Farming Application

Farming Application

This case is dedicated to a large quantity farmer (pigs, chickens, fish…) whose concern is to make his feeding system following a specified feeding profile. He'd also liked it to be easy editable with alarm and logging functionality.

Recipes Editor

Let's take a look at the farmer, who understands that the key to the successful growth of his stock lies in the correct feeding profile. So based on his experience he creates the feeding table that tells exactly how much feed should be given to attain the optimum weight and how their feed blend should be changing during the life cycle.


Often he would have a manual system that is prone to error and labour intensive. Fortunately new technology has been developed which can simplify the whole process and save time and effort. Multiple 'recipes' can be simply stored in internal memory and precisely followed every day, with the possibility of editing them at any time.

Logging (Storing) Process Information

The unit would also keep track of all operations, temperatures, alarms, and convey the feed to the point of feeding etc. All process data can be logged on the removable flash memory (up to 2 GB).

Alarm Messaging

Any event (radical changes in temperature, drop in feed storage level, etc.) can be associated with a descriptive message that will pop-up on the OCS display like 'Tank1 almost empty'. All alarm messages can be personalized to meet the needs of any customer.

SMS Maintenance

All Alarm messages can be sent directly to your cell phone. Multiple phone numbers can be preconfigured or made dynamic, so you can change the recipients from the level of your OCS screen.

Not to mention the advantage of monitoring the bulk feed storage level and reordering (via SMS) before it runs out.

Sample Hardware Configurations

All of the above can be achieved in a several different ways. Let's say our farmer is going to monitor:

  • 3 temperature levels
  • 2 storage tank levels
  • status of an emergency butto

and that he'll need to operate:

  • 10 feeding station valves
  • 2 conveyor belts
  • 2 ventilation fans

That gives us 1 DI, 14 DO, 2 AI and 3 Temp Inputs.

Here are the sample solutions:

1. Compact Controller, built-in I/O and remote temperature module

  • XLt model 114
  • GSM modem for SMS messaging
  • Smart Mod THM100 or RTD100 (depending on the temperature sensors used)

2. XL series controller and SmartMod I/O only

  • XL series OCS (XLe, XLt or XL6) model 112
  • GSM modem for SMS messaging
  • SmartMod THM100 or RTD100 (depending on the temperature sensors used)
  • SmartMod ADC107 or ADC120 (voltage/current analogue input)
  • 4 x SmartMod DIQ512 for Digital I/O

3. Most cost-effective controller with Remote I/O

  • XLe model 112
  • GSM modem for SMS messaging
  • SmartMod THM100 or RTD100 (depending on the temperature sensors used)
  • SmartMod ADC107 or ADC120 (voltage/current analogue input)
  • SmartMod DIQ512 for Digital Outputs
  • SmartStix DQM602 for 16 Relay Outputs

Cscape Program Example

Click here to download the Cscape configuration file (Cscape 9.10B or higher needed).

The file consists of:

  • hardware configuration form solution #1
  • Overview screen (Screen 1)
  • Recipes configuration (menu Program -> Recipes Editor)
  • Recipes Screen (Screen 2)
  • Datalog Configuration (menu Program -> Datalog Configuration…)
  • Alarm messages configuration (Screen Editor -> menu Config -> Alarm)
  • SMS configuration (menu Program -> Messaging -> SMS…)
  • SMS screen (Screen 3)
  • Code for handling SMS (Logic Modules -> Main Loop Modules -> SMS)
  • Code for handling Alarms (Logic Modules -> Main Loop Modules -> Alarms)

Summary

Presented example can work as a base and be easily expanded to suit bigger farming applications. Advantages of automated solution over manual approach are quite obvious: time, security and overall cost savings. All these are factors that cannot be overlooked by any professional farmer.