Internet+AR Smart Fish Tank: Easy Fish Care

The pet fish market has a very high share and is growing year by year, especially in southern regions like Guangdong; at the same time, we have identified many problems in pet fish keeping. Our work is a solution proposed to address the issues faced by users in their daily lives regarding pet fish care, utilizing relatively simple methods to achieve the desired functions.

Project Framework Diagram

In response to the current traditional fish tank’s low networking level, weak real-time monitoring ability of aquatic environments, and limited playability, the Xiaobai Smart Team from the College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering at Shenzhen University has designed and developed a smart fish tank system that integrates augmented reality and internet technology, featuring dynamic landscaping and remote real-time monitoring.

This system is based on TI’s MSP430 as the main control core, CC3200 as the Wi-Fi transmission communication module, designed and manufactured a controllable feeding device and electric water change mechanism, integrating temperature measurement module, distance measurement module, and oxygenation module, and establishing a terminal server to achieve remote control of feeding, water changing, temperature measurement, and oxygenation via the web.

Additionally, the system also uses TI’s Beaglebone Black as a multimedia platform, designing and manufacturing a controllable camera platform to achieve real-time remote video monitoring of the fish tank; at the same time, it combines TI’s latest DLP LightCrafter Display 2000 EVM platform, improving the structure of the fish tank through optical path design, integrating micro-projection technology into the dynamic landscaping of the fish tank, using augmented reality to achieve diversity in fish tank landscaping, creating an AR effect on the fish tank that attracts a large audience and provides a visual impact, enhancing both playability and aesthetic appeal.

TI’s MSP430 Control Module

TI’s CC3200 Wi-Fi Module

TI’s DLP Projection Module

Project Features: Easy to Operate, Cost-Effective, Full-Featured, Intelligent, Reliable, Rich in Playability and Aesthetic Appeal, with Significant Market Application and Promotion Value.

Mr. Douglas Phillips, Global University Program Director at Texas Instruments (TI), personally visited our exhibition area to listen to our product introduction. Among all university exhibits, the Xiaobai Smart Team’s work attracted particularly high attention, and all control systems in this design work used TI development boards!

In March 2017, the project was initiated. Four sophomore automation students, united by common interests, formed the “Xiaobai Smart” team, hoping to challenge themselves through the National College Student IoT Design Competition, design practical and innovative works, and achieve self-transformation from beginner “Xiaobai Engineer” to qualified engineer.

March 2017 Project initiated, “Xiaobai Smart” team established;

April 2017 Topic selection confirmed, registered for the competition;

April-July 2017 Designed and completed the first generation work “Smart Fish Tank Based on CC3200”;

July 2017 Passed the preliminary review;

August 2017 Participated in the East China regional finals in Shanghai, won “Special Award” to advance to the national finals;

August-September 2017 Upgraded and developed the first generation work, completed the second generation work “Internet + AR Smart Fish Tank”;

September 2017 Participated in the national finals in Wuxi, won “National Second Prize” and “Best Popularity Award”.

Daily Work Photo

From March to September’s finals, every member of the “Xiaobai Smart” team experienced a lot, truly achieving a transformation. “We encountered many problems mid-way; staying up all night became a common occurrence for us,” said team leader Zhang Chunsheng. During the finals, it was also the time when unexpected situations occurred the most; team members actively faced and solved problems, ultimately preparing emergency components with the help of teachers and classmates to resolve the issues.

Team leader Zhang Chunsheng said: “We are very grateful to TI for their hardware support, providing such an excellent competition platform that allowed us to engage with various universities in a strong competitive atmosphere, refining our skills, especially thanking the TI University Program for their strong support and assistance in technology and hardware platforms.”

Team Photo (Left: Lan Changzhao, Second Left: Zhang Chunsheng, Right: Luo Zihong, Second Right: Ji Zefeng)