Independent Design Project

Smart Garden

Design Problem:

We created an irrigation system that takes evaporated water and cools it down to sufficiently water plants. With this tool, people in third world countries do not have to walk for miles every day just to water their meals. This self-watering gadget was designed to be entered in the tech fair under the category design modification.

Criteria:

It had to modify a device (ours was a dehumidifier).
Must have a useful purpose and be able to expand to solve a real world problem (application).
Most explain in presentation how we came up with idea.

Constraints:

We had a limited budget.
We had about a month for the time to build it.
Most of the materials were limited to the ones in the classroom.

Rough Brainstorm Sketch, Prototype Images, and Arduino Code:

How it Works:

First, you fill a bucket up with water. This water is in a greenhouse and will condensate in the white cooler. This cooler is filled with ice, so it cools down the water in the plastic tubes. The plastic tube then connects to a device that releases the water, and it goes through a copper tube. The copper tube collects the water and the water drips down and waters the plants. We used a humidity sensor that informs the device to open when water is needed.

Code Design Process:

I mainly worked on the coding for the Arduino. We used a soil moisture sensor to read the moisture in the soil. I did this by making a void loop that used the serial print function to print the the moisture value in the serial monitor. This moisture value would be used to determine when a solenoid value would open to water the plant. Through multiple tests in different types of soil with different amounts of water, dry air, and pure water, we took data and determined that 0 is completely dry and 610 is the maximum soil moisture value. Using our data, I determined at what value the plants need water. I used the if command on Arduino to open and close the solenoid valve at these set intervals. I learned how to set up the circuit on the bread board through researching the parts in which we were using.

Evaluation 11/9:

Original Improvements:

Our design needs to become a working prototype. We don't really have a way to test it, because of the fact that we can't set it out in the heat anymore. So it would be nice to find a way to get the water in the bucket to be evaporated, that way we could see how well it works.
We need to 3D print a piece that will contain all of our wires because they are all lose right now. This was one of the notes from the judges.
The copper tubes are kind of small so they might take a long time to give enough water to the plants. So using bigger tubes might make sure that the plants are watered fast enough.
We need to spend more time coming up with what we are going to say for our judges presentation. This would address the judges note of explanations of real world uses.
It would be better to find an alternative to ice to cool the water down, because the ice might melt too fast and it would be difficult to replace it. Using devices such as an air conditioner would be more efficient since it eliminates some unnecessary steps in our design.
Using a tray to collect the evaporated water might be more functional than using the curtain, because the curtain might make the water drip back down.

Improvements Made to the Project 11/12 - 12/20:

I continued to work on the electronics. I used the Fritzing app to develop a technical circuit drawing. This has the potential to be used to sent and made into a smaller condensed version that we can use to clean up the aesthetic of our design.
Toby researched using a solar panel powered air conditioner instead of ice. This would make the design completely energy free and possible in arid conditions such as Africa, which is essential for the application requirement for the project.

Fritzing - Technical Drawings and Circuit Designs:

Breadboard

Schematic

PCB

Code

By developing these technical drawings, I now better understand the components to the circuit and how to assemble it properly. I learned how to use Fritzing. To design these, I first took what I had before one the physical breadboard and entered it into the program, learning how to use the somewhat difficult controls and navigate the app. Secondly, I attempted to route all of the wires on the PCB so that there was no over lap. This would enable the possibility of getting it ordered as a chip. After much experimentation, I discovered that it was not possible with the way my circuit was currently set up. So I went and adjusted the circuit on the breadboard by switching and moving wires. For example, I changed were the voltage power was coming from and corrected the placement of the ground wire. With these edits, the PCB routing was much easier to accomplish. I made none of the wires cross and then changed it to look nice and use the least possible material with the smallest design. Finally, I made the breadboard and schematic easier to read and more aesthetically pleasing.

Next Steps for 2nd Semester:

Using the I need to test and make adjustments as needed to the solenoid valve. in order to get in functioning.
I might possibly order the condensed version for a neater appearance.
Andre is going to make a 3D printed piece to house the electronics (unless we get a chip from Fritzing).
He is also going to refine the evaporator system and research solar stills. His main goal is making this section of the prototype functional.
Andre is also in charge of adding more coils to the copper wire.
We possibly might implement Toby's research of solar panels and solar stills into the design.

Design #2: Commercial, Home, and Retail Use:

After considering the fact that we could not make a prototype functional and testable without warm weather conditions for the water to evaporate, we decided to focus on the technical coding portion of the project that was functional and changed our focus to commercial use.

Updated Design Problem:

We designed a self sustaining device for to be sold for in-home use that waters your plants for you based on soil moisture level. This would be useful and convenient for people because it solves the problem of people forgetting to water their plants. This self-watering gadget was designed to be entered in the state tech fair under the category design modification.

Constraint Time Change:

We had till January 27 to get our design ready for regions. We now have till mid March to change our device for state.

Prototype Images and Arduino Code 1/7/2020:

Evaluation 1/7/2020:

Improvements and Next Goals 1/7/2020:

The Smart Garden project won regions. We hope to be able to build on the idea of commercial use by developing an app to connect to the arduino code using bluetooth to be able to control the amount of water needed depending on the type of plant. This will serve as a solution to the suggestion given during judging that the water saturation should be controllable. I will develop an app using Andriod Studio. Andre is going to build a Website on Webley to host the store, product information, and a link to the app. We would ideally like to be able to make a Fritzing chip to be able to not have an arduino board on the side of the garden. We are going to make a CAD model for the updated water stand.

CAD Model:

Constraint Time Change:

Due to Covid-19, the state tech fair was cancelled. We now have a whole other year to work on our design.

Updates 12/15/20:

During the new school year, I have worked on developing my app for the Smart Garden. I went from using Android Studio to MIT App Inventor since it is much more user friendly and does not require knowledge of JAVA. Since switching app programs, I have made much more progress. I have had to research how to use the program by watching many videos and self teach myself along the design journey.

Smart Garden App Design:

Disclaimer: The images shown on this Portfolio and on the computer do not look the same as they on the phone interface. I will provide better pictures of how the app looks on an Android phone after the break.

The app home face has been designed and looks very aesthetically pleasing. I have made five other pages and and programmed the buttons on the home page to take the user to it's corresponding page when the button is clicked. I have also programmed a return to home button that has been tested and work on the Android demonstration phone. I have researched the tool I will be using which is the slider feature that I will need to adjust the water saturation. I have researched by watching youtube videos how to accomplish this using bluetooth.

Midterm Progress Check 12/15/20:

The app looks nice and has been tested using the Android phone. Users can navigate between pages with buttons. However, the app has not been connected to the Arduino code via Bluetooth so that needs to be done next semester before the Rome Tech fair. Andre has physically built a new stand according to the CAD model which will look nice for our presentation.

Improvements to Make before Rome Tech Fair:

Make the app connected to the arduino code to control water saturation.
Finish the rest of the pages of the app.
Physically assemble the Smart garden and make sure we have all the components from last year and get the garden working again.
Ideally buy some plants for the demonstration.

Improvements to Make Long Term:

Possibly redesign the smart garden into something that people would realistically would have in their homes by making it smaller and something that can be set in an existing potted plant.
This would need to be done my making a fritzing chip to replace the arduino board.
Try to make it battery powered so we do not have to worry about finding a plug for the presentation.
Redesign the existing soil moisture value scale to a more standardized measurement.
Make a guide for different types of plants and how much water they need.
Continue to build the smart garden website.

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