Overview
Things
Story

Overall Design
01 Plant
02 Bristle

Published August 10, 2020

BristleBot - IoT Data Visualization

Real-time artwork based on collected data.

BeginnerWork in progress2 hours2,409

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino MKR1000

Temperature Sensor

Honeywell Phototransistor

Resistor 220 ohm

Through Hole Resistor, 110 kohm

Breadboard (generic)

Micro-USB to USB Cable (Generic)

Jumper wires (generic)

9V battery (generic)

Snap-on Connector, For 1 9-V Battery

DC motor (generic)

SparkFun Dual H-Bridge motor drivers L298

Bristle

Plant

Paprika powder

Paper (size A0)

Wooden Sticks 30 x 1 x 1 cm

Lime Green Tape

Some Glue

Empty Toilet Paper Roll

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

ThingSpeak API

Story

Overall Design

01 Plant

Create a channel on Thinkspeak, set the fields: Moisture, Temperature, Light, get the Write API and Read API
Make sure that you download the ThinkSpeak library
Fill in your WiFi credentials and the channel´s Write API

#include <WiFi101.h>
#include<WiFiSSLClient.h>
#include <RTCZero.h>
#include "ThingSpeak.h"

const char* ssid = "";    //  your network SSID (name)
const char* password = "";  // your network password

WiFiClient  ThingSpeakClient;

unsigned long myChannelNumber = 10;
const char * myWriteAPIKey = ""; // your write API key from Thinkspeak

ThinkSpeak Channel Charts

02 Bristle

Components for BristleBot

Assembled Bristlebot

Fill the paint cartridge with powder paint. You can use paprika seasoning for instance.

Powder Paint

Build an octagon from the wooden sticks. If you build a rectangle, bot might get stuck in the corners.

Fill in your WiFi credentials and the channel´s Read API.

#include "ThingSpeak.h"
#include <WiFi101.h>
const char ssid[] = "xxx";  // your network SSID (name)
const char pass[] = "xxx";   // your network password         
WiFiClient  client;

unsigned long counterChannelNumber = xxx;            // Channel ID
const char * myCounterReadAPIKey = "xxx";             // Read API Key
const int FieldNumber1 = 1;  // The field you wish to read --- moisture
const int FieldNumber2 = 2;  // The field you wish to read --- temperature
const int FieldNumber3 = 3;  // The field you wish to read --- light

You may also adjust the optimal conditions - according to your plant.

// optimal environmental conditions for your plant
int minMoisture = 1.5;
int maxMoisture = 2;
int minTemperature = 25;
int maxTemperature = 29;
int minLight = 1022;
int maxLight = 1023;

Place the Bot in the octagonal arena and let it start painting!

Code

#include <WiFi101.h>
#include<WiFiSSLClient.h>
#include <RTCZero.h>
#include "ThingSpeak.h"

const char* ssid = "";    //  your network SSID (name)
const char* password = "";  // your network password

WiFiClient  ThingSpeakClient;

unsigned long myChannelNumber = 10;
const char * myWriteAPIKey = ""; // your wrie API key from Thinkspeak

RTCZero rtc; // create RTC object

/* Change these values to set the current initial time */
const byte seconds = 0;
const byte minutes = 28;
const byte hours = 17;

/* Change these values to set the current initial date */
const byte day = 4;
const byte month = 12;
const byte year = 17;


int lightPin = A0; //the analog pin the light sensor is connected to
int tempPin = A1; //the analog pin the TMP36's Vout (sense) pin is connected to
int moisturePin= A2; 

// Set this threeshold accordingly to the resistance you used
// The easiest way to calibrate this value is to test the sensor in both dry and wet earth 
int threeshold= 800; 

bool alert_already_sent=false;
bool email_already_sent=true;
bool already_sent_to_cloud=true;

unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
const long interval = 2000;

void setup() {
  previousMillis = millis();

    Serial.begin(9600);
    while(!Serial);
    delay(2000);
    Serial.print("Connecting Wifi: ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    while (WiFi.begin(ssid, password) != WL_CONNECTED) {
      Serial.print(".");
      delay(500);
    }
  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("WiFi connected");
  
  
  rtc.begin(); // initialize RTC 24H format
  rtc.setTime(hours, minutes, seconds);
  rtc.setDate(day, month, year);
  rtc.setAlarmTime(17, 30, 0);  // Set the time for the Arduino to send the email
  
  ThingSpeak.begin(ThingSpeakClient);
  
  rtc.setAlarmTime(0, 0, 0);    //in this way the request is sent every minute at 0 seconds
  rtc.enableAlarm(rtc.MATCH_SS);
  rtc.attachInterrupt(thingspeak_alarm);

}

void loop() {
  
if ((millis () - previousMillis) >= interval) {
  if(!already_sent_to_cloud){
    ThingSpeak.setField(1,get_light());
    ThingSpeak.setField(2,get_temperature());
    ThingSpeak.setField(3,get_average_moisture());
    ThingSpeak.writeFields(myChannelNumber, myWriteAPIKey); 
    already_sent_to_cloud=true;
    Serial.println("message sent to cloud");
    previousMillis = millis();
  }
  }
}

float get_temperature(){
  int reading = analogRead(tempPin);  
  float voltage = reading * 3.3;
  voltage /= 1024.0; 
  
 // Print tempeature in Celsius
 float temperatureC = (voltage - 0.5) * 100 ; //converting from 10 mv per degree wit 500 mV offset

 // Convert to Fahrenheit
 float temperatureF = (temperatureC * 9.0 / 5.0) + 32.0;
 
 return temperatureC;
}
int get_average_moisture(){ // make an average of 10 values to be more accurate
  
  int tempValue=0; // variable to temporarly store moisture value
  for(int a=0; a<10; a++){
    tempValue+=analogRead(moisturePin);
    delay(1000);
  }
  return tempValue/10;
}
int get_light(){
  int light_value=analogRead(A0);
  return light_value;
}

void thingspeak_alarm(){
    already_sent_to_cloud=false;
}

#include "ThingSpeak.h"
#include <WiFi101.h>
const char ssid[] = "";  // your network SSID (name)
const char pass[] = "";   // your network password         
WiFiClient  client;

unsigned long counterChannelNumber = ;            // Channel ID
const char * myCounterReadAPIKey = ""; // Read API Key
const int FieldNumber1 = 1;  // The field you wish to read --- moisture
const int FieldNumber2 = 2;  // The field you wish to read --- temperature
const int FieldNumber3 = 3;  // The field you wish to read --- light

int in2 = 2; int in3 = 3; // Motor A connections
int in4 = 4; int in5 = 5; // Motor B connections

// optimal environmental conditions for your plant
int minMoisture = 1.5;
int maxMoisture = 2;
int minTemperature = 25;
int maxTemperature = 29;
int minLight = 1022;
int maxLight = 1023;

void setup()
{
    Serial.begin(9600);
    while(!Serial);
    delay(2000);
    Serial.print("Connecting Wifi: ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    while (WiFi.begin(ssid, pass) != WL_CONNECTED) {
      Serial.print(".");
      delay(2000);
    }
    Serial.println("");
    Serial.println("WiFi connected");
    ThingSpeak.begin(client);
    delay(2000);
     
  // Set all the motor control pins to outputs
  pinMode(in2, OUTPUT); pinMode(in3, OUTPUT);pinMode(in4, OUTPUT); pinMode(in5, OUTPUT);
  // Turn off motors - Initial state
  digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, LOW); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW); 
  delay(2000);
}

void loop()
{  //-------------- Read it from Thinkspeak  -------------//
  //----------------Field 1 ----------------//
  int statusCode1 = 0; 
  long moisture = ThingSpeak.readLongField(counterChannelNumber, FieldNumber1, myCounterReadAPIKey);
  statusCode1 = ThingSpeak.getLastReadStatus();
     if (statusCode1 == 200)
         { Serial.print("|| Moisture: "); Serial.print(moisture); }
  delay(1000);
  //-------------- Field 2 -------------//
  int statusCode2 = 0; 
  long temperature = ThingSpeak.readLongField(counterChannelNumber, FieldNumber2, myCounterReadAPIKey);
  statusCode2 = ThingSpeak.getLastReadStatus();
       if (statusCode2 == 200)
        { Serial.print(" || Temperature: "); Serial.println(temperature); }
  delay(1000);
 //-------------- Field 3 -------------//
  int statusCode3 = 0; 
  long light = ThingSpeak.readLongField(counterChannelNumber, FieldNumber3, myCounterReadAPIKey);
  statusCode3 = ThingSpeak.getLastReadStatus();
      if (statusCode3 == 200)
        { Serial.print(" || Light: "); Serial.println(light); }
  delay(1000);
  
 //-------------- Do something with the motors  -------------//
           if (moisture > minMoisture && temperature > minTemperature && temperature <= maxTemperature &&  light > minLight)
           { Serial.print(" plant is happy ");
              // put on motor A
              digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, HIGH); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
              delay(2000);
              digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, LOW); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
              delay(2000);    
          }
          else {
                    if (moisture < minMoisture && temperature > maxTemperature)
                    { Serial.print(" plant is in danger ");
                      // put on motor A
                       digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, HIGH); digitalWrite(in4, HIGH); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
                       delay(2500);
                       digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, LOW); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
                       delay(2000);    
                    }
                    else {
                            if (moisture < maxMoisture && temperature < minTemperature && light < minLight)
                             { Serial.print(" plant is sad ");
                               // put on motor A
                               digitalWrite(in2, HIGH); digitalWrite(in3, LOW); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
                               delay(1500);
                               digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, LOW); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
                               delay(2000);    
                             }
                             else
                             { Serial.print(" plant is doing fine ");
                             // put on motor A
                              digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, HIGH); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
                              delay(1500);
                              digitalWrite(in2, LOW); digitalWrite(in3, LOW); digitalWrite(in4, LOW); digitalWrite(in5, LOW);
                              delay(2000);    
                             }
                          }

                   }
          delay(30000);  
}