SmartWise (smart supervision system for crops)

SmartWise V1.0

With the SmartWise, IoT device designed to streamline agriculture by providing detailed soil moisture measurements across entire fields. This compact device with soil moisture sensor gauge soil moisture levels, offering farmers comprehensive data that facilitates efficient and targeted irrigation. With real-time information accessible through a user-friendly Web application, farmers can make decisions, ensuring optimal water usage. SmartWise not only minimizes water wastage but also enhances crop yield by enabling growers to tailor their irrigation strategies based on specific soil conditions.

Special thanks to PCBWay!

We want to express our sincere thanks to PCBWay for their crucial support in making our project a reality. Their expertise in crafting custom PCBs and high-quality 3D printing for our unique case design has been instrumental in our success. Additionally, we would like to commend PCBWay for their impeccable delivery services. Our packages arrived in perfect condition, showcasing their commitment to ensuring secure and undamaged deliveries. Thank you, PCBWay, for being a vital part of our journey towards innovation and success.

Why SmartWise V1.0

Before we get into the project details, I want to explain why we named it SmartWise v1.0. There were some big problems in the initial designs of both the PCB and 3D model. For instance, the components didn't fit well in the case, the design made it hard to change the battery or update the program, and the modules didn't support 5V.

Craft and Design

For the device to work efficiently on large fields with minimal power use, I chose the LoRa module (MakerFocus CubeCell) for long-range data transfer. According to my calculations, with a 30-minute data transfer interval, it can run for around 2000± hours (or about 80± days) with the 2000mAh Li-Ion battery. Check out the calculations below with the help of ChatGPT.

Using an Arduino Pro Mini and an extra voltage converter made the device's working time quite short. To improve it, we might consider using just one module and maybe increasing the battery size a bit. Considering outdoor usage where temperature and other factors play a role, these numbers again might vary. It's advisable to opt for Li-ion batteries with built-in insulation to withstand both cold and heat, ensuring better performance.

When assembling the device, I relied on hot glue extensively to provide both water protection and structural integrity inside. Despite not recommending this particular PCB and 3D model design due to its limitations, I've included the design below for your reference or in case you wish to make improvements on it by yourself.

Data

By combining data from main sensors and the central tower, which collects information on temperature, humidity, sunlight exposure, rainfall, wind, and forecasts, we can provide farmers with optimal solutions for their crops. This enables them to streamline their daily watering processes, conserve water, and enhance crop yields.

Using the primary LoRa module on the tower and in the devices, all the smaller modules send their data every 30 minutes. This accumulated data is then transmitted to the main web server, where we collect, analyze, and present it to our users.

In the images above, we randomly positioned our devices on the map on the website. During actual production, when farmers deploy the devices, the genuine local coordinates of each device are collected and processed through the application to accurately determine the soil moisture at each location. This is a basic test to confirm whether the devices successfully transmit data or not.

Conclusion

Again big thanks to PCBWay for their stellar support in manufacturing custom PCBs and providing high-quality 3D printing for our project. Their expertise and precision have been instrumental in bringing our ideas to life. PCBWay's commitment to excellence has truly set the stage for innovation, making them an invaluable partner in our journey.

I've included both the circuit and 3D design of the device in case you find them useful for potential use or improvement. While I'm considering creating a better version of the current design, I might still deploy this for monitoring either my vegetable field or decorative flowers.

Thanks for reading till the end! Your time and attention are truly appreciated.