Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region 02
Schools Division of Cauayan City
CAUAYAN CITY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Turayong, Cauayan City, Isabela

AUTONOMOUS MONITORING PIONEER FOR

HABITATS, INFRASTRUCTURES AND
TERRARIUMS FOR REHABILITATION, INFLOW
AND TOPOGRAPHY EFFECT

An Investigatory Project

Submitted as a fulfillment of requirement for

Research 10

Submitted by:
JUSTIN REIGN AGUINALDO
DARLENE ANINGAT
QUEENCY GALAPIA
GLAIZA SABOLBORO
SHAN LUMABAN
RIA MERCADO
ACE REBOCA
Researchers

FILMA M. MAXIMO
Project Adviser
 ABSTRACT
The researchers conducted this study to know the full potential of applying robotic

equipment in local marine facilities. As standardized levels of keeping a healthy marine

environment are usually overlooked by marine personnel.

The results of this research were obtained by setting up a prototype marine center and

programming its’ needs through an Arduino Mega board, which is programmed using a C-Based

language.

The robot was assembled with the following steps: The robot has a wooden frame that

houses a fiber glass aquarium. To the left side of the wooden frame, is the outer part of the cage

which is the portion of the microcontrollers, the Arduino Mega microcontroller which controls the

sensor and motors, and the ESP32 microcontroller which controls the Internet of Things (IoT)

website. Additionally, the robot’s energy source is based on a solar-powered system. Furthermore,

there are also mechanisms available for auto-feeding and filtration of air and water.

Data showed that the robot fulfilled its’ purpose to aid marine centers. Due to this result,

the null hypothesis was rejected. Based on findings, it was found out that there is a significant

relationship on the increase of fish activity and data gathering. This implies that the production of

robotic equipment based on this research will prove to be a better solution to aid the marine

personnel of local marine facilities in maintaining the organism’s habitats.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Abstract ii

Table of Contents iii

I. INTRODUCTION

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS USED

A. Materials

B. Tools and Equipment

C. Methodology

a. Flow Chart

b. Constructing the Robot

c. Assembling the Robot

d. Finalizing the Robot’s Structure

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

IV. SCOPE AND DELMITATION

V. CONCLUSION

VI. ACKNOLEDGEMENT

VII. REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

A recent report from www.philstar.com showed that over 605 metric tons of tilapia have

died after being hit by a fish kill in Taal Lake. At a farmgate price of P71 per kilo of tilapia, potential

income loss is estimated at P42.9 million. It is not a known fact that as we humans fight for oxygen

as we live, the organisms surrounding us fight for it too. Ecological Hypoxia, or simply put as

oxygen depletion, is a phenomenon that occurs in aquatic environments as dissolved oxygen, or

molecular oxygen dissolved in the water, becomes reduced in concentration to a point where it

becomes sparse to aquatic organisms in a system.

Additionally, in local marine facilities, most of the system levels are also below

standardized levels. This results to a lower-yield is fisheries and low production outcomes. There

are a lot of factors affecting a marine environment. A healthy marine environment keeps the

turbidity, pH, and dissolved oxygen levels balanced. Furthermore, it also manages the amount of

waste in check. These factors are usually overlooked by several personnel.

The following null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance;

1. There is no significant relationship between the work time of human

personnel and the current statues of the habitat.

2. There is no significant difference on the efficiency of the robotic equipment

in terms of the following parameters; (a) project design; (b) security and safety

of the project; (c) assembly of the project; (d) resistance to stress of the project;

(e) workability of the project; (f) strength and consistency of the project; (g)

portability of the project.

This project can greatly benefit the society in terms of supporting 3 of the 17 Sustainable

Development Goals, namely goals number 6, 7 and 14. These goals give their attention towards

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clean water and sanitation, renewable energy, and life below water. Additionally, this project also

covers the application of 21st century technology to normal facilities in hopes of bringing them

toward the Philippines’ goal of IT21 which plans to make Philippines Asia’s Knowledge Center.

In addition, the usage of such robotic equipment can answer many of the world’s

work efficiency demands since the robotic equipment will work autonomously and will continue

to work according to its’ program. Changes will only be seen once the programming is altered.

The researchers aim to solve the emerging environmental and technological problems of

the society in connection to society’s demand for better facilities. Hence, the purpose of this project

is to provide a solution to the growing problem of standardized marine centers through the aid of

robotic equipment.

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 MATERIALS AND METHOD

A. MATERIALS

The materials used in the construction of the robotic equipment until the completion of the

said equipment consists of the following:

 Wood

 Fiber Glass

 Turbidity Sensor

 Temperature Probe

 Dissolved Oxygen Probe

 Motors

 Arduino Mega Board

 Solar Panel

 Motorcycle Batteries

 Solar Panel Fuse

 Breadboard

 Jumper Wires

 Multi-Function Pump

B. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

 Jumper Wires

 Screwdriver Set

 Cutting Tools

 Hammer

 Nails

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 Hand Drill

 Lead Iron

 Scissors

 Copper Wires

 Soldering Iron

 Screws

 Nails

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C. METHOD

FLOW CHART

Testing of the
Gathering of Data
Robotic
Materials Gathering
Equipment

Finalization of
Preparation of Analyzing the
the Robotic
Materials Gathered Data
Equipment

Assembling of Construction
the Robotic of the Robotic
Equipment Equipment

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CONSTRUCTING THE MACHINE

The researchers constructed the framework of the robotic equipment following the given

process: The researchers cut wood to form a 4x2 long frame which would house a fiber glass

aquarium made to fit inside. The researchers nailed the wood down and secured them in place using

zip ties to form the frame. The fiber glass aquarium also measured 4x2 feet, however, now with a

depth of 5 inches. These parts were stuck together using silicon with the aid of a silicon gun. The

equipment was then equipped with a turbidity sensor, pH level sensor, temperature sensor and

dissolved oxygen sensor.

The dissolved oxygen sensor is a passive sensor that detects the current oxygen level of

the water environment it’s in. Although this sensor is known to detect the current oxygen, it can

also determine the current salinity of the water it is placed in.

As stated earlier, excess waste is also a main contributor in oxygen depletion. These waste

also take up space, causing oxygen depletion. DFRobot’s turbidity sensor is used to measure the

current turbidity, or cloudiness present in the water.

Cooler water tend to carry more oxygen than warmer water. If it is detected that the water

is warm, the robotic equipment will automatically introduce cooler water to the environment. Such

is the process if ever that the robotic equipment would be applied to a large-scale project. For the

fulfillment of this condition, DFRobot’s temperature probe was used.

The ultrasonic sensor is used to detect the current water level. Water levels are important

because they also play a big role in introducing oxygen level. Water levels also contribute to oxygen

depletion. The usage of an ultrasonic sensor is then introduced to provide help for this problem.

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ASSEMBLING THE MACHINE

The robotic equipment was assembled through the following steps: The researchers placed

the fiber glass aquarium inside the wooden frame and began sticking the boards down on the left

portion of the frame. The solar panel was attached on the uppermost part of the equipment and the

battery were placed on the side. The watering system were placed separately on its own frame.

FINALIZING THE MACHINE

In finalizing the product, the researchers connected all the wires together, finally

programming them to fit the standards of the prototype. A final test was run before the project was

finished.

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 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this section, the data are presented in the form of a table. The following table shows

the testing results when the robotics equipment was run.

SENSOR FUNCTION TEST TEST VALUE RESULT

CONDITION

Distance Sensor Water level in IF (DS>=25cm) DS = 25 cm Pump Water

the Aquarium then water DS = 26 cm Pump Water
pumps to release DS = 24 cm No Action
ELSE no action
Temperature Temperature of IF (TS>=21C) TS = 21C Release & Refill
Sensor water in the then Release Water
Aquarium Water & Refill TS = 24C Release & Refill
Water based in Water
required TS = 19C No Action
Distance
ELSE No Action
Turbidity Sensor Turbidity of IF (TBS>=9) TBS = 7 Release & Refill
water in the then Release and Water
Aquarium Refill Water TBS = 8 Release & Refill
ELSE No Action Water
TBS = 9 No Action
Dissolved Dissolved IF (DO>=9) and DO = 10 No Action
Oxygen Sensor oxygen in water (DO>=10) No
Action DO = 8 Release & Refill
ELSE Release Water
and Refill Water
Servo-DC Motor Feeding Evert 10 Every 10 Release Fish
Mechanism seconds, open seconds Feeds
feeder

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 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The produced robotic equipment is a self-feeding, self-refilling of water, data-

gatherer of turbidity, temperature, and oxygen levels, solar-powered monitoring system for fishes.

It relays all the data it gathered to a website that is developed by the researchers.

1. DISTANCE SENSOR – The distance sensor will measure out the current water level

of the water. Due to the high heat of the sun, especially observed here in our region,

water evaporate and the water has a higher temperature. If the detected dissolved

oxygen is any value lower than 6, the robotic equipment will release water based on

the set water level and refill the tank to gain the normal dissolved oxygen and ideal

temperature.

2. TEMPERATURE SENSOR – When the water temperature is observed and the

robotic equipment has detected that, it will send the data to the IoT database. This will

then trigger the work of the auto-watering system.

3. AUTO-WATERING SYSTEM – When it is detected that the water temperature is

high, the introduction of cold water will begin. This can help because when the water

movement is introduced, oxygen will also enter the tank.

4. DISSOLVED OXYGEN SENSOR – Dissolved oxygen refers to the level of free

oxygen compound present in water and other liquids. This is what underwater living

organisms use to live. A dissolved oxygen level that is too high or too low can harm

aquatic life and affect water quality. When the robotic equipment detects that the

current oxygen level is too high, it would release water and along with that release the

excess waste that is present.

5. TURBIDITY SENSOR – When it is detected that the water is cloudy, which means

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 that there is a number of fish waster and uneaten food, it will send data to the robotic

equipment’s main controller to release dirty water and refill clean water to neutralize

the current levels of dissolved oxygen, temperature, and water level.

6. EXTERNAL WATER FILTER – Because of excess waste, which also takes up

space in the tank and will cause oxygen depletion, the data that is sent by the turbidity

sensor, the water filter will the work out to filter out the excess aster along with the

introduction of new water to the tank.

7. AUTO-FEEDING – Although excess waste is also a problem, it can’t be helped that

the fish will only eat what they want to eat. However, following this concept, the user

won’t be always be there to give food to the fish. Thus, the concept of auto-feeding is

introduced.

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