AgriFlow: The Application of Elastic Filament Velocimetry to Water Flow Measurement and Control in Hydroponic Vertical Farms

Abstract

Sustainable food production, among other environmental sustainability concerns, is one of the most important challenges facing the world in the next few decades. Researchers and farmers have improved agricultural production methods in conventional farming, while others have begun to study and implement vertical farming. Vertical farms offer an accessible and efficient means for growing food indoors in urban areas, thereby decreasing the transportation costs and risks of contamination. Food production efficiency enables resource management, which has become a necessity for countries facing water shortages. Although recently founded vertical farms are currently producing crops, their production focuses on a few types of commercially profitable crops rather than a diverse set of plants. Precision watering has become an important technological development for conventional farming, but has not yet become available for hydroponic vertical farms. Measurement and control of the flow rate of water in hydroponics, along with the collection of flow rate data, could increase the water use efficiency, growth and diversity of plants that can grow in vertical farms. The goal of this thesis is to leverage the precision flow sensing ability of elastic filament velocimetry (EFV) sensors as a measurement tool for water flow in hydroponic vertical farms. The integration of an EFV sensor alongside a proportional solenoid valve and microprocessor makes a closed-loop control system that can adjust a flow rate according to a user's input. This thesis outlines the design of this closed-loop flow rate controller for precision watering in hydroponic vertical farms.