Smart Plant

Brief description

Smart Plant is an innovative IoT solution designed to optimize plant irrigation. The solution utilizes the ESP32 microcontroller, runs on the RIOT OS, and integrates with the AWS ecosystem to enhance its functionality.

Problem

Frequently, the question arises about the best watering frequency for plants. However, having too much information can be tricky, as there's a risk of overwatering or underwatering, which can harm the plant. Striking the right balance becomes crucial, blending irrigation science with careful observation and common sense. The goal is to maintain plant health by steering clear of both excess and water deficiency.

Component

Heltec LoRa 32 and Riot OS

Sensors

- Soil moisture: sensor monitors the level of humidity in the soil. This sensors provide valuable insights into the moisture content, allowing us to assess the plant's water needs accurately. By understanding the soil's moisture levels, we can implement more precise and efficient irrigation strategies, ensuring optimal conditions for plant growth.

- Water level sensor checks that we have a sufficient amount of water in our tank for irrigating our plants. This ensures that when needed, the water pump will have an adequate supply for irrigation.

Actuators

- Water pump irrigates the plants. The activation of the water pump is initiated by a humidity sensor, triggered only when the plant's humidity drops below a specific threshold, which varies based on the type of plants.

AWS ecosystem

The details collected by the two sensors are sent to the AWS system, allowing us to continuously monitor the plant's status. AWS IoT Core ensures secure communication between the ESP32 board and the cloud, where the information is securely stored in Amazon DynamoDB. Real-time data processing is carried out by AWS Lambda functions. Amazon API Gateway provides a secure website for users to monitor and control the system, and AWS Amplify simplifies the creation of a user-friendly app. All in all, these services ensure a seamless connection for the smart Plant project, enabling real-time data analysis, access control, and an improved user experience.

Sample period:

How often should the humidity be measured? The plant's humidity will be measured using a linear function based on the average time it takes for the plant to return to a dry state given its optimal condition. If the plant is below a certain threshold, it will be watered from below, and after 20 minutes, the time needed for the plant to absorb water, a new measurement will be taken.

How often should the water level be measured? The frequency of measuring the water level is tied to the plant's irrigation cycle. Given that the water level primarily changes when we irrigate the plant, measurements are scheduled immediately after each irrigation event.

Irrigation: Optimal Growth with Bottom Watering

In the Smart Plant system, we prioritize bottom watering to ensure a consistent and efficient distribution of moisture in the soil. Using a tube for watering presents challenges in achieving uniform soil wetting. By adopting bottom watering, we address the risk of overwatering, promote the development of robust root systems, and encourage even root distribution in the soil. This method minimizes the potential for plant pests and fungal diseases. The brief retention of moisture in the soil allows plants to absorb precisely the amount of water they need, fostering healthy growth while preventing issues associated with excess water. The strategic placement of the watering tube in the project also reflects the impossibility of uniformly irrigating the plant from above.

Web dashboard

Video demonstration