The Task
Key questions we aim to tackle
- To design a green wall in the interior of Ron and Jen Kaufman’s home, next to their courtyard, spanning across 4 floors.
- The wall should allow for a variety of crops to be grown efficiently, including flowering plants, edible crops, and other ornamental greens that are aesthetically pleasing.
- How might we incorporate smart urban farming into the residential context?
- How do we ensure that higher parts of the wall are easy to reach?
- What would efficient and intelligent maintenance look like?
- Would the green wall be safe and easy to use?
1:50 Scale Model of Ron and Jen’s Residence
Video Introduction to AgroReach
Our solution consists of three types of planters: hydroponics, soil-based and voronoi modules. The hydroponic panel moves up and down to overcome the heights that are difficult to reach.
Easily Accessible
The top panels slide vertically with ease using sliding frames, pulleys, & motors.
Modular Components
Hydroponic planter tubes are modular & replaceable, increasing sustainability.
Efficient Maintenance
Automated watering & monitoring systems are integrated with our web application.
Interactive Display
Aesthetic and kinetic elements transform the wall into an interactive experience
Our Physical Prototype
The hydroponic planters are attached to a frame with rollers. The system uses an electric mini hoist attached to the hydroponic planters via a pulley system.
These adjustable planters can be positioned at the desired height by using the hoist’s remote control. Simply press and hold the up or down button to adjust the height.
Two irrigation systems are attached to the planters, using pipes and hoses. They are automated by a pump system controlled by a Raspberry Pi unit incorporated into the prototype.
Users are able to remotely control these systems, as well as the connected grow lights, via AgroReach’s mobile application.
Overview of Entire Green Wall
Web Application Functions
1. Manual Control
Users have the option to manually water and fertilize a row of plants through the app with the push of a button
4. Past Statistics
The app provides historical data on plant performance over 30-, 90-, and 180-day intervals
2. Live Plant Video Feed
Users can view a live feed video of any row of plants, captured by cameras, directly from the app
5. Harvest Tracker
Notification reminders and a schedule tracker assist the user to keep track of harvesting times
3. Coloured Status Indicators
Each row of plants has indicative statuses that are represented with intuitive colors, making their interpretation straightforward
6. Data Security
The app securely stores all information in the database, including live plant feed and past statistics, ensuring its safety and recoverability
User process
Voronoi Design
Lightweight cladded skeletal structure
Adaptable to fit irregular shapes
For aesthetic, low maintenance planting
Mimics forms in nature & biology
Acknowledgements
Our Web App
Our User Manual
We would like to thank our capstone mentors Senior Lecturer Michael Alexander Reeves and Mr Ron Kaufman, for their valuable design advice and for guiding the direction of our project.
We would also like to thank our CWR Mentor, Mr Patrick Tay, for helping us hone our communication skills and present at our best.
We would also like to thank: FARM Architects for supporting us by putting in the effort to understand our work context, and to the Fablab Staff for their technical advice and continuous support.
