A System for Remotely Monitoring and Controlling Temperature within an Egg Artificial Incubator

Abstract

According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, poultry meat is the leading contributor to global growth in total meat production. This growth is facilitated by the short production cycle of poultry, advancements in genetics, animal healthcare, feeding methods, breeding techniques, and improved environmental conditions, enabling producers to adapt quickly to market demands. Proper hatching practices are critical to maximizing the number of healthy chicks and minimizing their mortality rate. There are two primary methods of hatching: natural incubation, where hens incubate eggs by sitting on them, and artificial incubation, which uses incubators. In artificial incubation, monitoring and controlling key environmental factors, particularly temperature and humidity, are essential. Maintaining the incubator's temperature within an optimal range is crucial, with literature recommending a range of 37°C to 38°C and an ideal temperature of 37.8°C. This paper introduces a system for remotely monitoring and controlling temperature within an artificial incubator. The system integrates hardware and software based on the Internet of Things (IoT) framework. For this purpose, a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is designed to maintain the desired temperature, with temperature data stored in a database and accessible online. The proposed system offers a cost-effective yet highly efficient solution, primarily designed for small-scale hatcheries. With modifications, it can be adapted for broader agricultural applications, including greenhouses, silos, and stables. By contributing to digital agriculture, the system supports sustainable farming practices, which are essential for the future of agriculture.