Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

Temperature Controller of
Infant Incubator using Arduino
Hussein Abbas Awfi1
1
Technical Engineering College, Northern Technical University, Mousl, Iraq.
This work was supported in part by the Ministry of Education, Iraq, and the Technical Engineering College in the Northern
Technical University under the supervision of T. Tahani Ghanim Mahmood

Abstract:- The factors affect the child within incubator finds itself in a much colder environment and immediately
are mainly the temperature, humidity. The organization starts losing heat. In the first 10-20 minutes, the new born who
of temperatures one of the basic criteria for building a is not thermally protected may lose enough heat for the body
stable environment for the child. This digital temperature temperature to fall by (2-4⁰C) (3.6-7.2⁰F), with even greater
controller uses an Arduino board as its primary falls in the following hours if proper care is not given. If heat
controller. It can regulate any heating device's loss is not prevented and is allowed to continue, the baby will
temperature within predetermined ranges and shows the develop hypothermia and is at increased risk of developing
device's status, including on and off, as well as its current health problems and of death. Therefore an infant incubator
temperature. A temperature controller is an instrument is necessary which attempts to create the necessary
that regulates temperature, as the name suggests. The environment for the baby’s survival.
temperature controller receives data from a temperature
sensor and outputs data to a control element, like a fan or Worldwide every year over 4 million infants die within
heater. In order to regulate process temperature precisely a month of birth. Of this number, 3.9 million belong to the
and with minimal operator intervention, a temperature developing world. Some (25%) of this deaths are caused due
control system uses a controller that receives input from to complications of prematurity, most often due to improper
a temperature sensor (such as a thermocouple, RTD, or heat regulation, water loss and neonatal jaundice. An infant
DHT22). After comparing the actual temperature to the incubator provides stable levels of temperature, relative
set-point—the desired control temperature—it outputs humidity and oxygen concentration. The question remains if
the result to a control element. use an advanced control strategy, can provide a suitable
environment for the new born and maintaining the required
Keywords:- Temperature, Control, Infant Incubator, temperature and humidity that are set by the doctor without
Arduino. significant variation over time whatever disturbance

I. INTRODUCTION Controlling both temperature and humidity are

processed by the use of the PID controller. Industrial motion
The paper written by Thomas et al. (1857) was the first control systems and processes frequently employ
to be published on the use of incubators in the care of preterm proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. PID
infants. In order to keep the infant warm and maintain a controllers remain the standard in over 90% of control
steady temperature, he came up with the idea to run a cradle systems today. Optimizing the parameters is the most
zinc known as an incubator at this point. In order to minimize important step in using a PID controller. In modern
transdermal respiration and water loss and to maximize the engineering, self-tuning PID controllers offer great
body's heat storage, temperature is one of the most crucial convenience. The fundamental concept of a self-tuning
parameters that must be kept constant. This is where the system is to create an algorithm that will automatically alter
neonatal incubator is used to maintain the proper temperature, the system's parameters to satisfy a specific need or
humidity, and oxygenation levels for newborns or preterm circumstance.
infants. Thus offers the most protection from outside
aggression like noise and pathogens. This development is due II. INCUBATOR
to technological progress, seen in these last years.
Furthermore, the current commercial devices use a classical Infant Incubators are now used in all hospitals around
control to control the incubator environments such as the on- the world to prepare a suitable ambient condition for the new
off or PID control. Premature infants are born before the born. An incubator shown in figure (1.1), is a device in which
organs are mature enough to allow normal postnatal survival. an infant may be kept for certain period in a controlled
As the premature infants are at risk to develop hypoxia, environment for medical care. The incubator should include
hypothermia and many other associated adverse conditions, an AC-powered heater, a fan circulating the warmed air, a
they need special care and attention. One of the major container for water to add humidity, a control valve through
problems that newborns face is improper thermoregulation. which oxygen may be added, and access ports for nursing care
The temperature inside the mother’s womb is 38⁰C (100.4⁰F). [1].
Leaving the warmth of the womb at birth, the wet new born

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Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

In the first day’s period after birth, the absolute humidity About 28 days after his birth, the newborn was placed
must be monitored so that evaporative heat loss is kept to a in an incubator, where he received clinical care through a
minimum as well as water loss through the skin. Heat losses special glass. Nurses fed the baby, took his weight, took care
and gains of the new born body are difficult to monitor. The of him, performed small procedures, and took an X-ray
premature infants lose heat via evaporative, conductive, without repositioning him. To keep the premature baby safe,
convective and radiation means [2]. the inside environment of the incubator was controlled using
a variety of control mechanisms. [3].

Fig 1: Baby Incubator

 Main Functions of Infant Incubators:  Principle

Typically, the infant incubator is a cart with a little
 Temperature Control : is temperature control which is mattress on top that is protected from the elements by a stiff,
required to achieve thermo-neutrality in infant’s body transparent plastic cover.
 O2 Concentration Control
 Breathing Gas Filtration In addition to offering a clean environment, the
 Humidity Control incubator chamber shields the infant from handling too much,
noise, dust, and infections.
 Types
 Portable The infant is kept at a consistent temperature by use of
 Standard an incubator heater that is equipped with a temperature sensor
affixed to its skin.

An air-blown electric heating and humidification

system, located beneath the infant, heats and humidifies the
incubator chamber to the ideal temperature and humidity [4].

Fig 2: Principle

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Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

 Transport Incubator III. PARAMETERS CONTROL IN INFANT

INCUBATOR
 A transport incubator is used to transfer a premature or ill
infant from one hospital to another  Temperature Control
 It is similar to the Infant Incubator but it is battery-
operated  Air temperature mode
 Skin temperature mode

 Humidity Control

 The percentage of vaporized water molecules in the

atmosphere is known as humidity.
 This is crucial for a newborn because low humidity can
lead to the baby's skin becoming dry, which can lead to
several health issues.

 Humidity Probe

 Humidity transducer.
 The principle of humidity transducers is the capacitive
changing types, which means that any change in humidity
will result in a change in capacitance, which will then be
converted, via a bridge circuit, to a change in voltage.

 Oxygen Control.

Fig 3: Transport Incubator  Alarms in Incubator

 Air flow alarm (fan stop alarm)

 High temperature alarm
 Power failure alarm
 Probe alarm.
 Set temperature alarm

Fig 4: Schematic of Baby Inside the Incubator with all Connections

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Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

 Maintenance back to the controller. The controller can make any necessary
adjustments to maintain the output where it belongs because
 Cleaning: Cleaning should be done at least once a week it is aware of what the system is actually doing. The forward
or when every time the patient is changed. path signal is sent from the controller to the actuator, and the
 Disinfection: If used by infected babies, after cleaning, feedback signal—which "closes" the loop—is sent from the
wipe over with a chlorine-releasing agent rinse and dry sensor to the controller. The system error is obtained by
thoroughly. subtracting the feedback signal from the set point (SP) at the
 Functional Czhecks: Check the Incubator exterior comparator and then deducting the actual output (as reported
especially the plexi glass for any signs of damage. by the sensor) from the desired output (as specified by the set
point). The discrepancy between the intended and actual
IV. BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THE CONTROL values is represented by the error signal.
OPERATION
The controller is always working to minimize this error
The air inside the incubator is sensed and used to signal. A zero error means that the output is exactly what the
provide the feedback to the system to be turned on or off set point says it should be. When the actual value below the
actuator according to the set point. In the control system desired value the controller is turned on the actuator. And the
shown in figure (5), . The sensor samples the output from the air inside the incubator reaches the desired value the
system and transforms it into an electric signal that is sent controller is turns off the actuator.

Fig 5: The Control System Operation

V. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF below, as the temperature crosses the set-point to alter the
CONTROLLERS, AND HOW DO THEY output stateTo prevent damage to relays and valves in
WORK? situations when this cycling happens quickly, the controller
actions incorporate an on-off differential, sometimes known
PID, proportional, and on-off controllers are the three as "hysteresis." With this differential, the output won't switch
primary types of controllers. The operator can utilize one type on or off again until the temperature reaches a specific point
or another to operate the process, depending on the system to above the set-point. If the cycling above and below the set-
be controlled. This Arduino example shows how to create an point happens very quickly, the on-off difference keeps the
on-off controller. output from "chattering," or making abrupt, continuous shifts.
When precise control is not required, on-off control is
 On/Off Control typically utilized. It can also be used for temperature alarms,
The most basic type of temperature control device is an in systems that are unable to withstand repeated energy turns
on-off switch. There is no intermediate state in the device's on and off, or in situations where the system's mass causes
output; it is either on or off. Only when the temperature very sluggish temperature changes Limit controllers are one
exceeds the set-point will an on-off controller switch the unique kind of on-off control that's employed for alarm. In
output. The output for heating control is turned on when the order to stop a process when a predetermined temperature is
temperature falls below the set-point and turned off when it achieved, this controller uses a latching relay that needs to be
rises over it. The process temperature will continuously cycle, manually reset.[5]
going from below set-point to above set-point and back

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Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

 Proportional Control variables. The most accurate and reliable controllers are PID
Based on a response proportionate to the difference (proportional integral derivative) controllers, which use a
between the variable's present value and the desired process control loop feedback mechanism to control process
variable (also known as the set point), proportional control is variables.[6]
a method used in control systems. When stricter tolerances
and prompt response are needed for a process variable, If a process variable is measured and a desired set point
proportional control is employed. is set, the PID controller will compute an error value. When
the load fluctuates frequently and the controller is expected to
 PID Control automatically adjust because of these variations in set-point,
Are the most accurate and stable controller. In industrial available energy, or mass to be controlled, it is advised for
control applications, a PID controller is a device that controls those systems.[5]
temperature, flow, pressure, speed, and other process

Fig 6: The PID Controller System Structure[11]

VI. FUNDAMENTALS OF TEMPERATURE VII. MODES OF OPERATION FOR BABY

CONTROL INCUBATORS

An essential component of a baby incubator is the  Most of the Standards Recommend Two Modes of
temperature control system. In order to keep the temperature Operation for Baby Incubators:
in the incubator at the desired level, the right amount of heat
energy must be supplied if the temperature drops below that  Air Temperature Mode.
point. This can be accomplished with a straightforward  Baby Skin Mode.
ON/OFF control system that will activate the heater when the
outside temperature drops below a predetermined threshold  Air Temperature Mode: For many years, this mode has
and deactivate it otherwise.[7] been extensively utilized in the nursing care of newborns.
The infant is placed inside a Perspex canopy on a mattress.
Thermo regulation: The capacity to maintain a normal A heater warms the air inside the canopy, and a fan
body temperature in a variety of temperatures and continuously moves air around. The incubator operator
environmental factors is known as thermoregulation. A adjusts a thermostat that regulates the air temperature
physiological variable, body temperature is precisely inside the canopy. Once the nurse determines that a baby
regulated by intricate metabolic processes. The enzyme needs care in an incubator, she has to decide on the right
system that controls cellular activities depends on proper air temperature.
temperature regulation, just as cellular activity depends on a
sufficient supply of oxygen. The ideal thermal state required Table 1 displays the average temperature required to
to sustain an organism's internal functions is 37°C, or room create a suitable thermal environment for a healthy naked
temperature. [1] baby being cared for in an incubator.

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Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

Table 1: Average Air Temperature Needed for Healthy Baby

 Baby Skin Temperature Mode: Adhered to the skin of the There are two main methods to humidify the air which
body, the temperature sensor is a thermistor probe. are known as [8]:
Because it detects the temperature of the baby's skin rather
than the air, the heater heats the air until the skin  Passive humidifying method.
temperature of the baby is reached. The infant can cool  Active humidifying method.
down and vice versa if their skin temperature drops below
the predetermined level, which is achieved by lowering  Passive humidity control system: A heater is used to
the power supplied to the heater and raising the air create humidity in the passive humidification method.
temperature. Water evaporation causes the air's humidity content to
rise. Given that temperature is one of the incubator
The recommended setting for the temperature of the chamber's physical control parameters [8].
abdomen in baby skin temperature mode for infants held in  Active humidity control system: A humidity sensor in the
an incubator. control system measures the relative humidity of the air,
compares it to a reference value, and uses the difference
Table 2: Baby Skin Temperature as a control mechanism for the vapor.

 Practical Part

 Components Required:

 Arduino Uno
 16×2 LCD Display
 Relay
 1K Resistors Qty. 4
 Wires
 Serial Protocol
 Push Button .2
 Bread Board
 LEDs
 DHT-22 Temperature and humintyed Sensor.
 Heater
FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMIDITY CONTROL  Fan
SYSTEM  Power Supply

In an incubator, the air is heated from room temperature  Arduino Uno: A microcontroller board called
(20°C) to 35°C, which results in low relative humidity values Arduino/Genuino Uno is built around the ATmega328P
of less than 20%. Avoiding this is necessary because it causes (datasheet). It contains a 16 MHz quartz crystal, 6 analog
dehydration throughout the respiratory system. Moreover, air inputs, 14 digital input/output pins (six of which can be
that is humid has a significantly higher capacity to conduct used as PWM outputs), a USB port, a power jack, an ICSP
heat, which enhances heat transfer. Additionally, the child header, and a reset button.
cannot lose water due to the humid air. As a result, the air's
relative humidity needs to be maintained above 60%.

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Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

 16×2 LCD Display: An electronic device that is used to  We set the desired point or degree at 37° in control.
display data . As the name suggests, it includes 16
Columns & 2 Rows so it can display 32 characters
(16×2=32) [9].
 Relay: An electrically powered switch is called a relay. It
is made up of a set of operating contact terminals and a set
of input terminals for one or more control signals. Any
number of contacts in any combination of make, break,
and other contact forms may be present on the switch.
[10].
 Push button: A push-button (also spelled pushbutton) or
simply button is a simple switch mechanism to control
some aspect of a machine or a process.
 Breadboard: Before completing any circuit design,
circuits can be rapidly built and tested using a breadboard. Fig 8: The Incubator Heater Operating
There are numerous holes on the breadboard where
resistors and integrated circuits (ICs) can be inserted.  After that, we continue to operate the heater to raise the
 DHT-22: A simple digital temperature and humidity temperature at the set point while operating the fan
sensor is the DHT22. It measures the air quality around it through the power supply by setting it from 12 volts with
using a thermistor and a capacitive humidity sensor before 0.2A amps to circulate the heat inside the incubator.
emitting a digital signal on the data pin.  The sensor will sense the temperature inside the incubator
 Leds: LEDs are small, powerful lights that are used in and transfer it to the display screen.
many different applications
 Heater: It is used to heat the ambient air in the
incubator.220 v , 370 w , 1.6A.Infant incubator AC-
heater.The stored energy is converted by a heater which
acts as simple resistor that converts electrical energy into
thermal energy.
 Fan:Used to circulate hot air in the surroundings that has
been heated by the heater . 12volt
 serial protocol: It speeds up the transmission of
instructions, When selecting the set point.

VIII. METHOD
Fig 9: Green Light Indicates the Required Temperature is
 After bringing the previously mentioned elements, we
Reached
connected them together with a control circuit for the
values with the required function (controlling the
 When the temperature reaches the required point, the relay
temperature inside the incubator).
will cut the circuit, As in the previous figure
 We got a damaged incubator cover and took care of it And
connect the heater and fan inside the incubator.
IX. RESULTS

The temperature of the incubator before turning on the

heater was 26.50 °C, then the heater was turned on at 11:35
Am at 11:37 Am. After two minutes, the temperature became
26.70 °C and the temperature began to increase every two
minutes, as shown in the table below until the heater was
separated. At 12:00 Pm the temperature has become at the set
point.

Where the temperature inside the incubator was

maintained for 15 minutes after the heater was separated, and
then the temperature inside the incubator began to decrease
until it became below the set point, which restarted the heater
again.

It was the set point 37 °C , According to the change that

Fig 7: The Incubator occurred every two minutes, we will take a temperature
measurement.

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Volume 9, Issue 5, May – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
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Table 3: Table of Results

NO Time (m) Temperature (°C)
1 2 26.70
2 4 27
3 6 27.80
4 8 28.60
5 10 29.70
6 12 30.70
7 14 31.70
8 16 32.80
9 18 33.70
10 20 34.70
11 22 35.70
12 24 36.70
13 26 37.20

environment, including humidity and temperature. The

outcomes of the experiment demonstrate that this system is
capable of managing the intelligent baby incubator system in
real-time and with reliability. Based on the analysis, the infant
incubator intelligent control system should have a stable and
reliable security module. The future work will center on this.

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ISSN No:-2456-2165 https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24MAY2207

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