I-Corps: Intelligent Hydroponics Growing Platform for Sustainable Agriculture

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是，与基于土壤的增长相比，它预计将增加粮食产量和节约用水。这项技术的自动化功能也可能有助于解决与传统农业相关的劳动力短缺挑战。传感器数据可以降低害虫控制成本，到目前为止，这一直是与水培农场相关的主要挑战。自动化水培种植方法可以提高农业的可持续性，并支持室内和室外水培生长系统，使农民能够更高效地种植丰富品种的作物。这个i-Corps项目是基于一种非接触式微型激光成像方法来检测精确的水培营养水平。非接触式传感器检测生长介质的反射和散射效率，以表征成分。该技术的特点是集成了多个数据源，以进行最佳增长控制决策。传感器数据包括温度、湿度、供水量、光照、植物胁迫、病害情况和水位。这些数据被用来使用深度强化学习方法来生成智能植物生长模型。一种不含化学物质的紫外线-C(UVC)面板将用于监测虫害控制，这是种植有机作物的关键挑战之一。预计这项技术可以降低40%的劳动力成本和15%的资源(如水、营养和电力)的利用率。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is that it is expected to increase food yield and water savings in contrast to soil-based growth. The automation function of the technology may also help resolve the labor shortage challenge associated with traditional farming. Sensor data could reduce pest control costs, which to date has been a major challenge associated with hydroponics farms. Automated hydroponics growing methods could improve the sustainability of agriculture and support both indoor and outdoor hydroponics growth systems, enabling farmers to grow a rich variety of crops more efficiently. This I-Corps project is based on a contactless miniature laser imaging method to detect precise hydroponics nutrient levels. The contactless sensor detects growth media reflection and scattering efficiency to characterize composition. The technology features integration of multiple sources of data for optimal growth control decision-making. Sensor data includes temperature, humidity, supplied water amount, light, plant stress, disease conditions and water level. This data is used to generate a smart plant growth model using a deep reinforcement learning method. A chemical-free, ultraviolet-C (UVC) panel will be used to monitor pest control, one of the key challenges of growing organic crops. It is expected that the technology may reduce labor costs by 40% and the utilization of resources (e.g. water, nutrition and electricity) by 15%.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.