Published September 11, 2019

EcoHub V1.0 (MATRIX Creator Controlled Greenhouse)

The first version of an automated greenhouse controlled via a MATRIX Creator.

IntermediateWork in progress3 hours3,709

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

MATRIX Labs MATRIX Creator

Software apps and online services

Snips AIR

Hand tools and fabrication machines

3D Printer (generic)

Story

Hardware

Raspberry Pi 3 (Recommended) or Pi 2 Model B (Supported) - Buy on Element14 - Pi 3 or Pi 2.
MATRIX Creator
Micro-USB power supply for Raspberry Pi - 2.5A 5V power supply recommended
Portable Power Supply
Greenhouse Kit
3D-Printed Case for the Creator
Micro SD Card
Internet connection (WiFi / mobile hotspot)
Personal Computer (Windows, Linux, or Mac)
Hose
Valves
PVC Pipes/Connectors/Extenders/Adapters

This project blog post is for an automated greenhouse called EcoHub, after a local hackathon group, which can also be voice controlled using a Snips.ai assistant named Amingo, after the Capcom video game character.

The Build

The first step I took in creating EcoHub was to get the hardware out of the way before working on any code, so as to know what I would have to work with. I began by getting a cheap two-foot greenhouse kit from amazon to use as my base for holding the plants.

After assembling the kit, I made a few adjustments to fit my ideas. In theory, EcoHub is meant to water two sets of plants, each on a different level of the greenhouse; this was so it could adapt itself to watering plants with different water cycles (e.g. a set of cacti and agaves would be on a different level than a set of Bella Donna lilies and irises).

After rearranging the levels on the greenhouse, I drilled holes through the plastic pieces connecting the stands and put the PVC pipes through the hole so they could be easily supported; before fixing the PVC pipes, I drilled holes through them and capped them at one end. Then I attached valves at the end of the pipes passing through the holes, and then connected them as shown below.

This was the old design, however, and I changed it to make it easier to work with the servos, connect the hose, and make sure that any electronic equipment wasn't in danger of getting wet. Unfortunately, in this iteration of EcoHub, the two-plant-set idea was discarded, but I'll eventually add it with further editions.

The next step was to connect the hose and start the code. I used a hose to 1/2 inch PVC pipe adapter to connect the top PVC pipe and added the servos to each valve. Since I didn't have a 3D printer at the time, I had to use other PVC supplies to create the holsters for the servos; they were also made so that you could replace or remove the servos whenever you wanted, by just pulling the pipes out or pulling the holsters up.

The Code

For those who haven't used Snips.ai yet, it's a a software used to create voice assistants such as the one in this project. Aside from being automated, I also wanted the EcoHub to be voice controlled in case someone wanted to manually water plants, keep track of the plants they have, and get the state of the greenhouse's average temperature and humidity.

Here, I created the Amingo assistant and added an app to operate the greenhouse. Inside of the app, I added an intent with slots for each thing Amingo was supposed to control. As you can see, Snips has a hierarchical system for its assistants: an assistant contains apps which contain intents which contain slots. Intents and slots are what actually interact with the code and the device you're using. An intent creates an MQTT channel for sending data about what the assistant has heard, and slots are the way of categorizing this data.

Once I made the Snips assistant and trained it on some commands, I deployed it to the Raspberry Pi with the Creator.

The code interacting with Snips and making the greenhouse automated was split into three Javascript files

assistant.js: this file gets the intent from Snips and responds to the commands accordingly
servo.js: controls the servos, automatically waters the plants, and gathers data about the greenhouse's temperature, humidity, plants, and watering cycle.
plantData.js: contains a plant object holding all known plants and their preferred watering cycle.

In assistant.js, the MATRIX Creator subscribes to the MQTT topics of wakeword, session-end, and the intent created. Depending on which topic the Creator hears, the command following the case statement will run. The basic commands it's able to understand are:

Water the garden
Add/remove a plant from the list of plants in the greenhouse
Get the current and average temperature and humidity
Name the current plants

It's able to do this by including the servo.js file.

servo.js contains an object full of functions to control the servos and get the sensor data. It also periodically checks the list of current plants and gets the average watering cycle, and waters the plants accordingly. The water cycle could be often (around every 18 hours), regularly (around every 36 hours), or sparsely (around every 72 hours). Since plants don't benefit from a consistent watering cycle, I randomly added/removed an extra hour or two. servo.js also writes the data to a text file.

plantData.js simply has an object with a list of plants and their water cycles.

The Finished Project

So, that's the current state of EcoHub. I had a lot of ideas in mind about how to make it look nicer and more efficient, but currently I'm satisfied with at least a working version. Overall, this was a project I had a lot of fun making, though it didn't turn out as expected; I had always wanted a garden and so it was interesting trying to automate it.

Future Additions

Two levels for different sets of plants
An interactive website for controlling the greenhouse remotely
Replacing the handmade parts with nicer, 3D-printed pieces
Soil data

Code

const regularly = 2;
const often = 1;
const not_that_much = 3;


var planta = {
    marigold: {
        name: "Marigold",
        water_cycle: regularly,
    },
    lily: {
        name: "Lily",
        water_cycle: often
    },
    snap_dragon: {
        name: "Snap dragon",
        water_cycle: regularly
    },
    Cactus: {
        name: "Cactus",
        water_cycle: not_that_much
    },
    Succulent: {
        name: "Succulent",
        water_cycle: regularly
    },
    Amaryllis: {
        name: 'Amaryllis',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Beach_Spider_Lily: {
        name: 'Beach Spider Lily',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Belladonna_Lily: {
        name: 'Belladonna Lily',
        water_cycle: not_that_much
      },
      Calla_Lily: {
        name: 'Calla Lily',
        water_cycle: often
      },
      Coral_Berry: {
        name: 'Coral Berry',
        water_cycle: sometimes
      },
      Eternal_Flame:{
        name: 'Eternal Flame',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      False_Shamrock:{
        name: 'False Shamrock',
        water_cycle: sometimes
      },
      Flamingo_Flower_Plant: {
        name: 'Flamingo Flower Plant',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Kaffir_Lily_Plant: {
        name: 'Kaffir Lily Plant',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Lycaste_Orchid: {
        name: 'Lycaste Orchid',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Madagascar_Jasmine: {
        name: 'Madagascar Jasmine',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Moth_Orchid: {
        name: 'Moth Orchid',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Ornamental_Pepper_Plant: {
        name: 'Ornamental Pepper Plant',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Peace_Lily: {
        name: 'Peace Lily',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Rose_Of_China: {
        name: 'Rose Of China',
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Scarlet_Star: {
        name: 'Scarlet Star', 
        water_cycle: regularly
      },
      Winter_Cherry: {
        name: 'Winter Cherry',
        water_cycle: regularly
      }
};


module.exports = {
    planta: planta
}

const matrix = require("@matrix-io/matrix-lite");

const plantData = require("./plantData");

const fs = require("fs");

var inuse = false;

var toggle = false;

const servopin1 = 0;

const servopin2 = 1;

var methods = {};

var averageHumidity = 0;

var averageTemperature = 0;

var currentHumidity = {};

var previousHumidity = [];

var previousTemperature = [];

var counter = 0;

var currentTime = 0;

var iswatered = false;

var greenHouse = {};



methods.findAverageWaterCycle = function (arr) {

    var result = 0;

    if (arr) {

        for (var i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {

            try {

                result += (arr[i]).water_cycle;

            }

            catch (e) {

                console.log(e)

                console.log(arr[i]);

            }

        }

        result /= arr.length;

        switch (Math.round(result)) {

            case 1:

                return 18;

                break;

            case 2:

                return 36;

                break;

            case 3:

                return 72;

                break;

        }

    }

};



methods.clearData = function () {

    previousHumidity = [];
    previousTemperature = [];
}



methods.startWaiting = function () {

    toggle = true;

}
methods.stopWaiting = function () {

    toggle = false;
}



methods.tellHumidity = function (isAverage) {

    if (isAverage) {

        var res = 0;

        previousHumidity.forEach(element => {

            res += element;

        });

        return res / (previousHumidity.length);

    }

    else {

        return currentHumidity.humidity;

    }

}

methods.tellTemperature = function (isAverage) {
    var res = 0;
    if (isAverage) {
        previousTemperature.forEach(element => {
            res += element;
        });
        res /= previousTemperature.length;
    }
    else {
        res = currentHumidity.temperature;
    }
    return res;
}


methods.water = function () {
    iswatered = true;
    console.log("watering the plants");
}


methods.sleep = function (delay) {
    var start = new Date().getTime();
    while (new Date().getTime() < start + delay * 1000);
};
methods.timetohours = function (t) {
    return 1000 * t * 3600;
};
methods.reduceTime = function (t) {
    return t - 3600 * 1000;
};


methods.addPlant = function (plant) {
    greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1.push(plant)
}
methods.getPlants = function () {
    var res = '';
    greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1.forEach(element => {
        res += ' a ' + element + ' ,';
    })
    return res;
};
methods.removePlant = function (plant) {
    if (greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1.includes(plant)) {
        var index = greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1.indexOf(plant);
        greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1.splice(index, 1);
    }
}

methods.setupGreenHouse = function (lvl1, lvl2) {


    var lvl1Water = "";
    var lvl2Water = "";
    var plantsInlvl1 = lvl1;
    var plantsInlvl2 = lvl2;


    lvl1Water = methods.findAverageWaterCycle(plantsInlvl1);
    lvl2Water = methods.findAverageWaterCycle(plantsInlvl2);

    var timeleftlvl1 = methods.timetohours(lvl1Water);
    var timeleftlvl2 = methods.timetohours(lvl2Water);


    var greenhouse = {
        lvl1Water,
        plantsOnLevel1: lvl1,
        plantsOnLevel2: lvl2,
        lvl2Water,
        timeleftlvl1,
        timeleftlvl2
    }
    return greenhouse;
}


greenHouse = methods.setupGreenHouse([plantData.Succulent, plantData.Cactus, plantData.Amaryllis], [plantData.Marigold, plantData.Lily]);

matrix.gpio.setFunction(servopin1, "PWM");
matrix.gpio.setFunction(servopin2, "PWM");

matrix.gpio.setMode(servopin1, "output");
matrix.gpio.setMode(servopin2, "output");

matrix.gpio.setPWM({
    pin: servopin1,
    percentage: 25,
    frequency: 50
})
matrix.gpio.setPWM({
    pin: servopin2,
    percentage: 25,
    frequency: 50
})

setInterval(function () {

    inuse = true;

    if (greenHouse.timeleftlvl1 <= 0) {

        matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({

            pin: servopin1,

            angle: 0,
            min_pulse_ms: 0.1
        });

        matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({

            pin: servopin2,

            angle: 0,
            min_pulse_ms: 0.1

        });

        greenHouse.timeleftlvl1 = methods.timetohours(greenHouse.lvl1Water + 5 * Math.random() - 5 * Math.random());

        iswatered = false;

        methods.sleep(10);

    }
    else {

        matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({
            pin: servopin1,
            angle: 180,
            min_pulse_ms: 0.1
        });
        matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({
            pin: servopin2,
            angle: 180,
            min_pulse_ms: 0.1
        });
        greenHouse.timeleftlvl1 = methods.reduceTime(greenHouse.timeleftlvl1);
    }

    inuse = false;
}, methods.timetohours(1));



setInterval(function () {

    methods.clearData();

}, methods.timetohours(1 / 60));


setInterval(function () {

    var humidity = matrix.humidity.read();

    console.log(humidity);

    console.log(greenHouse.timeleftlvl1);

    console.log(greenHouse.timeleftlvl2);


    console.log(greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1);


    console.log(greenHouse.lvl1Water);

    console.log(greenHouse.lvl2Water);


    console.log(previousHumidity);


    console.log(previousTemperature);

    if (methods.findAverageWaterCycle(greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1) != greenHouse.lvl1Water) {

        greenHouse.lvl1Water = methods.findAverageWaterCycle(greenHouse.plantsOnLevel1);

    }
    currentHumidity = humidity;

    previousHumidity.push(currentHumidity.humidity);

    previousTemperature.push(currentHumidity.temperature);

    fs.appendFileSync('data.txt', "time is : " + String(currentTime++) + "\n");

    fs.appendFileSync('data.txt', "temperature is : " + String(humidity.temperature) + "\n");

    fs.appendFileSync('data.txt', "humidity is : " + String(humidity.humidity) + "\n")

    if (!inuse) {
        if (iswatered) {

            matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({
                pin: servopin1,
                angle: 0,
                min_pulse_ms: 0.1
            });

            matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({
                pin: servopin2,
                angle: 0,
                min_pulse_ms: 0.1
            });

            greenHouse.timeleftlvl1 = methods.timetohours(greenHouse.lvl1Water + 5 * Math.random() - 5 * Math.random());

            iswatered = false;

            methods.sleep(10);
        }
        else {

            matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({
                pin: servopin1,
                angle: 180,
                min_pulse_ms: 0.1
            });

            matrix.gpio.setServoAngle({
                pin: servopin2,
                angle: 180,
                min_pulse_ms: 0.1
            });

        }

    }

}, 1000);


setInterval(function () {

    if (toggle) matrix.led.set({ b: Math.sin(0.2 * counter) * 100 + 100 });

    else matrix.led.set({});


    counter++;
}, 50);

module.exports = methods;

/////////////
//VARIABLES//
/////////////
var mqtt = require('mqtt');
var client = mqtt.connect('mqtt://localhost', { port: 1883 });
var servo = require('./servo.js');
var snipsUsername = 'alexisCruz';
var wakeword = 'hermes/hotword/default/detected';
var sessionEnd = 'hermes/dialogueManager/sessionEnded';
var gardenControl = 'hermes/intent/' + snipsUsername + ':WaterTheGarden';

//snips method to respond
client.snipsRespond = function (payload) {
        client.publish(
                'hermes/dialogueManager/endSession',
                JSON.stringify({
                        sessionId: payload.sessionId,
                        text: payload.text
                })
        );

};

//////////////
//ON CONNECT//
//////////////
client.on('connect', function () {
        console.log('Connected to snips mqtt server\n');
        client.subscribe(wakeword);
        client.subscribe(sessionEnd);
        client.subscribe(gardenControl);
});

// when receiving a message
client.on('message', function (topic, message) {
        var message = JSON.parse(message);
        switch (topic) {
                // * On Wakeword
                case wakeword:
                        servo.startWaiting();
                        console.log('Wakeword Detected');
                        break;
                // * On gardenControl call
                case gardenControl:
                        try {
                                //tell the average of a certain data type
                                if (message.slots[0].value.value === 'get' && message.slots[1].value.value === 'average') {
                                        //get average temperature
                                        if (message.slots[2].value.value === 'temperature') {
                                                client.snipsRespond({
                                                        sessionId: message.sessionId,
                                                        text: String(Math.round(servo.tellTemperature(true) * 100) / 100) + " degrees celsius"
                                                });
                                        }
                                        //get average humidity 
                                        else if (message.slots[2].value.value === 'humidity') {
                                                client.snipsRespond({
                                                        sessionId: message.sessionId,
                                                        text: String(Math.round(servo.tellHumidity(true) * 100) / 100) + " grams of water per cubic meter"
                                                });
                                        }

                                        servo.clearData();
                                        servo.stopWaiting();
                                }
                                //get the current temperature
                                else if (message.slots[0].value.value === 'get' && message.slots[1].value.value === 'temperature') {
                                        client.snipsRespond({
                                                sessionId: message.sessionId,
                                                text: String(Math.round(servo.tellTemperature(false) * 100) / 100) + " degrees celsius"
                                        });
                                        servo.clearData();
                                        servo.stopWaiting();
                                }
                                //get the current humidity
                                else if (message.slots[0].value.value === 'get' && message.slots[1].value.value === 'humidity') {
                                        client.snipsRespond({
                                                sessionId: message.sessionId,
                                                text: String(Math.round(servo.tellHumidity(false) * 100) / 100) + " percent"
                                        });

                                        servo.clearData();
                                        servo.stopWaiting();
                                }
                                //water the plants
                                else if (message.slots[0].value.value === 'water') {
                                        servo.water();
                                } 
                                //name the current plants
                                else if (message.slots[0].slotName === 'currentPlants') {
                                        client.snipsRespond({
                                                sessionId: message.sessionId,
                                                text: String(servo.getPlants())
                                        });
                                } 
                                //add a new plant
                                else if (message.slots[0].value.value === 'add' && message.slots[1].slotName === 'plantTypes') {
                                        servo.addPlant(message.slots[1].value.value);
                                        client.snipsRespond({
                                                sessionId: message.sessionId,
                                                text: String(message.slots[1].value.value) + " was added to your collection"
                                        });

                                }
                                //remove a plant
                                else if (message.slots[0].value.value === 'remove' && message.slots[1].slotName === 'plantTypes') {
                                        servo.removePlant(message.slots[1].value.value);
                                        client.snipsRespond({
                                                sessionId: message.sessionId,
                                                text: String(message.slots[1].value.value) + " was removed from your collection"
                                        });
                                }
                                
                                else {
                                        servo.stopWaiting();
                                }
                        } catch (e) {
                                // Expect error if nothing is understood
                                console.log(e);
                        }
                        break;
                // * On Conversation End
                case sessionEnd:
                        servo.stopWaiting();
                        console.log('session ended\n');
                        break;
        }
});

Credits

alexis Cruz

8 projects • 12 followers

EcoHub V1.0 (MATRIX Creator Controlled Greenhouse)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Hardware

The Build

The Code

The Finished Project

Future Additions

Custom parts and enclosures

Matrix Creator Holster

Code

plantData.js

servo.js

assistant.js

Credits

alexis Cruz

Comments

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EcoHub V1.0 (MATRIX Creator Controlled Greenhouse)

EcoHub V1.0 (MATRIX Creator Controlled Greenhouse)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Hardware

The Build

The Code

The Finished Project

Future Additions

Custom parts and enclosures

Matrix Creator Holster

Code

plantData.js

servo.js

assistant.js

Credits

alexis Cruz

Comments

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