Internet of things based automated monitoring for indoor aeroponic system

Abstract

On the ever-rising urgency of global food security, efforts are required to develop a robust farming technique. This includes the capability of farming in non-agricultural land or indoor spaces. Farming in the air medium, i.e., aeroponic, has persistently stepped in as a viable solution. Aeroponic farming allows efficient water usage while preventing soil related diseases and pests. With the assistance of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and precise electronic monitoring and control, aeroponic may become the suitable farming technique of the future. This work presents an aeroponic system capable of automated monitoring and control of farming parameters. The system achieved both robustness in indoor farming and remote access by employing LED as an artificial lighting system and the internet-of-things (IoT) connectivity, respectively. The test result demonstrated that the system successfully maintained the root chamber temperature below 30 °C with a typical average temperature of 28.8 °C. The system managed a humidity level which prevented plants from drying out. It was also evident that the LED assistance significantly improved the growth quality of Ipomea reptans. The system, data, and analysis presented in this work is expected to facilitate further development of a robust food production system in overcoming the global food crisis.