor from our workshop inventory, where we had several available, and I learned how to test if it was functioning properly.It was in good working condition.

After that, it was important to mount the motor. The motor shaft had to be accurately aligned with the shadenet shaft(Main Shaft), which is connected to the shadenet using wire ropes and clips. I learned how to fabricate a motor stand using available stand materials.

I also acquired skills in designing a new circuit that incorporates an Phototransistor and successfully milled the PCB for it.