Protótipo de alimentador automático para a larvicultura da tilápia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Abstract

The food automation provides increased productivity, feed efficiency, uniformity of lots, uniformity in the sexual inverse and the best performance. This study aimed to develop a low cost automatic feeder, by a microcontrolled platform called ARDUINO UNO®, which was able to provide installments feed previously programmed. To the prototype development in question was used basically: flotation and support structure, feed tank and screw conveyor, motor and electronic systems. The support system was deployment with the use of plastic flooring (HDPE-high density polyethylene). The sides of the plastic floor with the aid of clamps were attached PVC tubes with the float feature. The fiberglass feed tank was developed with useful capacity to store five kilograms nine hundred and twenty grams of powder feed with output to screw conveyor, the screw conveyor was machined in nylon material, and is in turn surrounded by a PVC tuber. To drive the screw conveyor it was connected to an electric motor with 12-volt operating voltage rating accopled to a gear unit based on mechanical system called gear motor. It is worth noting that the electronic power system uses a 12-volt rechargeable battery of supplying capacity of 7 Ah, high to necessary to the operation of 14 days. The programming language used was the C language, by Arduino 1.0.3 software. The equipment in question showed satisfactory results in terms of its functionality. The feed frequency became precise in the category of time and quantity since this is an automated system and not depending on a person to handle the fish feeding, since the human being in turn is often inaccurate. Another important point to establish is that the equipment allows changing in the programmatically feed frequency. The developed automatic feeder emphasizes the importance of investing in aquaculture technologies to optimize the cost and improving the feed system in the hatchery.