A Community-Based Capstone Design Project to Build an Automated Urban Greenhouse

Abstract

Over the past few years, the engineering programs at York College of Pennsylvania have added more community-based projects into the two-course capstone design sequence that all engineering majors take in their senior year. With capstone design already organized as a multi-disciplinary project-based learning course, it was a natural extension to develop opportunities for community-based projects. As a part of the initiative an automated urban greenhouse was designed, built, and delivered to a local city school to engage school students in sustainability and developing food awareness. A curriculum is being designed to include the greenhouse into the school activities. This paper discusses the process of including community-based projects into capstone projects involving a multidisciplinary student team. Expectations of the community-based project are presented. Detailed descriptions of the mechanical system, the electrical system, the sensor network, and the programmable logic controller are presented. System integration, on-site testing, and student outcomes assessment are also included.