RGB based sensor for semi-spherical light measurements

Abstract

Different light sources emit light in various directions in a different spectrum, making this a complex task in real application environments. In the case of a greenhouse, evaluation of spherical lighting must be carried out to understand how much power the plant is getting at the top, inter, and bottom layers. Part of the light is both absorbed and reflected by plant leaves, and the greenhouse elements themselves. Determination of received μmol amount from sunlight and/or artificial lighting is vital for plant growth and also the energy efficiency of the total greenhouse system. For best results, this parameter needs measurements over time by a specific sensor for this application. The article deals with a new design of the RGB light sensor -RGB sensor matrix in spherical form, where obtained raw data are processed on the controller and through communication network sent to the IoT database. The article deals with the initial measurement design, and tests for the proof of the concept and later overall discussion. The conclusion at the end is that such an approach can be applied for light parameter monitoring in greenhouse systems.