A Rotary Hydroponic Gardening System

Abstract

Gardening has risen to a popular household activity, but it is challenging due to factors that many beginners are incapable of thinking of. Hydroponics has risen to a popular method of gardening both in backyard gardens and in farms, for it provides many benefits not offered by traditional soil farming. However, many factors including temperature, humidity, and proper nutrient supply stand in the way of ensuring optimal conditions. In the case of a rotating machine, power consumption also becomes an issue.Despite efforts for ensuring proper amounts of light exposure and proper nutrient supply, different factors and different plants often have proven it to be a formidable task for achieving consistency. In this study, a smaller scaled Rotary Hydroponics Garden was created through the use of digital fabrication technology, along with a network of sensors and processing to maintain high quality conditions. The rotary system optimizes spacing and speed through the limitation of gravitational force on plants. Additionally, the digital fabrication process allows for rapid prototyping, enabling adaptability in terms of sizing, space, and duty cycle, factors which depend on the plant that is being germinated. This approach offers a highly adaptable solution to the challenges faced by previous designs, while maintaining optimal growth parameters and allowing for a household size spinning garden. Although not able to handle plants larger in size, this adaptable garden overcomes many barriers that exist with traditional household gardens, particularly through the productive manufacturing techniques of digital fabrication.