Robotic Indoor Gardening

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  HydroGro

ROBOTOC INDOOR GARDENING SYSTEM

Abstract

Per many experts, Philadelphia schools are currently performing below state mandates. This is a result of underfunding and several governmental budget cuts, and in the end the children are the ones who suffer most, especially children who come from low-income families. The School District of Philadelphia is committed to ensuring that all children are adequately educated, despite the budgetary issues the District is facing. They are, however in need of creative and cost effective solutions to this problem that would allow students to learn as much as they can and foster interest in learning as well. Our goal is to provide disadvantaged students with the opportunity to pursue hands-on projects and activities and as an interdisciplinary group of engineers we chose to focus more on the STEM related subjects such as those relating to Botany, Chemistry, Ecology, Taxonomy, Robotics, Energy, Sustainability, Agronomy, etc. We will design and manufacture an automated indoor gardening system that is cost effective and easy to operate. It is to be used as an educational tool on the variety of topics already mentioned and possibly to enable people living in arid, low-income countries to grow a variety of plants with minimal user input. Through our research and manufacture thus far we have found that a well monitored hydroponic system, paired with basic microcontrollers will and a few sensors, will be able to solve the identified problem more than adequately.

Key words: Education, Hydroponics, Plants, STEM, Robotics