Automated Greenhouse System

In this project an automated greenhouse system is developed, with an aim to improve the crop productivity under a controlled environment. Temperature, light, humidity and soil moisture are critical factors that affect plant growth. For this purpose temperature, light, humidity and soil moisture sens

Project Title

Automated Greenhouse System

Project Area of Specialization

Internet of Things

Project Summary

In this project an automated greenhouse system is developed, with an aim to improve the crop productivity under a controlled environment. Temperature, light, humidity and soil moisture are critical factors that affect plant growth. For this purpose temperature, light, humidity and soil moisture sensors are used to collect critical data. Arduino mega 2560 is used to take necessary decisions based on threshold values of these environmental parameters.. The control system then generates control signals to actuate exhaust fan and sprinklers, depending upon the environmental parameters. In order to monitor the crop growth remotely, a camera is installed inside the green house system and the video is transmitted wirelessly to an android app. User can keep track of the environmental parameters and crop health through the android app. Moreover, actuators can also be actuated through the app, if required. For improving the crop growth and maintaining the health of the crops a special combination of red and blue LEDs is used. A comparison of crop grown under LED lights is made with the crop grown without LED light. The green house system is powered by solar panel to make it a self-sufficient unit. Finally, comparison of crops growth is carried out under controlled and natural environment based on the acquired statistical data.an automated greenhouse system is developed, with an aim to improve the crop productivity under a controlled environment. Temperature, light, humidity and soil moisture are critical factors that affect plant growth. For this purpose temperature, light, humidity and soil moisture sensors are used to collect critical data. Arduino mega 2560 is used to take necessary decisions based on threshold values of these environmental parameters.. The control system then generates control signals to actuate exhaust fan and sprinklers, depending upon the environmental parameters. In order to monitor the crop growth remotely, a camera is installed inside the green house system and the video is transmitted wirelessly to an android app. User can keep track of the environmental parameters and crop health through the android app. Moreover, actuators can also be actuated through the app, if required. The green house system is powered by solar panel to make it a self-sufficient unit. Finally, comparison of crops growth is carried out under controlled and natural environment based on the acquired statistical data.

Project Objectives

Following are the objectives of this project:

• Self Sufficient 
• Fully Automated
• Less human labor
• Reduces human error
• Growing off season crops
• Increase in yield 
• Remote monitoring using camera
• Real time important growth parameter values for crops

Project Implementation Method

The project is based on internet of things, which means it's fully automated using an arduino contoller along with sensors. A wifi module is used to send the data to cloud in order to observe these values anywhere. 

Ready made arduino sensor modules are used to obtain sensor values which are then used to actuate the acutators using relays. We have specified specific threshold values upon which any action is performed.

When humidity is increased, exhaust fan is turned on and when values falls above threshold. Similarly, soil moisture sensor values actuates the valve to supply water using sprinkler system.

Benefits of the Project

Following are the benefits of our project:

• Self Sufficient 
• Minimal human intervention
• Reduces human error
• Obtaining real time graphs of important cropgrowth parameters.
• Remote Monitoring of crop using mounted camera.
• Growing off season crops
• Increase in yield
• Energy Conservation
• Efficient Water Usage

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Controller

The advantages of Arduino board are:

It is a very inexpensive and flexible controller.

• It is easily available and easy to debug.
• It comes in various sizes so that it can be accessible for all size of projects.
• It can be connected to external hardware as it has in-built data ports.

There are four parameters that are to be measured in the greenhouse, for that a number of sensors are required. The parameters are:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Light
• Soil Moisture

Temperature and Humidity Sensor:

The DHT family of humidity sensors consists of a humidity sensor and a thermistor in a single casing. This enables us to have both sensors working alongside each other. It has low cost and is able to give 20-80% humidity readings with 5% accuracy and 0-50°C temperature readings ±2°C accuracy. It comes in a plastic casing having four pins.

Soil Moisture Sensor:

Plants need water for photosynthesis, hence a sprinkler system is installed to provide water. Continuous water supply can drown the plants and it is not an effective process.

As the name suggest it uses a capacitor which uses the soil as the dielectric between the plates of the capacitor. As the moisture level is changed the capacitance is also changed and hence the sensor value also changes. This change in the sensor value is converted into digital signal and then sent to the controller.

Light Sensor

In order to detect the intensity of light or darkness, we use a sensor called an LDR (Light Dependent Resistor). The LDR is a special type of resistor that allows higher voltages to pass through it (low resistance) whenever there is a high intensity of light, and passes a low voltage (high resistance) whenever it is dark.

Solar Panel

To operate the greenhouse autonomously we need to power its controller and all the sensors. So, to reduce the operational cost using solar panels is a very good idea. Solar panel is made up to smaller units called photovoltaic cells.

Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Panel

These are made from raw silicone and thus are less efficient. But they are bigger in size so they can be used to cover large surface. Good efficiency, Lower price, good for hotter climates. Absorbs scattered sunlight.

Wireless Camera V380

This camera is a wireless camera which is mounted inside a greenhouse. It has full 360 degree rotation and 90 degree tilt angle. Live feed of the greenhouse is obtained on local and global network. It will enable the farmer to observe the greenouse remotely. 

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Type of Industry

Agriculture

Technologies

Internet of Things (IoT)

Sustainable Development Goals

Zero Hunger

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com