KR20130030926A - The integrated controlled hydroponic system using it technology - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An operational method for a system to internationally control and manage multiple hydroponics controllers and a diagnostic method using an image at a remote location through the internet. CONSTITUTION: A hydroponics controller comprises a central control unit(10) comprised of a watch, a timer(12), a storage device(13), and a microprocessor; an input unit(20) comprised of a touch screen LCD and a variety of sensors(a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a water level sensor); an output unit(30) comprised of a pump, a valve control unit, a cooling and heating instrument control unit, and a light amount control unit; and a communication unit(40) comprised of a webcam interface and a wireless communication interface. A main system includes database storing standard data including information such as season for the hydroponics, hourly nutrient solution input period, class, drainage cycle and R, G, and B light information amount for each crop. The standard data is sent to each of the hydroponics controllers to allow the hydroponics to independently operate according to the standard data. [Reference numerals] (10) Central control unit; (12) Watch and timer; (13) Storage device; (20) Input unit; (21) LCD input; (22) Temperature sensor; (23) Humidity sensor; (24) Water level sensor; (31) Pump and valve control; (32) Air-conditioner control; (33) Light amount control unit; (40) Communication unit; (41) Webcam I/F unit; (42) Wireless communication I/F unit; (AA) Output unit

Description

Hydroponic cultivation integrated management system using information and communication technology {The Integrated Controlled Hydroponic System using IT technology}

Hydroponic cultivation integrated management system proposed by applying IT technology such as database technology, wireless communication, and internet to various control technologies used in existing hydroponic cultivators

Hydroponic cultivation technology is currently being used by the general public. However, the hydroponic cultivation system is operated regardless of the spring, summer, autumn, and winter seasons, and it generates light intensity according to the characteristics of each crop and light waves by the combination of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue). This requires proper dimming technology (light intensity control), nutrient solution pumps and pump control for water supply and drainage. In addition, images of hydroponic cultivation status are read by the camera from the remote site via the Internet, automatically operated when there is no problem, and the intensity of lighting and air conditioners are operated through manual control procedures at the remote site when changes to the baseline data are required. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a control method for hydroponic cultivation using an automated technology to operate by changing the set value for nutrient solution supplement, circulation pump operation, and the like.

 As described above, the present invention provides a method for automatically performing control operations for hydroponic cultivators, and provides a control method for establishing an automated system in large-scale agriculture such as a plant factory as well as hydroponic cultivation at home. have.

Therefore, the present invention is not related to the construction of the hydroponic cultivator, and the operation method for a system for integrated control and management of the hydroponic cultivation controller and a plurality of hydroponic cultivators for operating the hydroponic cultivator, as well as images from a remote place using the Internet. The diagnostic method used is presented. Therefore, the basic technology required for the construction of hydroponic cultivators not covered in detail in the present invention is as follows.

Light quantity control technology (dimming technology): Dimming control technology for lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LEDs as a function for supplying the appropriate wavelength and light quantity required for hydroponic cultivation, and R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) ) It is a technology that can control the light generation technology of specific wavelength and the intensity of the light required for each crop by combination.

Air conditioning equipment control technology: In the case of plant farm with a large amount of hydroponic cultivators, it is a technology to operate the air conditioning equipment to supply a constant temperature to the cultivator system.

Nutrient Supplementation Technology: It is a technology to supply proper nutrient solution to hydroponic cultivator by controlling the fixed period and time by supplying nutrient solution to hydroponic cultivator by using pump from nutrient container.

Webcam technology: It is an image transmission technology for sending a plant state to a remote place through the main system or the Internet using a camera installed in a hydroponic cultivation controller attached to a hydroponic cultivator.

Supply and drainage technology: It is a technology required for the circulating hydroponic cultivation. It is a technology for supplying water to plant pots periodically by driving pumps and using exhaust valves.

Wireless communication technology: It is a data transmission technology using wireless communication between main hydroponics installed in a computer server and a plurality of hydroponic cultivation controllers for integrated management of a plurality of hydroponic cultivation controllers.

The present invention is an invention for a method for integrally managing a plurality of hydroponic cultivators, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following features.

1. Use hydroponic criteria data by crops

As standard data for more efficient hydroponic cultivation for each crop, it refers to quantitative data experimentally obtained from specialized hydroponic laboratories. This reference data is built on a hydroponic cultivation database server that stores standardized data such as wavelength, light quantity requirements and nutrient supply cycles for each crop.

In addition, these reference data can be operated in the main system to control Dimming for R, G, B type lamp, fluorescent lamp, and LED in the room by using air-conditioning equipment regardless of season, climate, and time zone. It is built as a database and is used as reference data for hydroponic cultivation by crops.

2. Delivery through internet, main system, hydroponic controller

The present invention downloads such reference data to the Internet and is stored in a database in the main system so that it can operate regardless of season, climate, and time zone. It is constructed as a database in the main system so that it can be operated to control dimming of B type lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LEDs, and it is transmitted to the hydroponic cultivation controller installed in each hydroponic cultivator, and automatically operated according to the setting value of the reference data. Provide a method for

3. 1: N communication of wireless communication method

The technology for controlling multiple hydroponic controllers in one main system is 1: N communication technology using wireless. In other words, it connects to each hydroponic cultivation controller in the main system to provide reference data for each crop stored in the main system.

4. Remote monitoring using webcam

In case of abnormal plant growth, it is necessary to burn the condition of the plant to a specialist for inspection. In such a case, the condition of the plant can be diagnosed by operating a camera attached to the hydroponic cultivation controller and transmitting it as an image from a main system or to experts through the Internet. In this case, it provides a function to automatically operate by changing the reference data of the hydroponic cultivation controller installed in a remote place while watching the image through the Internet.

In the present invention operating as described in detail above, the effects obtained by the representative ones of the disclosed inventions will be briefly described as follows.

1. Incorporate IT technology into hydroponic culture, which is widely used in agriculture. Regardless of external factors such as environmental pollution and weather, by automatically operating the radio controller installed in hydroponic cultivators, it is possible to provide fresh crops at all seasons.

2. Depending on the characteristics of the crop and the characteristics that require light of a specific wavelength for each crop part, different dimming is applied to R, G, B type lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LED in domestic hydroponic cultivator with this IT technology. By doing so, light of a specific wavelength can be supplied.

3. Through the database built on the main system, it is possible to establish a quantitative database suitable for the growth of crops at each time, which can contribute to the development of hydroponic cultivation technology and research and development by crop in agriculture.

4. The image information received from the camera installed in the hydroponic cultivator and the dimming control history information built in the database are not only used to receive real-time after-sales service with the head office, but also can be used to help the second hydroponic cultivation in the future. Can be utilized.

1 is a configuration diagram of a hydroponic cultivation controller 100, and the components constituting the same are as follows.
10: central control unit
20: input unit
30: Output section
40: communication unit


FIG. 2 is a view showing an operation of controlling the controllers installed in a plurality of hydroponic cultivators in a building using wireless communication.
101, 102, 103: hydroponic cultivation controller attached to hydroponic cultivator
201, 202, 203: As a hydroponic cultivator, each module can grow different crops.
300: A main system for controlling a hydroponic cultivation controller installed in a plurality of hydroponic cultivators by a wireless communication method, having a user interface therein, and controlling hydroponic cultivators by dividing by ID. In addition, a database is stored inside to store reference data for hydroponic cultivation, and these data are transmitted to hydroponic cultivator controllers by wireless communication, so that hydroponic cultivators can operate automatically.
900: Communicates with the controller module installed in the main system and a plurality of hydroponic cultivators in a wireless communication method.


3 illustrates a method of updating hydroponic standard data for each crop using the Internet and a method of monitoring a plant growth state by using an camera as an image, and the components thereof are as follows.
100: operation diagram of radio controller installed in hydroponic cultivator
300: program operation diagram installed in main system
400: The process of updating the hydroponic cultivation reference data through the Internet and monitoring the video screen with the camera installed on the wireless controller in the hydroponic cultivator. For example, the Internet communication module includes a hydroponic cultivation research institute or an A / S center of the headquarters that sells hydroponic cultivators.


Figure 4 shows the operation of the hydroponic cultivation controller. Basically, it reads the current on, and if it is within the set value error range, it automatically operates normally, and if it is outside the set value error range, it operates the cooling and heating equipment, which means that it maintains a suitable temperature for crop cultivation.


FIG. 5 illustrates a method of monitoring a plant growth state by image in a remote place through a main system or the Internet. As a result of manual analysis of image data, when there is an error, hydroponic cultivation is performed by specifying a set value by a manual control method remotely. The controller is operated, otherwise the operation diagram for automatic operation is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the hydroponic cultivation controller 100 by dividing the functions of the hydroponic cultivation controller 100 into parts. The hydroponic cultivation controller includes a central destination control unit 10, an input unit 20, an output unit 30, and a communication unit 40. The central control unit 10 is composed of a microprocessor, a real time clock function 12 and a storage device 13 for storing reference data for various hydroponic cultivation, and the output unit at a predetermined time according to the clock function 12. 30) has the interface function to drive, and also the information entered by the user from the various sensors (temperature sensor 22, humidity sensor 23, water level sensor 24) installed in the hydroponic cultivator and the touch screen LCD With the input unit 20 that can read the reservation and drive information from the LCD input 21 that can receive the last, and finally with the communication unit 40 having a data communication function and the image information reception function for the plant growth state with the main system It consists of an interface part.

Figure 2 shows the configuration with the main system to enable the integrated management and control of a plurality of hydroponic cultivation controller (100). The main system stores reference data on seasonal, hourly nutrient solution cycle, grade, drainage cycle, and R, G, and B light quantity information for each crop required for hydroponic cultivation.These reference data are stored in each hydroponic cultivation controller (101, 102, 103). By transmitting each of the hydroponic cultivators 201,202,203 can be independently operated according to the reference data. As such a communication method between the hydroponic cultivation controller (101, 102, 103) and the main system 300 is used 1: N wireless communication method for communication with a plurality of hydroponic cultivation controller.

3 is not only wireless communication between the hydroponic cultivation controller 100 and the main system of FIG. 2, but also between the A / S center 400 and the main system 300 of a company that supplies a server or a hydroponic cultivator located remotely through the Internet. A / S through the video monitoring method of the plant growth state using the camera installed in the hydroponic cultivation controller 100 directly from the remote server and the ability to download the reference data provided by the remote server as a communication method is displayed Includes features A control method using a camera installed in a hydroponic cultivation controller from a main system or a remote location will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

Operation of the hydroponic cultivation control period installed in the main system and the hydroponic cultivator of Figure 3 is as follows. First, from the hydroponic cultivation reference data 330 for each crop stored in the database 310, the reference data corresponding to the season, date (month, day) and time are stored in the memory, and then measured from the hydroponic cultivation controller installed in the hydroponic cultivator. Read the current temperature. When the temperature information read from the hydroponic cultivation controller is within the range of the set value error, the hydroponic cultivation controller 100 generates reference control data that can be automatically operated by using the temperature information and the reference data information, and the hydroponic cultivation controller Transmitted to 340, the hydroponic cultivation controller is automatically operated accordingly.

If it is determined that there is a problem in plant growth, the camera is installed on the hydroponic cultivation controller 100 to analyze the plant state as an image, perform manual control, modify the reference data, and transmit it to the hydroponic cultivation controller. To work.

4 shows an operation of the hydroponic cultivation controller 100. First, using the reference data transmitted from the database stored in the main system, the light quantity adjustment information and the water supply for the high-power LED for each wavelength R, G, B according to season, date (month, day), time by crops It stores the operation cycle for the pump and the exhaust valve, the operation cycle for the pump and exhaust valve for nutrient supply. If the current temperature is read and it is within the set value error range of the reference data, it is automatically operated normally according to the reference data. If the read temperature data is out of the set value error of the reference data by operating the air-conditioning device 933 installed indoors according to the difference between the current temperature and the reference temperature, so that the hydroponic cultivator can operate at a constant temperature.

Figure 5 provides a method for operating by changing the reference data manually at the same time monitoring the remote location when it is determined that there is a problem in plant growth. Figure 4 shows how to monitor the plant growth status in the image via the main system or the remote site via the Internet, if there is an error as a result of manual analysis of the image data, the hydroponic cultivation by changing the setting value to the manual control method remotely The controller operates normally, otherwise the operation diagram for operating automatically is shown. In the case of manually operating the image analysis result through the web cap, the setting value is changed in the order of light amount control 970, nutrient solution replenishment 980, grade, and drainage control 990, and the modified data is automatically operated as reference data.

Claims (7)

Consists of central control unit consisting of clock, timer, storage unit and microprocessor, input unit consisting of Touch Screen LCD and various sensors (temperature sensor, humidity sensor, water level sensor), pump, valve control, air conditioner control, light quantity control unit Output unit, and a communication unit consisting of a webcam interface and a wireless communication interface,
Hydroponic cultivation controller consisting of the central control unit, input unit, output unit, communication unit It is a database in the main system that stores reference data for each season, nutrient solution cycle, grade, drainage cycle, and R, G, B light quantity information for hydroponic cultivation. A hydroponic cultivation controller and main system configured to transmit and operate each hydroponic cultivator independently according to reference data. The method of operating a 1: N wireless communication system between a plurality of hydroponic cultivators and a main system in claim 1, wherein the main system wirelessly transmits reference data for each crop grown in each hydroponic cultivator to a hydroponic cultivation controller. Accordingly, the dimming control unit for lamps, fluorescent lamps, LEDs, etc. connected to the hydroponic cultivation controller using reference data by crop, season, and time zone (month, day, time) in the hydroponic cultivation controller installed in the hydroponic cultivator, for water supply and drainage Hydroponic cultivation controller including a pump and valve driving unit, a pump driving unit for nutrient supply, the operation unit according to the temperature. The dimming control unit of claim 2, wherein the dimming control unit provides a light amount suitable for plant growth through the synthesis of light as well as the light amount by a combination of R, G, and B. The camera installed in the hydroponic cultivator is connected to a hydroponic cultivation institute or A / S center of the hydroponic cultivator's headquarters via the Internet to monitor the plant status remotely, and operate the hydroponic cultivation controller. Hydroponic cultivation controller with change of standard data and automatic operation for proper control 4 is an operation flow chart of the hydroponic cultivation controller, the amount of light to be used for hydroponic cultivation control received from the main system, R, G, B intensity, nutrient solution supply cycle, supply, drainage cycle after power is supplied to the hydroponic cultivation controller After reading the reference data on the memory and the like, check the current temperature and operate the air conditioner or warmer according to the difference between the present temperature and the reference temperature if it is out of the error range of the set value. 5 is an operation flowchart of the hydroponic cultivation controller shown in FIG. 5, which shows the procedure after image monitoring of the plant growth status remotely via the main system or the Internet.
As a result of image monitoring, if it is determined that there is an abnormality in the plant condition, the standard value data for the hydroponic cultivator, nutrient replenishment, feeding, and drainage control are changed manually and operated as the set value, and the set value data is stored in the database. And if it is determined that there is no abnormality, automatically operating the reference value data stored in the hydroponic cultivation controller.

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