Phototaxis robot
<Implemented Technology>
Plants need light for photosynthesis. However, plants show their desire for light through slow and obscure reactions rather than direct and apparent movements. Hence a phototaxis robot has been engineered. This phototaxis robot detects the intensity of light and moves plants towards the light in order for the plants to grow in the optimal environment. The resulting phototaxis robot can be applied in home devices and smart devices which can carry out small daily tasks such as watering and sun-bathing the house plant. Moreover, this miniature model could potentially greatly impact the agricultural industry if it is applied in massive plantation farms, solving the needs for climate control. When the software version of the program has been installed to PC, by connecting the P-Brick with the PC, the ev3 phototaxis robot can operate. The program was divided into six core sections: action blocks (green), flow blocks (orange), sensor blocks (yellow), data operation blocks (red) and advanced blocks (dark blue). All programs start with flow blocks, the blocks responsible for the flow of the program. Then, additional blocks such as sensor blocks are attached inside the flow blocks. In this experiment, I ultimately was able to succeed in leading the phototaxis robot to sense light intensity to dictate its direction, location, and movement. This robot has its hardware design inspired by a truck that is able to carry objects in its back. Flowerpot with plants was carried on the back of the robot, engendering the robot to literally control over the plants’ growth. In this project, I demonstrated a robotic strategy of solving the question of engendering plants to always be in an environment with light in order to gain photosynthesis. The key contributions to the robot were the light sensor utilized to sense the intensity of the light in the surrounding environment, motor for the movement of the robot, and the phototaxis algorithm which is necessary for coding appropriate rules and actions for the robot. Being able to construct an algorithm in which the phototaxis robot and the light sensor can properly react to is the most significant stage during the whole process since it is what the project is all about. Although I succeeded in meeting the goals in this project, there still were modifications and improvements that I planned to consider when I redo the project. The light sensor is not able to find the difference between natural sunlight and artificial light. For improvement, I want to be able to install a light sensor that is able to only sense natural sunlight. Although researchers can successfully grow plants using only artificial light, sunlight is the best for most plants. Sunlight is generally is greater in intensity than artificial light, and it is mostly equally distributed among the different wavelengths that earthly plants have evolved to like best. Hence, it is best to be able to make a phototaxis robot that is able to only sense natural sunlight.