An automated agricultural shading for crops with multiple controls

Abstract

Optimum ecological conditions are essential for ideal plant growth and improve harvest yields. Some crops grow better in low-intensity sunlight and suffer from sunburn damages due to excessive sunlight. As such, these types of harvests are required to be cultivated under shades. This paper describes the design of an automated agro shading incorporating FRDM-K64F MCU with several control options that will free the farmers from constantly surveilling the corps for proper sunlight intensity. In this approach, there are multiple input methods to change the state of the shade flaps, including physical and automatic control via a developed android app for smartphones. Additionally, full automation can be turned on through Bluetooth connection to regulate the cover automatically based on the magnitude of the incoming sunlight in any given area. Thus, the shading mechanism can provide an optimal lux environment. For improving the yield of agricultural plants with nutritious values, the presented module will revolutionize agricultural automation – offering a cost-effective multi-controlled shading approach to solve farming issues regarding photosynthesis and weather conditions.