Final Project¶
Sustainable Homes Theme 🏠
In our batch, with so many students bringing unique and exciting ideas, we were asked to choose from four themes for our final projects. These themes were Education, Sustainable Homes, Healthcare, and Interactive Play. Once the themes were selected, we were required to conduct research using Google Scholar to gather reliable sources and find at least 5 matching keywords to guide our project. This research was crucial in shaping our understanding and approach to the final project.
This week I worked on defining my final project idea and started to getting used to the documentation process.
Transition to Sustainable Homes 🏠 After finalizing our theme choices, all students were divided into smaller groups. My group consists of three members: me, Zahra, and Ahmed. We decided to take a collaborative approach, where instead of immediately sharing our ideas, we each took time to think, sketch, and conceptualize our ideas before presenting them to the group. This allowed us to fully explore each concept and see how they might work together.
Here’s a quick overview of the ideas:
My Idea: Smart Plant Watering System 🪴 Kawther suggested a system where plants are watered through an app on a phone. The system allows users to schedule watering times, ensuring plants receive the right amount of water, at the right time, based on real-time sensor data.
Zahra’s Idea: Smart Bird Sink 🐦 Zahra proposed an innovative idea for a smart bird sink. This sink would detect when birds are drinking or bathing, and afterward, it would direct the used water to a wastewater tank. The water would then be used to irrigate a safe and edible plant for the birds to feed on.
Ahemd’s Idea: Two Weather Monitoring Systems ⛅
Indoor System Concept:¶
Our indoor system would include features from all our ideas, such as:
▪️ Weather monitoring sensors to track environmental conditions indoors. ▪️ Smart plant watering based on the indoor climate, controlled via an app. ▪️ Smart water recycling where water used for indoor plants is efficiently managed and reused, promoting water conservation.
How AgroLink Came to Life 🌱¶
The name “AgroLink” reflects our vision of linking agriculture and technology to create a sustainable, interconnected home ecosystem. The project emerged from our desire to blend natural elements—like plants, water, and sunlight—with modern technology. This connection, or “link,” between traditional agricultural practices and IoT-based smart systems became the foundation of AgroLink, a system designed to empower homeowners and gardeners with innovative tools to care for their plants.
The Aim of AgroLink 🎯¶
AgroLink aims to optimize home gardening through smart technology. The goal is to enhance sustainability in home environments by efficiently managing resources like water, light, and energy while automating plant care. Our system monitors and responds to environmental changes, ensuring plants thrive while minimizing waste. AgroLink is designed to make indoor gardening easier, smarter, and more eco-friendly by reducing manual intervention and improving resource use.
Target Audience 🎯¶
The target audience for AgroLink includes:
▪️ Homeowners passionate about indoor gardening and smart home solutions. ▪️ Environmentally-conscious individuals who want to reduce waste, conserve water, and use sustainable energy sources. ▪️ Urban gardeners who have limited outdoor space but still want a thriving indoor garden. ▪️ Smart home enthusiasts who are interested in integrating agriculture with technology for a greener living environment.
How the System Works 🔧¶
AgroLink is an automated indoor plant care system that uses sensors and IoT to monitor and control environmental conditions. Here’s how it functions:
Sensor Integration:
Proximity Sensor: Detects when a bird is near the smart bird sink and triggers the water pump to fill the sink for bathing or drinking. Once the bird finishes, the water is recycled to irrigate plants. Soil Moisture Sensor: Measures the moisture level in the soil to determine if the plants need watering. When the soil is dry, the system automatically waters the plants. Water Level Sensor: Ensures the water level in the bird sink or the plant’s water supply is adequate. If the water is too low, the system will prevent over-draining or trigger a refill. Light Intensity Sensor: Monitors the amount of light the plants receive, helping optimize indoor lighting to mimic ideal growing conditions for different plant species. Data Processing:
Initially, we planned to use ThingSpeak to process and visualize data, but due to system integration challenges, we switched to Blynk. Blynk allows for seamless real-time monitoring and control, with data from the sensors displayed in a user-friendly mobile app interface. Smart Water Management:
Micro Servo Motor: Controls a 3D-printed valve that regulates the flow of water to the plants. When the soil moisture sensor detects dryness, the servo adjusts the valve to release water. Water Pump: Used to pump fresh water into the bird sink for the birds to drink and bathe. After use, the water flows via gravity to the plants for irrigation, managed by the other sensors that trigger actions (e.g., when the soil moisture is low, water will be directed to the plants). Energy Efficiency:
While we initially planned an outdoor system powered by solar panels, time constraints led us to focus solely on an indoor solution. The indoor system is powered via the electrical grid, but future versions could incorporate renewable energy sources. Automated Actions:
Instead of sending custom alerts, AgroLink’s sensors directly trigger actions. For example, when the soil moisture is low, the system automatically waters the plants. When a bird is detected, water is pumped into the bird sink and later reused for plant irrigation.
Key Features 🌟¶
Automated Indoor Watering: Soil moisture sensors ensure plants are watered only when needed, conserving water and reducing the need for manual intervention.
Recycled Water System: The water used in the bird sink is repurposed for irrigating plants, promoting sustainability.
Smart Light Monitoring: The light intensity sensor ensures plants receive optimal light levels for healthy growth.
IoT Integration with Blynk: Users can monitor the system’s performance and sensor data in real-time through the Blynk app.
3D-Printed Valve Control: The micro servo motor controls a custom 3D-printed valve to regulate water flow precisely.
Potential Challenges and Solutions 🧩¶
Challenge: Sensor Calibration
Solution: Regular calibration of soil moisture and light sensors will ensure accurate measurements. Testing under different conditions will refine the system’s responses. Challenge: Water Recycling Efficiency
Solution: Ensure that the proximity sensor accurately detects when birds are using the sink to avoid premature water recycling. Adjusting sensor sensitivity can help fine-tune the timing of water collection. Challenge: Energy Consumption
Solution: While solar panels were initially planned for outdoor use, optimizing indoor energy consumption by using energy-efficient components will reduce the system’s overall power usage. Challenge: Servo Valve Durability
Solution: The 3D-printed valve controlled by the servo motor may wear out over time. We plan to test different materials and designs to ensure long-term durability and reliability.
Fusion¶
2D and 3D Modeling¶
Add here your modeling and design.
Materials 💁♀️¶
Here’s an organized table of materials for AgroLink featuring the category, item, description, and model:
| Category | Description | Item | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measures the water level in the bird sink or plant water supply | Water Level Sensor | Water Level Sensor | Order many | |
| Detects soil moisture levels to control plant watering | Soil Moisture Sensor | Capacitive Sensor v1.2 | ||
| Detects birds near the bird sink to trigger water flow | Proximity Sensor | Adafruit APDS9960 | ||
| Monitors light levels to ensure optimal plant growth | Light Intensity Sensor | LDR Module | ||
| Measures temperature and humidity inside the indoor system | Temperature/Humidity Sensor | DHT11 | ||
| Monitors air quality and pollution levels in the indoor environment | Air Quality Sensor | MQ-135 | ||
| Microcontrollers | Main controller for sensor data and system automation | Arduino Uno | Arduino Uno Rev3 | |
| WiFi-enabled microcontroller for data readings and wireless transmission | Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 | Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 | ||
| Water Management | Controls the 3D-printed valve to regulate water flow | Micro Servo Motor | SG90 Servo | |
| Pumps fresh water into the bird sink; water flows to plants via gravity | Water Pump | Mini Submersible Pump | ||
| Opens and closes the pump to control water flow | Relay Module | 5V Relay Module | ||
| Tubing for water distribution to plants | Hoses and Valves | PVC Hoses | ||
| Power Supply | Main power source for the indoor system | Power Adapters | 12V DC Adapter | |
| App & Platform | Real-time monitoring and control of the system via mobile app | Blynk Platform | Blynk IoT | |
| Miscellaneous | Water pipes for distribution and recycling | Tubing | Silicon Tubing | |
| Connections for sensors and power | Connectors and Wires | Standard Jumper Wires | ||
| Used for connecting the sensors and components | Breadboard | Half-size Breadboard | ||
| Used for fresh and recycled water storage | Water Containers | Plastic Containers |
🐰 This table offers a comprehensive breakdown of the materials used in the AgroLink project, making it easier for viewers to understand each component’s purpose and model.
Why the Project Was Divided into Two Parts 🤔❓: We decided to divide the project into two parts to enhance the system’s efficiency and reliability:
-
Data Readings & Monitoring (Arduino MKR WiFi 1010): This part is responsible for gathering real-time data from the sensors and transmitting it wirelessly to the Blynk app. The Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 was chosen because of its built-in WiFi capabilities, which enable smooth wireless communication. It allows the system to relay information such as water level, soil moisture, light intensity, temperature, humidity, and air quality directly to the user’s phone. By using this microcontroller, we ensure the data is accessible remotely and provides real-time insights into the environmental conditions.
-
System Actions (Arduino Uno): The second part of the system is dedicated to performing actions based on the sensor readings. This includes triggering the water pump through the relay module, controlling the 3D-printed valve with the servo motor, and managing the watering process for plants. The Arduino Uno was chosen for this role because it is a robust and reliable board for handling simple automation tasks. By separating the action control from the data transmission, we ensure that the system operates smoothly, reducing the risk of delays or miscommunication between processes.
This division not only optimizes the performance but also ensures that the system can function effectively, even if one part experiences issues. The Arduino Uno focuses solely on taking action based on pre-programmed logic, while the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 handles the complexity of wireless data transfer and real-time monitoring.
Useful links¶
Code Overview and Integration 💻¶
Water Level Sensor 🌊¶
The water level sensor detects the amount of water in the bird sink. It outputs different readings depending on whether the sink is empty, low, medium, or full.
Code Explanation: This code reads the analog signal from the water level sensor and prints its state to the serial monitor.
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
int value = analogRead(A1);
if (value == 0){
Serial.println("Empty");
} else if (value > 1 && value < 200) {
Serial.println("Low");
} else if (value > 201 && value < 220) {
Serial.println("Medium");
} else if (value > 220){
Serial.println("High");
}
}
What the User Sees:
▪️ The water level (empty, low, medium, or full) is printed in the Serial Monitor.
Pin Arrangement:
▪️ Sensor Pin: A1
Temperature & Humidity Sensor (DHT11) 🌡️¶
This code reads data from the DHT11 sensor to measure the temperature and humidity in the environment.
#include <DHT11.h>
DHT11 dht11(2);
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
int temperature = 0;
int humidity = 0;
int result = dht11.readTemperatureHumidity(temperature, humidity);
if (result == 0) {
Serial.print("Temperature: ");
Serial.print(temperature);
Serial.print(" °C\tHumidity: ");
Serial.print(humidity);
Serial.println(" %");
} else {
Serial.println(DHT11::getErrorString(result));
}
}
What the User Sees:
▪️ Temperature and humidity values are printed in degrees Celsius and percentage.
Pin Arrangement:
▪️ Data Pin: Digital Pin 2
Light Intensity Sensor 🌚/🌝¶
The light intensity sensor measures ambient light levels, indicating whether it’s light or dark.
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
int analogValue = analogRead(A3);
Serial.print("Analog reading: ");
Serial.print(analogValue);
if (analogValue < 400) {
Serial.println(" - Light");
}
else (analogValue < 800); {
Serial.println(" - Dark");
}
}
From Youtube¶
3D Models¶
This project will serve as a foundation for creating smarter, more sustainable homes, integrating technology to make everyday life more efficient and eco-friendly 🌎.