User:Justin Jinchuan Zheng
Academic Background[edit | edit source]
Justin Jinchuan Zheng was an undergraduate student specializing in software engineering at the University of Western Ontario. He is a member of the FAST research group, working under the supervision of Professor Joshua Pearce.
Research Experience[edit | edit source]
Western University Undergraduate Summer Research Internship 2024 (USRI).
Alumni of Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology Members (FAST Research Group)
Research Supervisor[edit | edit source]
Professor Joshua.M.Pearce
Research Interest[edit | edit source]
- Robotics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Agrivoltaic agrotunnel
Volunteering[edit | edit source]
Assist other FAST research member building solar panels.
Research Projects[edit | edit source]
Agrovoltaic Agrotunnel Operation[edit | edit source]
The operation of an agrovoltaic agrotunnel integrates agricultural production with photovoltaic energy generation, aiming to optimize land use for both food and energy production. This system combines traditional agricultural practices within a tunnel structure that supports solar panels on its roof.
The primary objective of this dual-use approach is to enhance resource efficiency by harnessing solar energy while simultaneously cultivating crops beneath the panels. The structure of the agrotunnel is designed to maximize sunlight exposure to the solar panels, thereby generating renewable energy, while also providing a controlled environment for crop growth.
Agrotunnel cleaning procedure:FAST
Agrotunnel planting procedure:FAST
Agrotunnel harvesting procedures:FAST
Agrotunnel maintenance Procedures:FAST
Agrotunnel backup checklist:FAST
FAST Robotics[edit | edit source]
The project aims to design and implement an automated system for planting and harvesting crops in agrovoltaic agrotunnels and identifying and harvesting ripe strawberries in vertical farms using the Mirobot 6-Axis Robotic Arm. Agrovoltaic systems combine agricultural production with photovoltaic energy generation, maximizing land use efficiency. The Mirobot robotic arm will leverage advanced computer vision techniques and robotic manipulation to autonomously identify ripe, red strawberries and accurately harvest them, enhancing precision and efficiency in agricultural operations. This integrated system is expected to reduce labor costs, improve productivity, and minimize damage to the fruits, thereby increasing overall efficiency in both agrovoltaic and vertical farming environments.
Free Appropriate Sustainable Technology (FAST) Robotics
Constructed the BCN3D-Moveo independently, an open-source robotic arm, from scratch. Applied this robotic arm within the agrotunnel to automate the process of filling individual pots with coco coir and seeds, as well as to identify and harvest ripe red strawberries from the wall. This innovation reduces the need for human labor, allowing workers to focus on more valuable tasks. Use CuraLE to 3D print over forty large components to build robotics arm.
Publications[edit | edit source]
In progress.