Earth-based Autonomous Farming Facility
EDEN-ISS 2.0 is an autonomous Martian farming facility built by 3D printing to defend against radiation and promote natural cultivation. It is planned to be deployed in Antarctica in 2032, following the same geographical location as the EDEN-ISS 1.0. And it will be used as a benchmark simulation for the future Martian exploration depicted as EDEN-ISS 3.0, where a shielded area of two circular structures are integrated through each other.
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Project Type
Academic Case Study
Solo Project in the context of AI / Machine Learning
Timeline & Focus
2022 Q3-Q4(14 weeks)
Scientific Research, Habitat Deployment, and System Design
Project Instructor
Melodie Yashar
Tools Used
Blender
Figma
Project Value
Future life on Mars will likely begin as small “base camps” for short-term and temporary expeditions, and over time expand into small international settlements with shared infrastructure and resources, however, the challenges of going to the Mars parallel many large-scale human health and sustainability challenges here on Earth. My project is a research-intensive dive into schematic plans and concepts for Martian development and a thorough investigation of the sustainable creation of dual-use infrastructure benefiting Earth and space within an extreme environment on Earth.
SDGs + Advanced Technology
How can we bridge the knowledge gap and integrate multiple variables to land a feasible concept that help verify the future potential of Martian exploration? In particular, how can we develop a habitat + human-computer system to support the future agricultural autonomy on Mars?
Problems
1. Apply synchronous lab data captured by AI-powered electronics to earth-based agricultural systems.
2. Verify the conditions to grow fresh and edible produce with Martian soil and Mars Regolith water extractor under a highly-emulated mimic crop growing environment.
3. Enlarge the accessibility and inclusivity of the application layer powered by advanced technology.
Crew Members
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EDEN-ISS 1.0
Site
One notable feature of the EDEN ISS greenhouse is that it is an almost entirely closed system. All the resources needed to cultivate plants come from the plants themselves – air, nutrients, water, and energy(without soil), with optimized light and carbon dioxide concentration and using a closed water circuit. The project focuses on cultivating plants with high water content and, therefore, cannot be stored for a long time without suffering significant losses in quality(e.g., tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, and herbs).
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P1. Site Zoning
Service
Dual Wavelength Imagery captured by HD cameras automatically store data locally and transfer data to the Germany Control Center for detailed image processing and advanced detection. And those verified data is transmitted back to the greenhouse so that scientists can further conduct studies to make adjustments.
P2. Service System
Martian Regolith
According to AES, scientists have established that Mars is covered in a layer of oxidized iron, which makes up the dust and rocks, and gives the planet its signature rust-red color. Comparatively, soil on earth is made of many things; organic material, minerals, water, air and bacteria. Earth’s soil is made up of about 45 percent minerals. The soil on Mars however is almost entirely minerals, with very little water and no organic matter or air in the same sense that earth soil has air. More interestingly, the soil composition on Mars is fairly similar to volcanic soil from earth. But the nutrients in Mars’s soil are the right ones that plants need but there is not enough of them to sustain the life. Therefore, Mars soil would have to be enriched with fertilizer and fresher water, as the water on Mars is much too salty for horticulture. Also frequent wind storms block natural light on Mars, so artificial lights would have to be available to grow plants there. Scientists’ best bet would be to construct an Earth-like greenhouse on the surface.
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P3. Martian Regolith
Water Extraction From Mars
According to NASA, the water extraction techniques could be used on Mars. And it has proposed four aspects to prove the concept.
The Martian regolith, the layer of loose material covering the planet's surface, contains significant amounts of water, which can be considered a source of water for future Mars missions.
Using microwave-assisted extraction to extract water from the Martian regolith involves heating the regolith with microwaves, which causes the water to vaporize and can be collected through condensation. (tested effective in laboratory experiments)
Using extraction methods to extract water from the Martian regolith involves using sulfuric acid to dissolve the regolith and release the water. (also tested effective in laboratory experiments)
There are indeed certain challenges, such as the need to operate in a low-pressure and low-gravity environment and design specialized equipment supporting these conditions.
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P4. Outside View Of Enclosure In Test Chamber (Microwave Method)
P5. Mars Atmosphere Chemistry Simulation Chamber (Chemistry Method)
Case Study: Skyscraper Regenerates Farming Soil
The importance of the Earth’s soil lies in its ability to store carbon and nitrous oxide, as well as hosting complex and diverse ecosystems containing thousands of microorganisms, which play a crucial part in the ecosystem. The root system of fungi, transforms organic waste into nutrients, binds carbon to the soil, and binds the soil together, making it resilient to heavy rain and floods. This project proposes a rehabilitation of our soil by using mycelium to transform waste products from the agricultural industry into highly nutritious and healthy soil, thereby repairing the lost chain of events in every ecosystem. The high-rise shape uses a minimal footprint which allows the farmers to use their land during the rehabilitation while simultaneously maximizing the number of nutrients produced. It stands as a machine for ecosystem recovery.
P6. Soil Case Study Showcase
Case Study: Mars Science City
According the BusinessInsider, a $140 million prototype of a Mars colony is being planned for a desert near Dubai. And attached are what it looks like. The city is expected to include a giant greenhouse to test agricultural techniques, as well as laboratories designed to explore how to store food, generate energy, and get water. The greenhouse plan calls for the use of an agricultural technique called vertical farming. Instead of natural sunlight, crops would grow under LEDs on stacked trays in a climate-controlled environment. The ceiling would be made of materials that can block solar radiation (which is stronger on Mars than on Earth, due to its lack of protective atmosphere). The walls would be 3D-printed.
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P7. Mars Science City Concept
Case Study: The First Space Salad
In 2015, fresh leafy greens were on the menu for NASA astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) for the very first time. They had been produced hydroponically on the ISS—the result of decades of work on alternative methods of cultivating food that would be viable in a low-gravity environment. According to the food scientists at NASA, one of the significant challenges to astronaut health and well-being on lengthy missions through space is maintaining enough food variety for a balanced, nutritional diet. Not only does this food need to last for extensive periods of time, but it also must maintain its nutritional value for that duration. Hydroponic farming is an exciting solution to this problem, growing fresh pick-and-eat produce that can fill an individual’s dietary needs, as well as providing some rare comfort. (NASA Kloeris, 2016)
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P8. Space Colony Concept
Technology: Computer Imaging & Agricultural Drones
Computer Imaging is the form of imaging mainly involves using the sensor cameras that are placed in various corners of the farm to generate images that go through digital image processing. Quality control, sorting and grading, and irrigation monitoring are the three major application scenarios, in which plant growth and health can be monitored synchronously. Computer imaging can also be used to analyze soil composition and moisture content, and those data can be used to optimize irrigation and fertilizer application, which can improve crop yields and reduce waste.
There are two types of drones: Ground-based and Aerial-based. Those agricultural drones can be used to create high-resolution maps and be equipped with sensors that can monitor crop health and growth. The maps can provide detailed information about topography, soil composition, and other environmental factors that can affect crop growth, while the data monitored can be used to adjust irrigation and fertilizer application rates, as well as to detect potential pest or disease outbreaks.
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P9. The Application Of Computer Imaging
P10. Agricultural Drone
What If?
We can utilize all those techniques and formalize a feasible and simulated concept to support the next agricultural breakthrough on Mars, mainly exploring the possibility on soils and water.
Design Proposal
First Iteration: Structures & Functions
01 | Structural Deployment (3.0)
02 | Program Utilization
03 | Service System
Final Deliverables: Styling, Lighting, Elaboration, Narration
01 | Program Utilization
02 | Center Control
03 | Synchronous Tracking Dashboard (External)
Outcome & Impact
The development of EDEN-ISS 2.0 could lead to improved sustainable food production in harsh and extreme environments on both Earth and Mars, providing significant implications for long-term space missions and eventual human colonization of the red planet.
The secondary focus on service systems powered by agentive technology could lead to improved efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in providing essential services such as power, water, and waste management.
Highly praised by guests enrolled in NASA, JPL, and Caltech, working on design and aerospace disciplines. The concept itself have pointed out a potential direction for future Martian missions.
