Progress 07/01/24 to 02/28/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project was small- to medium-sized farmers in rural or low-income areas who raise chickens, fish, or other livestock and are interested in lowering their feed and waste disposal costs. These farmers often lack time, labor, or financial resources to process black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) efficiently. We focused on designing a solution that automates BSFL composting and preservation, reducing the need for external energy sources or manual labor. Farmers like Mr. Plasencia, who was interviewed and provided input, represented our primary use case: individuals seeking affordable, off-grid tools to turn organic waste into protein-rich feed with minimal effort. Our efforts were driven by the goal of empowering these farmers to improve self-sufficiency, reduce costs, and reduce waste using accessible, low-maintenance technology. Changes/Problems:The primary issue encountered was insufficient power generation from the composting process. Despite various geometry optimizations and thermoelectric generator (TEG) configurations, the voltage output was too low to reliably charge the battery bank needed for dehydrating the larvae. As a result, we were unable to complete autonomous preservation of BSFL as originally intended. This led us to shift focus toward data collection, behavioral observation, and thermal profiling to better understand the limitations of passive energy harvesting in compost environments. These insights will inform future design iterations that may incorporate supplemental power sources or improved heat concentration methods. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project provided hands-on training in thermodynamic modeling, compost system design, additive manufacturing, and biological experimentation. Team members gained practical experience in simulating and fabricating heat-optimized composters, managing BSFL growth cycles, and working with thermoelectric energy systems. The interdisciplinary nature of the work also helped build skills in mechanical assembly, environmental monitoring, and data logging. For several team members, it was their first opportunity to manage a full R&D cycle--from hypothesis and design to prototyping and field testing--enhancing both technical and project management capabilities. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We shared our results through direct community outreach and public engagement. Presentations were given to 5local garden clubs, as well as to professional organizations such as Rotary Club chapters. We also spoke to students and faculty at the University of Central Florida, Valencia College, and Rollins College. Additionally, we discussed our findings and lessons learned on three public podcast appearances, helping raise awareness around BSFL composting and sustainable feed alternatives. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We designed, built, and tested multiple prototype AARCs (Advanced Autonomous Retention Composters) to evaluate the feasibility of autonomous BSFL composting and preservation. Through these tests, we collected detailed thermal data, developed geometry simulations for internal composter layout, and conducted multiple cycles of larval rearing. We learned valuable lessons about BSFL behavior, humidity sensitivity, and the challenges of heat-based power harvesting. Ultimately, our efforts were unable to produce the voltage output necessary from the thermoelectric generators to sustain reliable battery charge for dehydration, but the process yielded significant insight into compost thermodynamics, larval distribution, and design improvements for future iterations. We have not given up on the process yet, and aim to iterate in the future ourselves.

Publications