Project Overview

Introduction

Plants have kept us alive and breathing for millennia, and their presence in a home can filter the air to keep us healthier and add a very nice natural feel to the dwelling. Anyone with houseplants or a garden knows that it is far too easy to neglect the plants and start in on a cycle of under- and over-watering, ultimately killing the plants. We sought to design an automated system to monitor soil moisture, keeping plants alive and healthy, thus keeping nearby humans healthier and happier. The system should be easy to install and operate, and provide consistent monitoring and watering of the soil for nearly any type of plant.

Description

The Water Automation System for Plants (WASP) eases the burden of the gardener by constantly monitoring the soil moisture level and only watering when the plant needs it. It comprises two capacitive sensors placed 4” deep in the soil that monitor the soil moisture based on the dielectric constant. The moisture information is sent to a Raspberry Pi microcontroller, which compares the level to the user-defined threshold. If the soil is too dry, a valve is opened on the attached tank to allow water flow to the plant. The system also includes a touchscreen GUI that is simple and intuitive for the user.