DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SMART FISH FEEDER FOR FISH PONDS

• Main Author: Ananda Sanbari, Dwi
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/73879
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Feeding fish based on human feelings or estimates has led to a wastage of fish feed of up to approximately 75%. Feeding practices that do not meet the needs of the fish, whether overfeeding or underfeeding, also create new problems in fish farming. Factors such as water temperature, turbidity level, dissolved oxygen content, and ammonia level also need to be considered in fish feeding. Therefore, this research aims to provide a solution in the form of biomass-based fish feeding to reduce wastage of fish feed. To address this problem, the author aims to develop a solution in the form of biomass-based fish feeding, where the amount of feed is adjusted according to the total average mass of the fish. This method reduces the wastage of unused feed and improves feeding efficiency. Additionally, the author designs and implements a sensor and actuator system connected to a microcontroller to detect the remaining feed mass in the container and control the feeding process. This paper discusses the design of a device that aims to provide biomass-based feeding in tilapia fish ponds. The device design consists of mechanical and electrical components. In the mechanical part, the overall design of the device is created using the Blender application for 3D modeling. Despite facing some difficulties due to a lack of previous experience, the 3D design of the device is successfully completed, including its dimensions. In the electrical part, a suitable type of mass sensor is selected, and a half-bridge load cell is chosen for easier implementation in the device. As for the actuator system, a high-torque stepper motor capable of 360-degree rotation is used to dispense feed, along with a high RPM DC motor to distribute the feed. The implementation process begins with the fabrication of the device base through welding workshops, followed by the 3D printing of the device casing. In the electrical implementation, the mass sensor is placed on the device base using a feed tray to detect the remaining feed mass. Meanwhile, in the actuator system, the stepper motor is used to drive the spiral component that dispenses feed from the feed container, and the DC motor with a propeller is used to distribute the feed into the pond. The implementation results of the 3D device design, sensor system, and actuator system are presented through pictures and photos. iv The outcome of this final project is a device that reduces the wastage of tilapia fish feed, which previously resulted in a wastage of up to 75% using conventional feeding methods. With the use of this device, feeding is performed three times a day with a feed amount of 3% of the total fish biomass. The total fish biomass is calculated using a second-degree polynomial equation, resulting in an error of 2.7%. Taking into account a feed dispensing error of 1.18%, the feeding efficiency of the device reaches 96.15%. Thus, the initial fish feed wastage of 75% is reduced to 3.85%. Although there is one specification that has not been met regarding the load capacity of the feed container, it does not affect the solution to the problem addressed in this final project. This is because the specification is not directly related to the problem being solved in this project. Throughout the process of completing this final project, the author gained knowledge about the use of 3D design software, specifically Blender, to create a 3D design of the device. Additionally, the author learned about the use of a load cell mass sensor with a full Wheatstone bridge, an HX711 module as an amplifier and ADC for reading the load cell signals, as well as the use of stepper motors and DC motors as actuator systems.