The team of UMM students who designed the smart pond. (Photo: Istimewa) |
Lobster cultivation has a high attraction in Indonesia. Not only adults, baby lobsters are also interested by many people. However, lately lobster cultivation is still rarely done. People still rely on natures in obtaining the fish. In order to increase lobster commodity in Indonesia, a team of Mechanical Engineering students at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) designed an optimization tool for seawater lobster cultivation called Smart Pond.
Dhia Balqis, one of the team representatives, said that the main problem in lobster cultivation in Indonesia is the issue of mariculture. Call it the use of potential aquaculture land that has not been optimal. In addition, the production system and traceability of lobster cultivation have not been handled properly.
"In our opinion, there is not enough supporting infrastructure in the lobster cultivation area. Some of these problems have triggered new problems such as the illegal sale of lobster seeds and corruption in the sale and purchase of lobsters," said the student from Bekasi.
Regarding how the Smart Pond works, Dhia explained that the tool can set up aquaculture ponds according to the lobster's natural habitat in the sea. When installed, this tool will automatically adjust the indicators or parameters of the pool as in sea water.
“ In case a pond has a pH of 9 while lobsters need a pH of 7-8. It will be set automatically by the tool. During the two and a half months of designing this tool, our team has arrived at the sensor assembly and programming of the Smart Pond,” said Dhia.
Interestingly, this one tool was included in the Student Creativity Program-Karsa Cipta (PKM-KC) and successfully passed the funding stage last May. In designing the Smart Pond, Dhia was accompanied by four other members, they are Zidni Ilman Nafian, Fia Sulis Setiani, Doliansyah, and Andre Juan Pradipa. Currently they are finalizing the prototype of the Smart Pond. In the future, her team hopes that this tool can solve the problems and challanges in increasing sea crayfish aquaculture.
“I wish in advanced, this innovation can be used by all layer of society and can boost the country's economy. In addition, I also plan to compile journals or articles to publish Smart Ponds in order to support research on the application of technology in education," she said. (shi/wil)