A wireless communication system for automated greenhouse operations

Abstract

The objective of this research was to develop a wireless system enabling communication between a Central Control Unit and four robots that worked in a model greenhouse. The wireless system could be applied to control multiple robots in fruit picking, pesticide spraying, and resource transportation. Two of the robots were designated as “work-robots”, traveling in work ways between plants. The other two “assist-robots”, moving in two passage ways, had the task of carrying the work-robots to designated work ways. The results showed that the success rate of system operations under varying conditions was consistently above 95%. The developed wireless control system has shown potential for application in real life greenhouse operations and as an educational tool.