February 3rd, 2017

ENGINEERING DESIGN
PROPOSAL
Modular Aeroponic Residential Systems

Instructors Ryan Clemmer, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Manick Annamalai, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Mostafa Elsharqawy, Ph.D., P.Eng
Ping Wu, Ph.D., P.Eng
Laboratory Section 0104, Friday 8:30 10:20 am
University of Guelph, Department of Engineering

Group 1 3
Harrison Korhonen (055295)
Andi Kokojka (055293)
Neil Randall (055308)
Amanda Siwik (055007)
Seena Ghassemi (055284)

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February 3rd, 2017

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

2.0 Executive Summary

3.0 Proposal Statement
3.1 Problem Description
3.2 Literature Review
3.3 Scope of Project
3.4 Constraints and Criteria

4.0 Information Gathering Plan

4.1 Overview of approach
4.2 Tasks and Timelines

5.0 Design Report Fee Estimate

6.0 References

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February 3rd, 2017

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Modular Aeroponics Residential System (M.A.R.S) provides individuals with the
opportunity of growing their own produce within their homes. This system is operable year-
round, features automated water, nutrient, lighting, and heating systems, and takes up no more
space than a large set of drawers. The M.A.R.S closed environment adds the benefits of
conservation of water, a pest-proof living space for the plants, and a method of gardening that is
more efficient than traditional methods which involve soil, land, pesticides, and manual labour.

The MARS unit will be designed in three primary phases. In the first phase, the
preliminary research necessary to estimate the technical specifications as well as the overall
cost of the system will be done. This will be followed by a phase of development in which the
components of the system will be put together in order to simulate the performance of the
feasible designs, in order to determine the optimal design. An economic analysis of this project
in its entirety will be done by mid-February 2017. The final phase will include the details of the
implementation of the optimal design, and all electrical, hydraulic, and structural specifications
will be available. A detailed comparison between the M.A.R.S and traditional farming as well as
existing Aeroponics systems will be outlined and the benefits of the M.A.R.S will be proven in
full. This product is aimed at maximizing agricultural output and minimizing material cost of the
product while adhering to the size and weight density constraints. The marketable product shall
cost no more than $2000, it shall not be more than 1.5 cubic meters in volume, and it shall not
exceed 100 kg in mass.

Consultation with farmers and Aeroponics specialists will be essential in the planning phases
of this project as experienced professionals in this field will surely be an asset to the
development of the M.A.R.S. The use of 3-D modelling software such as Solid works will be a
vital aid to the design processes. Optimizing the number of capacity and material cost in the
M.A.R.S will provide a good visual aid to the designers. Other simulation software such as
MATLAB will also be used to determine the effectiveness of the components of the M.A.R.S and
estimating service life, electricity consumption, and other criteria as detailed in this proposal.

This project is estimated to cost 67.5 days worth of labour, totalling to $51,840 in the cost of
design and development. The estimated timeline is 13 weeks. A Gantt chart and fee estimation
table have been created to highlight the milestones and deliverables.

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February 3rd, 2017

3 PROPOSAL STATEMENT

3.1 PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

In shared living spaces and dense, low space housing the ability to grow produce is reduced
and impossible in many living situations. As these metropolitan areas expand the desire for
individuals and families to be able to grow their own produce on their own property is
impossible.

Environmental concerns may also render many areas non viable for growing opportunities.
Soil acidity, tumultuous weather, pests and disease may leave certain areas without spatial
concerns, unable to yield vegetation. Many produce and herbs are also unable to thrive within the
growing environments of the users

Even with ideal growing conditions in traditional gardening the ability to produce the amount
of produce required year round for the amount of users may be impossible to attain.
Many families and individuals find that the effort required to maintain a successful garden may
be unrealistic despite desire.

Under these concerns the ability to maintain a sustainable, efficient and high yielding garden
is not realistic within many areas.

The Modular Aeroponic Residential System (M.A.R.S) is an enclosed aeroponic system that
is able to output a high yield of produce adjustable for individuals or families of any size. The
growing system is spatially efficient rendering it applicable within any housing situation, utilizes
natural lighting and able to adjust to any systems power and hydro utilities. The modular system
can operate in series allowing it to conserve utilities as well as continued spatial reduction and
shared utility hookups. The system is operational year round, regardless of weather or sunlight,
unaffected by poor soil conditions or pests/animals. The modular system allows each individual
unit to grow different or similar types of vegetation through the will of the user as well as
produce vegetation that is unable to be grown within the users climate. Aeroponics systems can
produce a large amount of produce that families use and can generate vegetation at a rate higher
than that of traditional gardens. Aeroponic systems do not require soil and are easy to be
maintained, the Modular Aeroponic Residential system is automated and is easily programmed
for the users desired produce. Watering, Nutrient concentration, lighting and heating are all
automated with automating systems employing algorithms to minimize hydro and electricity use.

The Modular Aeroponic Residential System (M.A.R.S) is designed to provide a majority

of the produce and herbs required by the users annually, consistently from the comfort of their
residence organically and without the use of pesticides.

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3.2 LITERATURE REVIEW

During the upcoming decades, there will be an increasing focus on self-sufficiency . In

[7]

Canada, 57% of people grow fruits, vegetables, herbs or flowers at their house. 81% of stand-
alone houses have an outdoor garden. One of the limiting factors though is floor/lawn
space. Only 30% of homes have gardens on the balcony and 22% are indoors . The objective of
[6]

the project is to allow small houses and apartments to conveniently grow food as well.

For a consumer, it allows for home grown food in normally limiting housing
situations. It allows the user the opportunity to eat fresh food year round. Additionally, it enable
people to grow food without herbicides or pesticides. The project allows for self-sustainability
and, in the long run, can allow for future savings.

On a societal level, an increased focus on self-sufficiency is likely the future for urban areas .
[7]

As urban areas continue to grow, the inefficiencies in transporting goods into the city centre as
well as the unutilized space in cities for food and energy production will drive for widespread,
small scale food generation. As space is becoming increasing more important, the Modular
Aeroponic Residential System is one of the first steps towards realizing this future. The most
significant impact that it will have on society is to stimulate the public into considering the value
in household production of food and other necessities.
There are other, similar aeroponic growing units that have been patented, however these
products are designed for industrial scale production. There are other similar growing units that
are meant for residential use however, the M.A.R.S provides the consumer with an automated
product, making the food growing process simple for integration with the everyday life of a
working individual. This system, when produced on a mass-scale, will be as affordable as an
everyday household appliance, unlike high-end luxury appliances, such as contemporary
patented Aeroponics systems . [2,3,4]

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3.3 SCOPE OF PROJECT

During the first phase of this project, the existing aeroponics growing techniques will be
assessed in terms of efficiency, output, usability, and adaptability. At this stage, the superiority
of the M.A.R.S will be proven by analysis of the demand for such a unit and comparison to
existing Aeroponics systems. The efficiency of the unit in terms of maximum output and
required input (electricity and water) will be assessed. This shall be done in order to estimate the
technical specifications of the system.

After this initial phase, further analysis will be done on the constituents of this device by
virtue of simulation software that can provide accurate predictions of fluid flow, the systems
response to various electrical stimuli, output in a given time, and structural integrity. The cost of
designing, building, and testing this unit shall be accounted for in this phase and hereafter.
Limitless Aeroponic will have the necessary understanding to provide a feasible product.

Limitless Aeroponics will have completed all analyses by the 2 week of February 2017.
nd

The criteria and constraints outlined in the proposal will likely effectuate an optimization
problem as to what feasible solution will best serve the interests of the consumer and the
company.

The completion of the Preliminary Design Proposal will lead to a proper cost analysis:
the design will be scrutinized and implementation costs based on required capital will be
calculated. This will include all structural, electrical, and hydraulic components. By the end of
this second phase, the technical specifications of this design as well as the detailed cost analysis
will be readily available and will outline the aforementioned aspects of this project.

The third and final phase will consist of the details of implementing the optimal design.
The MARS in its entirety will be discussed and final edits may be made prior to execution. The
M.A.R.S effectiveness as a means to grow ones food will be discussed. This will consist of a
comparison between the M.A.R.S and traditional farming, and a comparison between MARS and
existing Aeroponics systems. The benefits discussed shall include but will not be limited to
readily-available food in ones home, a means of growing crops without traditional farming land,
environmental benefits of the M.A.R.S, and the power of an individual to oversee their own food
supply. Limitless Aeroponics will ensure that the implementation is done while adhering to all
standards and regulations for concerned markets.

After the third phase, the design report will be created by the 2 week of April 2017. The
nd

chosen design will be accompanied by an in-depth analysis, its implementation methods, its
costs, and its environmental and personal benefits.

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February 3rd, 2017

3.4 CONSTRAINTS OF CRITERIA

Limitless Aeroponics has developed a set of criteria and constraints that will be used to
optimize the design. The design will employ pumps for nutrients and water, temperature,
pressure, and light sensors. These tools will allow for accurate monitoring of the MARS unit and
control of the growth of the plants. The mechanical actuators will be adjustable without a
shutdown of the unit.

The size of the unit is crucial rendering it able to be implemented in any housing situation.
Electricity and water consumption of the unit depends on the type and quantity of the plants
grown in the unit and therefore has no influence on the constraints or criteria. Working with the
size constraint of 1.5m , the number of subunit must be maximized and to do this, the positioning
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of the racks on which the plants will be installed must be such that an agreeable number of plants
can be grown while minimizing the materials used to create the rack. This rack will also house
the nutrient and water pipes, the lighting units, as well as the wiring for the temperature and
pressure sensors.

This is a product that will be used by homeowners and so cost is to be minimized. Our
company is aiming to keep costs the unit cost under $2000. The weight of the unit must also be
taken into consideration as a very heavy object will not be ideal for marketing, installing, or
maintaining the unit. If the average floor load capacity is 40 pounds per square foot (1.92kilo
Pascals), then the empty unit must exert a pressure of less than 1.0 kPa on the floor on which it
is situated. Additional weight from nutrients, water, and plants will be marginal in consideration.

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February 3rd, 2017

4 INFORMATION GATHERING PLAN

4.1 OVERVIEW OF APPROACH

Problem solving strategies are essential in designing a project and it is vital that the right
tool is used for the specific problem in hand. The design team must consult with farmers in how
they deal with problems in their farm, for example; improper harvesting and poor agriculture
pruning. These problems can result in very large complications in the marketplace when the
produce cannot be sold due to poor quality. Assessing these problems with an experienced
farmer will help the team understand how to handle the yield produced in the aeroponic system
and give a general guideline on how much water and nutrients each produce needs for proper
harvesting. The inability to market a product that cannot produce high quality organic fruits and
vegetables is an indicator of not meeting the expectations we have for our design.

Farms and aeroponic systems both deal with bacterial and fungal growth, which can harm
the consumer. Bacteria and fungi thrive in damp, warm environments, so the root box should be
kept in enclosed darkness and should not let any of the moisture out or sunlight in. Since the
aeroponic system must be kept relatively warm and extremely damp, it is more prone to
developing an unwanted bacterial or fungal infection in your produce. One of the ways farmers
deal with fungal growth is through a simple diluted hydrogen peroxide solution. Farmers will
spray their crops with this solution and will it protect their agriculture from unwanted bacteria
growth. A small amount of this compound can quickly kill off all harmful bacterial or fungal
infestations, so it is very important to be cautious with the amount used, since a higher
concentration can be harmful to the consumer and the roots.

The basic principle of an aeroponic system is to grow plants suspended in a closed

environment by spraying the plant's roots and lower stem with an atomized, nutrient rich water
solution. Since the design will be automated, an Arduino will be the software tool used for this
project. An Arduino is an open source tool that is extremely accessible and is very flexible to be
customized for the user's benefit. Also, it is an easy tool for the user to use, just connecting it to a
computer via USB it will provide the consumer with an easier time to link with the aeroponic
system and to control which vegetation they want to produce.
In terms of hardware, the pressurized tubes, connectors, and fittings in the aeroponic
system must all deliver algae-free nutrient and water solutions to the harvest. The problem with
algae growth, is not so much that it uses up nutrients from the solution, but it also decomposes
which will removed dissolved oxygen from the aeroponic system. This increases the biological
oxygen demand (BOD) on the system and the plant's roots may suffocate from a lack of O2.
Decomposing algae may also release toxins as it breaks down and provides a food source for
plant pathogenic fungi which may then multiply to high levels in the system. Algae on plant root
systems can suffocate the roots and providing the system with an algae-free solution is an
important tool for the system to thrive with vegetation.

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February 3rd, 2017

4.2 TASKS AND TIMELINES

Table 1 Aeroponics Gantt chart

The Gantt chart within Table One Displays an estimate readout of the proposed timeline
for scheduled Project completion of the MARS unit.

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February 3rd, 2017

5 DESIGN REPORT FEE ESTIMATE

Table 2 Based off an 8h day with 96$/h pay for an engineering student consulting engineering industry standard industrial rates.

The breakdown of the design report fee estimate, at an approximate total of $51, 840, can
be seen in Table 2 with 15% contingency, the total is approximated at $59, 616. The four main
stages in the report writing process -- Research and Consulting, Technical Planning, Testing and
Review -- can be further broken into various components, vital for a successful design to be
produced. These include the aeroponic system, exploring environmentally-friendly and
sustainable mechanisms, the possible types of plants that could be grown within the system,
automation of the water, light and nutrient delivery system, economic analysis and the overall
module design. According to a 2015 Consulting Engineers Rate Guideline from the Consulting
Engineers of Alberta, the industry standard rates for a university engineering student is $96 per
hour. This rate, along with the assumption that one day of work consists of eight hours, were
utilized to provide an estimate of the total design report fee.

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February 3rd, 2017

6 REFERENCES

[1] Cog.ca, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.cog.ca/index.php?page=organic-

regulations. [Accessed: 02- Feb- 2017].

[2] "Patent WO2014102553A1 - Automated aeroponic plant growing system", Google Books,
2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.google.com/patents/WO2014102553A1?cl=en.
[Accessed: 02- Feb- 2017].

[3] "Patent US20140144078 - Modular Automated Aeroponic Growth System", Google

Books, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.google.com/patents/US20140144078.
[Accessed: 02- Feb- 2017].

[4] "Patent US4332105 - Apparatus and method for plant growth in aeroponic conditions",
Google Books, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.google.ca/patents/US4332105.
[Accessed: 02- Feb- 2017].

[5] Brown, "The future home: self-sufficient in meat, fish, vegetables and fruit", The
Independent, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-
living/the-future-home-self-sufficient-in-meat-fish-vegetables-and-fruit-8652465.html.
[Accessed: 03- Feb- 2017].

[6] "Canadians and Nature: Homegrown fruits, herbs, vegetables and flowers, 2013",
Statcan.gc.ca, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/16-508-x/16-508-
x2015006-eng.htm. [Accessed: 03- Feb- 2017].

[7] "US", The Independent, 2017. [Online]. Available:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-future-home-self-sufficient-in-
meat-fish-vegetables-and-fruit-8652465.htm. [Accessed: 03- Feb- 2017].

[8] Consulting Engineers Rate Guideline 2015, Consulting Engineers of Alberta, 2015.
[Online]. Available: http://www.cea.ca/files/Rate_guide/2015_CEA-Rate-Guideline-
NEW%20(1).pdf

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