Year 3 Project

10/03/2026 After completing the system testing, I began preparing the project poster required for the bench inspection. The poster summarises the aim of the project, the system design, hardware implementation, and the final results. 12/03/2026 I continued improving the poster layout and organising the content so that it clearly explains the development of the project from planning to implementation. 14/03/2026 The final task was to record a short demonstration video of the system for the bench inspection. The video shows the completed prototype and demonstrates the main functions of the automated aquarium maintenance system.

04/03/2026 With the hardware completed, I began testing the full system using the integrated code. Each subsystem was checked while running together, including temperature control, water level detection, feeding system, and pump operation. During testing I observed that all modules were functioning, but a few small adjustments were required in the code to improve the response of some components. 06/03/2026 Further testing was carried out to ensure that the temperature control system correctly activates the heater or fan depending on the sensor reading. The water pump control and feeding mechanism were also tested several times to verify reliable operation. Minor changes were made to improve the timing of certain actions and to ensure that the sensors provide stable readings. 08/03/2026 The final round of system testing was completed. All modules were operating correctly together, including sensor readings, relay control, pumps, and the feeding mechanism. At this stage the automat...

24/02/2026 I continued mounting the remaining components on the corkboard. The temperature sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and the cooling fan were positioned so that they could operate correctly when placed near the aquarium tank. 28/02/2026 By this stage, all hardware components were mounted and connected on the corkboard. The ESP32, relay module, sensors, pumps, and fan were fully wired and ready for integrated testing. This marks the completion of the hardware assembly stage of the project. From this point onward, my focus will be on testing the complete system to ensure that all modules work correctly together.

 15/02/2026 At this stage, all modules work individually. I have not integrated everything into one main code yet. Since the components are still on a breadboard setup, I decided to first build a proper mounting structure before full integration. 18/02/2026 I decided to use a corkboard as the base for the system.  20/02/2026 I started mounting the hardware components onto the corkboard. The relay module and ESP32 were fixed first since they are the main control units of my system. After that, the wiring from the sensors and actuators was arranged more neatly to reduce the chance of loose connections.

8/02/2026 February update was submitted. 9/02/2026 I had another meeting with my supervisor to update him on the current progress. I explained that the temperature control system, pump system, ultrasonic sensor, and servo feeder have all been tested individually and are functioning correctly. I also informed him that I reviewed and adjusted my schedule. Some work packages were originally given more time than needed, while others required additional testing time. Therefore, I redistributed the remaining time more efficiently, focusing on system integration and physical mounting. He was satisfied with the progress made so far and encouraged me to proceed with integration and final assembly. 10/02/2026 While reconnecting the pH sensor, I made a wiring mistake, and the sensor stopped responding. It is likely damaged and will need to be replaced. 

5/02/2026 I tested the servo motors for the feeding mechanism. I had two options: a larger 12V servo and a smaller 5V servo. The 12V servo was unnecessarily large for dispensing fish food. The 5V servo was compact and sufficient for rotating a small feeding container. The servo was powered from the 5V rail, grounded to the common ground, and the signal pin connected to GPIO 27. I programmed it to rotate to a specific angle and then return to its original position. Initially, there was slight jitter, which I suspect was due to power instability. After ensuring proper grounding and stable 5V supply, the movement became smoother.