ICGST AIML-11 Conference, Dubai, UAE, 12-14 April 2011

The Advantages of Fuzzy Control Over Traditional Control System in

Greenhouse Automation

Mehmet Nuri ÖDÜK and Novruz ALLAHVERDİ

Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
mnurioduk@selcuk.edu.tr, noval@selcuk.edu.tr
http://www.selcuk.edu.tr

Abstract Greenhouses where microclimate created in

The purpose of the study is to present the
advantages of the Fuzzy Control over Traditional
Control System in Greenhouse Automation and
to design an appropriate Fuzzy Expert System.
Temperature, air humidity, light intensity, soil
humidity, the amount of carbon dioxide and wind
speed were taken as the input parameters of the
Fuzzy Control System. Heating, cooling,
shadowing, irrigation, lighting and ventilation
values were taken as the output parameters.
It is observed that the Fuzzy System with the
MNO_IV-2010 software developed with Delphi
7.0 obtained more advantages over Traditional
Control. The save of energy and time was gained
by the advantage. The designed values of the
variables can be entered by manually by the user
and can be taken by the data card in real time.
The performance indicators obtained from the
simulation results are seen successful.
Minimisation of the human errors and full
automatically making decision are some
advantages of the design. The approach is
considered to be used in various industrial areas.
1 uncontrolled factors made controlling the system
Keywords: Fuzzy Logic, Fuzzy Control,
Greenhouse Automation, Fuzzy Expert Systems .
1. Introduction
1
This study has been implemented on Fuzzy
logic Researchs, University of Selcuk.
closed areas enables to grow crops and at the
same time protects from the unsuitable climate
conditions of the outside. The disadvantage of
greenhouse cultivation is growing crops more
expensively than in field. For that reason,
production costs should be reduced and the
productivity should be increased to compete.
Increasing productivity in greenhouses is mainly
depends on arranging the climatic conditions of
the environment to the optimal values [1].
The main problem that should be considered for
Greenhouse climatization control is the complex
interactions between the inside and outside
environment parameters. The control systems
using Traditional PID(Proportional Integral
Derivative) controllers are not suitable for this
type of applications that have interaction with the
environmental parameters [2].
Greenhouse model has distributed parameters
and shows non-linear characteristics on many
points. Besides, the direction and the speed of
the wind, outside temperature, seasonal changing
of sunlight angle, sweating etc. and the other
more difficult.
Thus, it is not possible to use mathematical
model in greenhouse climatization. Fuzzy control
method can be benefited for the solution of
these types of problems that couldn’t get desired
productivity from traditional control methods as
in this application.
Many researchers agree on the effectiveness of
fuzzy logic control. First of all, fuzzy logic has an
adaptable form to many industrial applications. In
addition, it is not necessary to have certain

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 ICGST AIML-11 Conference, Dubai, UAE, 12-14 April 2011
control parameters and it also allows applications
to be faster. Fuzzy logic rules have been prepared
by the experts. The stage response of the system,
error signal and its derivatives have been used to
constitute the rules [4].
Because of not having good results from the
Traditional Control Techniques on the systems
that have complex and non-linear form like
power systems, the usage of fuzzy logic
controllers has been highlighted [5].
The designed automation control system is
intended to use six input parameters
(Temperature, air humidity, light intensity, soil
humidity, the amount of carbon dioxide and wind
speed) [6]. Fuzzy Expert System has been
designed by running the heating, cooling,
ventilation, lighting, irrigation and shading
systems which are the output parameters. In part
2, information will be given about Traditional
Control Systems, and in part 3, Fuzzy Control
System will be explained and in the last part, the
comparison of the results of the Traditional
Control and Fuzzy Control will be explained.
2. Theory
Fuzzy Controller Design In Greenhouse
Automation
Plants grown in the greenhouse temperature, air
humidity, light intensity, soil humidity, the
amount of carbon dioxide, and important
features, such as wind speed are the elements
that should be followed consistently.
These factors should be considered a good plant
to grow.Greenhouse temperature, air humidity,
light intensity, soil humidity, wind speed and the
amount of carbon dioxide to keep the desired
value must be checked by a computer.
For this purpose, the fuzzy control system is
different from traditional control systems are
designed.
Greenhouse input parameters as the temperature
is degrees Celsius (ºC), air humidity percentage
(%), light intensity (lux), soil humidity percentage
(%), carbon dioxide ppm (parts per million) and
wind speed (m/s) is. Output parameters of the
heating kilowatts (kW), cooling (microns), shading
centimeters (cm), irrigation liter (I), lighting (lux)
and air-conditioning degrees (º) is designed to be.
Designed with the help of experts in the system
input parameters which influence the output
parameters that have been identified.
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Figure 1. Greenhouse Automation of Fuzzy
Control Method
In this case, the input parameter of temperature
and humidity of the heating and cooling,
temperature and light intensity input parameters,
shading, air humidity and soil moisture input
parameter watering, light intensity and wind
speed input parameter input parameter of the
lighting and the amount of carbon dioxide was
observed that the ventilation effect Therefore, the
bus structure of the multi-stage or hierarchical
structure will be designed to be concluded.
Figure 1 shows all the input and output
parameters.
Traditional Control System
Traditional Control System is based on the
concept of feedback. Values in negative feedback
are calculated by subtracting the output values
that are continuously measured from desired
values. Most of the applications are seen in the
form of closed-loop control.
The closed-loop can be seen in applications in
the form of sequential control. Some movements
are needed in each cycle movement in order to
provide automatic control in Sequence control.
The closing of the elevator door before moving in
elevator application is an example of sequential
control.
Another form of control is on-off control. System
output is notified in the form of on or off with the
movement provider. Thermostat control is the
most well known application form.
 ICGST AIML-11 Conference, Dubai, UAE, 12-14 April 2011
Servomechanism type control is used in the
applications that the control variable has
changed completely. This type of control is
usually preferred in robot applications.
One of the developed closed-loop control and
most realised form is called PID. Finding the PID
controller output requires more detailed
algorithm. The traditional feeding back control
loop was given below.
Figure 2. Traditional feeding is back control loop
In order to realise the traditional feeding back
control successfully that the loop model is shown
in figure 2, the process movement information is
necessary to known. Realisation in complex
applications is sometimes very difficult or even
possible. At the same time it is often needed to
known the linear model of the process [7].
Traditional Control Aapproach in Greenhouse
Automation
Automatic control unit in greenhouse automation
systems regulates system movement. In order to
re-balance the changing and imbalances that
could be occurred in one of the variables,
automatic control unit responds by making
adjustments on other variables.
Control in modern units is designed to minimize
the energy usage. Controlled variable or variables
are mainly regulates the system characteristics
System error is usually the difference between the
desired value and real value. Error response is
submitted to the system by movement providers.
Closed-loop control is usually applied in
greenhouse automation systems. Controlled
variables in closed loop control systems are
measured by sensors and fed back. This type of
control system structure is shown in Figure 3 [7].
Working of traditional control systems is only
possible with the establishment of the
mathematical model in the system to be
controlled. The microprocessor-based systems
are generally preferred to do the calculations on
mathematical model [7].
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Figure 3. Traditional control loop in greenhouse
automation
Fuzzy Control Systems
Fuzzy theory is used to apply a linguistic control
strategy based on human knowledge. While
designing control systems, target, fuzzy control
rules which is the base of information are
determined, fuzzying and clarification are done
respectively. Fuzzy Theory was proposed in 1965.
Shortly after this date, Fuzzy Control has been
progressed very quickly.
The most effective application area of Fuzzy
clusters and fuzzy logic theory is control systems.
Fuzzy systems are knowledge-based or rule-
based systems. In order to control a system, the
mathematical model creating the system should
be chosen well. Some mathematical models of
systems are obtained very difficultly.
The best way to obtain the models is to use fuzzy
clusters. The concept of cluster as it is used in
traditional cluster theory, is based on a logic that
has two options like an object is an element of
the cluster “1” or not “0”. There is nothing
between the “0” or “1” in traditional cluster
theory. The solution of a problem with
uncertainty is difficult. An acting controller like
human being makes it possible. This controlling
system is called fuzzy logic [8].
Traditional Control Systems are converted to
fuzzy control systems with the help of fuzzy sets.
The system should be well examined before fuzzy
control was decided to use. Then it is necessary
to decide how to use the fuzzy system.
The first thing is to do after designing the fuzzy
system is to make the “IF… THAN ELSE…” table.
The rules should be done with the help of an
expert. Fuzzy control scheme can be seen below
in Figure 4.
 ICGST AIML-11 Conference, Dubai, UAE, 12-14 April 2011

obtained from the experts from each field. The

Figure 4. Fuzzy control scheme
3. Conclusions
The comparison of the designed Fuzzy Expert
System and the traditional control systems has
been made. Traditional Control System results
designed Fuzzy Expert System is more
advantageous than Traditional Control. The data
obtained from the Designed Fuzzy Expert System
are more advantageous than the data used in
Traditional control in the aspects of : the heating
output value 5.03673333%, cooling output value
8.56031946%, shading output value 8.61111111%,
lighting output value 7.41666666%, irrigation
output value 6, 41464655% , and ventilation
output value 3.125%. It is economical about
6.52741285%. The comparisons of the Designed
Fuzzy Expert System and The Traditional Control
were given below in Table 1 [9].

Table 1. Comparison of fuzzy expert system and Traditional Control system

Traditiona

Percentag
Temperat

Humidity

l Control

Amount
Amount
System
Expert
Fuzzy

e (%)
Error

Error

Rate
(k )

(kw)
Air
ure

-10 0 5,43750000 6,00000000 0,56250000 9,37500000

-5 10 5,43750000 6,00000000 0,56250000 9,37500000
0 20 5,43750000 6,00000000 0,56250000 9,37500000
5 61 4,80750000 5,10000000 0,29250000 5,73520000
15 70 3,00000000 3,00000000 0,00000000 0,00000000
20 60 3,00000000 3,00000000 0,00000000 0,00000000
35 90 1,31250000 1,40270000 0,09020000 6,43366640
50 100 0,37500000 0,37500000 0,00000000 0,00000000
Mean Difference % 5,0367333
This system was developed alternatively of money and energy. The quality and the
against the greenhouse control made in productivity of the crops will be increased by the
traditional methods. Change on the plant, is systems. It would be possible to have modern
directly proportional to increase productivity. greenhouses with this system. Producing this type
The applications in the agricultural areas where of systems in Turkey will make the farmers possible
Fuzzy Logic and Expert Systems are used to buy and use it easily. An interface which makes
thought to be more productive than the use of the designed fuzzy expert system easier
applications done with the traditional methods. for greenhouse automation was written in Delphi-
The requirements of a plant- Heating, cooling, 7.0 visual programming language (Figure 5, 6, 7 [9].
shading, lighting, irrigation and ventilation- The user can enter the current status and results to
could be given immediately, and this may be obtained to the system via the interface.
affect the production [9]. According to the The sensors should be used for full automation
studies greenhouse cultivation in Turkey and the system should be run full automatically.
doesn’t have a modern structure. Theory of fuzzy logic and researches can be looked
The study will make the design of the Fuzzy from [10],[11],[12],[13],[14].
Expert System possible which will provide save

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 ICGST AIML-11 Conference, Dubai, UAE, 12-14 April 2011

Figure 5: Interface of Greenhouse automation

Figure 6: List of rules applied in Greenhouse automation

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 ICGST AIML-11 Conference, Dubai, UAE, 12-14 April 2011

Figure 7: Air humidity input graphics used in Greenhouse automation

4. Acknowledgements Selçuk Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü,

This study is supported by the Scientific Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Konya, 2006.
Research Projects Unit of Selcuk University, [8] K. Erkan. Bulanık Mantık ile Doğru Akım
Konya/Turkey. Motorunun İncelenmesi, Yıldız Teknik
Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Yüksek
5. References Lisans Tezi, İstanbul, 1999.
[9] M.N. Ödük. Bulanık Kontrol Yöntemiyle Sera
[1] M. Omid and A. Shafaei. Temperature and
Otomasyonu, Selçuk Üniversitesi Fen
Relative Humidity Changes Inside
Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Yüksek Lisans Tezi,
Greenhouse, International Agrophysics,
Konya,2010.
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[11]http://www.icgst.com/acse/Volume9/Issue2
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[12]http://www.icgst.com/acse/Volume8/Issue2
Systems and Applications, Proceedings of
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the 2nd IEEE/ASME International
[13]http://www.facullty.ksu.edu.sa/74309/Public
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[14]http://www.inta.gov.ar/actual/congreso/jajio
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[4] S. Tesnjak, S. Mikus, O. Kuljaca. Load-
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[5] T. Tilli. First and Second Chapter,
Automatisierung mit Fuzzy-Logic, Franzis-
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[6] M.N.Ödük and N. Allahverdi. A Study on
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[7] H. Soy. Gömülü Kontrolör ile Sera
İklimlendirme Sisteminin Bulanık Kontrolü,

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Biographies
Mehmet Nuri Ödük is
currently lecturer at
University of Selcuk in the
Kadınhanı Vocationary
College. He received his
B.Sc. from Electronic and
Computer Education at
Fırat University and his M.Sc. from Fuzzy Logic
Systems at Selcuk University. His research
interests are fuzzy logic systems, artificial
neural networks.

Prof. Dr. is Novruz

ALLAHVERDİ currently
head of Electronic and
Computer Education
Deparment, University of
Selcuk. His main research
interests are fuzzy logic
systems, artificial neural networks.

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