Design and Development of a Microcontroller-Based Control System for a Semi-Automatic Bean Sprout Cultivation Machine
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Abstract
The cultivation of high-quality bean sprouts is often hindered by inconsistent environmental control and hazardous chemical contamination. This research develops a closed-loop environmental control system, utilizing an Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller to actively manage the microclimate within a semi-automatic cultivation machine. The system integrates thermoelectric (Peltier) cooling to effectively dissipate accumulated metabolic heat, combined with a precision humidity control mechanism. Performance was evaluated in triplicate (n = 3) against traditional timer-based irrigation systems. Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05) demonstrated that the prototype successfully stabilized water temperature (22–25 °C) and relative humidity (80–90%) throughout the cultivation period. These optimal conditions led to a 31–65% increase in total net yield compared to traditional chemical-free methods. While this yield remains slightly lower than intensive commercial practices that rely on growth-accelerating chemicals, laboratory tests by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited facility confirmed undetectable levels of formaldehyde and sulfur dioxide. This study provides a novel engineering framework for chemical-free precision agriculture, demonstrating significant potential for enhancing food safety and reducing manual labor in commercial-scale production.
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