Development of a Microcontroller Based Automated Regulating System for Efficient Management of Poultry Operation

Abstract

In recent times, there has been a huge demand for protein sources in a developing country such as Nigeria due to its rapidly increasing population. Poultry, from which varieties of protein sources can be derived, offers one of the major solutions to this problem. Therefore, the need for poultry farmers to put in place measures to ensure a well-controlled and conducive environment to rear birds for maximum production and efficiency arises. This work designed and developed a microcontroller-based automated regulating system to manage poultry operations effectively. The major components employed in developing the embedded system include DHT 11 sensor, Arduino UNO microcontroller with ATMEGA 328P IC chip, MQ 135 sensor, float switch, Infrared (IR) proximity sensor, buzzer, lighting (DC) bulb, 60 W AC bulb, and exhaust fans. Using relevant design models and equations, circuit designs were implemented around the Arduino UNO microcontroller, the main element of the system's control unit. A performance test was conducted on the developed system. The test results revealed that all the embedded system's key units, including power supply, lighting, sensing, display, water, and feed level control units, were fully functional, and the overall system performance was satisfactory. Apart from being suitable and efficient for small-scale farmers to rear poultry birds, the developed automated poultry regulating system could be extended to train agricultural students on the basic rudiments such as feed, water, and environmental conditions requirements in poultry bird rearing.