A visualized, self-regulating, easily expandable and low-cost system, for simultaneous measuring and control of visible and infrared lighting, temperature, humidity and time duration of the above parameters’ values of a greenhouse or industrial environment, using VHDL and FPGAs

Abstract: We present here an FPGA-based system, capable of simultaneous measuring and control of visible and infrared lighting, temperature and humidity values of a greenhouse or industrial environment. The system uses DE10-Lite FPGA board with four sensors connected to it and in conjunction with the easy way of expanding both its software and hardware by adding more sensors, in order to cover larger areas, it is considered to be of low cost. All sensors and time values act as input. Sensors’ range values and time duration for each of them are initially set by the programmer. The program used in this work converts analog inputs to digital values and displays corresponding voltage measurements in seven-segment displays of the board. A series of processes is activated upon system is set to ON, in order to achieve checking and control of parameter values. Blue LEDs and corresponding control systems are activated if related sensors’ values become less than lower critical values set by programmer, while red LEDs and corresponding control systems are activated for sen- sors’ values overcoming upper critical values. Especially for visible light values, step motor for opening or closing cur- tains is also activated and FPGA’s board LEDs and buzzer connected to it are also ON, when upper critical value is exceeded. Yellow LEDs are activated for each parameter exceeding time set values. Finally an alarm level system turns on corresponding LEDs, depending on the number of parameter values that simultaneously exceed range values set by programmer.

Keywords: Sensors, Self-regulating system, FPGA, VHDL, Buzzer, LEDs