Our team has received not one but multiple orders for setting up terrace gardens
Published on : Friday 13-10-2023
Vinayak S Rasal, Aman Rajbhar and Tanvi Desai, Students.
Please explain your project briefly in a few sentences. What inspired you to work on this project?
The project basically is Greenhouse Automation using OpenPLC. Here, we have worked on climate control required for the efficient growth of plants and their nurturing.
OpenPLC is a fairly new concept that we have used here, which helps in replacing the traditional PLC setup, which is highly costly.
The inspiration for this project was to provide cost-effective greenhouses for small based farmers, terrace gardens, and organic farming enthusiasts.
How was the response from visitors and peers to your project at Automation Expo 2023?
The visitors who had visited our stall, the majority were new to the concept of OpenPLC, which had attracted them. They found the project interesting and fresh new input into the agriculture industry.
Many visitors were attracted to the low-cost solution which would help in the majority of the sectors of both agriculture as well as providing a climate control-based setup.
Did you receive any offers or encouragement from exhibiting companies or visiting industry professionals?
Yes, we are very glad to inform this, that our team has received not one but multiple orders for setting up terrace gardens and small space agriculture polyhouses. We have also been asked about the setting up of climate control-based houses/setups for cold storage and animal husbandry.
Please describe your experience in just three words.
Encouraging. Exposure. Achievement.
‘VESIT places a strong emphasis on practical learning and hands-on projects’
-Dr Nilima Warke, Associate Professor, Automation & Robotics Department, VESIT, Chembur, Mentor.
How did you find the initial idea and what was your reaction to it?
The initial project idea came to my attention when the student team approached me early in the competition. They presented the concept of developing a comprehensive greenhouse automation system.
Greenhouse automation, in particular, intrigued me because it offers the potential to create a controlled environment for crops, minimising the impact of external factors while maximising yields. I saw it as a way to contribute to farmers and sustainability
I was impressed by their vision to create a solution capable of optimising multiple critical environmental factors within a greenhouse, such as temperature, humidity, light, and irrigation, all integrated into one cohesive system. Their commitment to addressing real-world challenges faced by farmers and their passion for sustainability and innovation were evident, and I saw tremendous potential in their idea.
What was the response from the students to your guidance and the deliberations that followed?
As a mentor, my role was to provide expertise, support, and a structured framework for the team to develop their project from a concept into a successful implementation.
The response from the students was highly positive and enthusiastic throughout the project. They were receptive to guidance and demonstrated a strong commitment to learning and improving their project. Additionally, I encouraged them to think critically, troubleshoot challenges, and explore innovative solutions.
How does the college encourage and inspire students to go beyond theory and experiment with projects?
VESIT places a strong emphasis on practical learning and hands-on projects as part of its educational philosophy. It's a key aspect of fostering innovation and preparing students for real-world challenges. VESIT invests in well-equipped laboratories that allow students to experiment with the latest technologies and tools. To encourage students to go beyond theory and delve into projects, the college employs a project-based learning approach too.
Please describe your experience in just three words.
Enriching. Transformative. Gratifying.
