ScholarWorks@UNO

Automating Aeroponics: Project LEAF

Traditional farming techniques are becoming less capable of sustaining the world’s food demands as populations swell. The struggle to keep up with demand has had an adverse effect on the environment and the quality of food produced. In order to reduce the stress agriculture has placed on the environment, new methods must be considered. Aeroponics is the practice of growing plants without using soil as a medium. This method uses mist to provide nutrients to the plant and requires up to ninety-eight percent less water than normal farming practices. Aeroponics systems tend to involve rigorous maintenance and regulation. This requires time and effort that most people prefer not to invest. If the process were made simpler, however, aeroponics could become a better alternative to current commercial farming practices. This could supply healthy food to many people without the high transportation cost or land restructuring of traditional farming methods. The purpose of this project will be to design an automated aeroponics system that will simulate the ideal grow conditions for a particular plant. This design will use sensors to monitor nutrient levels, pH, temperature, and other parameters necessary for healthy aeroponic plant growth. These parameters will come from a database that contains information for many different plants. The device will maintain the growth environment with minimal effort from the user. It will include a touchscreen and proprietary software to make aeroponics a more user-friendly experience. Our presentation will describe the current prototype and design methods for this project.