Entry No. 008
Junior (under 14)/ Senior (14 and above)
Senior (14 and above)
Category
6.2.1.1(3) Agriculture
Classification
C. combination
Country / Region Thailand
Name of Invention/Artwork Grasshopper Incubator Automatic Machine
Outline of the entry
A grasshopper egg incubator, measuring 40 × 60 × 30 cm, was developed with an automated control system capable of efficiently managing soil temperature and humidity. The system continuously monitors environmental conditions, activating fans or heating elements when the temperature deviates from the optimal range, and operating water pumps or dehumidifiers according to humidity levels. Real-time data is transmitted to the Blynk platform and logged in Google Sheets every 30 minutes, ensuring stable and continuous environmental control. Results indicated that the internal temperature remained stable at an average of 30°C, with no significant temporal variation (R² = 0.0113). The average humidity was 44%, with an extremely low correlation to time (R² = 0.0019). In terms of incubation performance, traditional farming methods required an average of 18.00 ± 1.79 days for hatching, whereas the incubator reduced the hatching period to 11.67 ± 1.37 days, representing a 35.17% decrease. The average mass of newly hatched grasshoppers using the incubator was 25.95 ± 0.02 grams, showing no statistically significant difference compared to conventional hatching methods.
Characteristics of the entry
The world is currently facing critical challenges, including food shortages, the difficulty of achieving sustainable food production, and the environmental impact of traditional agriculture (FAO, 2013). Livestock farming consumes significant resources and contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions. As the global population continues to grow, the need for sustainable alternative food sources becomes increasingly urgent. Edible insects, especially grasshoppers, have emerged as a promising solution. They are rich in protein, essential amino acids, healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins, while requiring fewer resources than conventional livestock (Blake, 2017; Thidarat, 2020). For instance, Locusta migratoria provides 27.6 g of protein per 100 g, surpassing pork and chicken, with lower fat content (Nantaya, Pimpron, Piyanun, & Penpayom, 2005). The global edible insect market was valued at approximately USD 1.63 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach over USD 9.6 billion by 2030, driven by the demand for sustainable proteins and reduced environmental impacts (Meticulous Research, 2023). Thailand, particularly Kalasin Province, leads in grasshopper farming but still exports only 5% of its production (FAO, 2021; Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, 2021). Technological improvements, particularly in hatching efficiency, are critical for expanding production capacity. This project aims to develop an automated grasshopper egg incubator that effectively controls key environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, to enhance hatching rates. Utilizing robotics and sensor technology, the developed incubator serves as a prototype for future applications in sustainable agriculture, supporting both domestic and international food security.
Demonstration details
The device serves to … The operation of the internal system of the grasshopper egg incubator begins when the machine is started. The ESP-8266 board will start receiving data from the capacitive soil moisture sensor and the DS18B20 soil temperature sensor. If the values of air temperature,air humidity, or soil moisture deviate from the preset values, the ESP-8266 board will control the internal devices of the incubator to maintain temperature and humidity within the set range. The fan will spin continuously whenever the machine is operating to ensure constant
air circulation inside. Additionally, there is an LCD or OLED display screen to show information regarding temperature, humidity, and the various operating statuses of the incubator. The automatic control system manages the environmental conditions by first checking the temperature. The system then makes decisions based on the measured temperature values: if the temperature exceeds 35°C, the system activates the fan to dissipate heat; if the temperature drops below 30°C, the system turns on a heating lamp to raise the temperature. Next, the system checks the soil moisture. The operating parameters are set as follows: if the soil moisture exceeds 60%, the system turns on the lamp to reduce moisture; if the soil moisture falls below 40%, the system activates the water pump to increase moisture. If the moisture level is between 40% and 60%, the system takes no action, as it is considered optimal. This system also continuously records and transmits data, sending real-time temperature and humidity information to the Blynk platform for instant monitoring and logging the data into Google Sheets every 30 minutes.
Other notes about the entry (if any)
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Information on patent, utility model, trademark, etc. application
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Number of Team Members
2
Student
Master Natpawin Suntornpakdee April 23, 2008 nutpawin.tonkar@gmail.com
Master Thanpisit Krasawatch November 16, 2007 46695@kalasinpit.ac.th