LUCA

While working a desk job, my mind constantly buzzed with design ideas — rough sketches of structures and speculative forms spilled out onto whatever I could find: scraps of paper, napkins, the margins of old notebooks. Once I had the beginnings of a concept, the real momentum kicked in. A BMX frame, a pallet, and a fence post became the unlikely core of a structural prototype.

I adopted a trellis style system that could rotate allowing me to position and move the plant medium allowing equal distribution of light. This was the most challenging aspect of the design as 3 degrees of rotation were needed. One for the water pipe connecting to the BMX hubs, the treliis and the pipes containing the plants. To enable full rotation and water access, a custom shaft with a bearing coupling was integrated into the fence post.

A balanced blend of red and blue LEDs was employed to provide the optimal wavelength for plant growth. A movable bracket was affixed to the fence post, offering convenient access for tending to the plants on the trellis as required. Modular 3D-printed fixtures were incorporated to securely anchor the support in position.

LUCA is equipped with an array of sensors to monitor key parameters essential for optimum plant health. From pH levels to temperature, room humidity, water level, and flow rate, every aspect of the growing environment is tracked in real-time. Through seamless MQTT integration, users can remotely access, control and oversee the hydroponic setup from anywhere, anytime. LUCA can give personalised text notifications to keep users informed about crucial updates, from water replenishment alerts to deviations in temperature or pH levels. An LCD display gives real-time visualisation of vital parameters, allowing users to monitor the health and status of the hydroponic system at a glance.