The Growbot is a controlled closed ecosystem where pupils can grow crops under controlled conditions in the classroom and where the growth conditions of the plants (light, water, nutrition, temperature, CO2) are programmed, monitored and controlled. Hence, the closed ecosystem can be viewed as a robotic system with optimization of the sensor-actuator control to provide optimal automatic control of growth of plants. The programs / recipes can developed for the Growbot by the pupils, exchanged between the pupils, and experimented with by the pupils in the classroom to learn about growth, food, taste, STEM, etc.
"“For decades, we have used inspiration from biological systems to create our robots and interactive technology. It is very interesting that we are now able to turn this picture around by using robotics to create the living systems and optimize their growth conditions in the closed system that the tabletop Growbot represents”"
Prof. Henrik H. Lund
In the Growbot Universe project, the Center for Playware will further design and develop the Growbot for production, and develop a user-friendly, playful software universe for the development of growth recipes.
“For decades, we have used inspiration from biological systems to create our robots and interactive technology. It is very interesting that we are now able to turn this picture around by using robotics to create the living systems and optimize their growth conditions in the closed system that the tabletop Growbot represents”, says Professor Henrik Hautop Lund. “This innovative use of robotics opens up new perspectives for green growth and urban farming.”
The Growbot Universe project builds upon the Nordea Foundation funded Ha(c)k dit grønt project and will run in the years 2020-2023.