Automating a Greenhouse with LoRa! (Part 1) || Sensors (Temperature, Humidity, Soil Moisture)

Summary

In this video, the creator showcases the construction and automation of a greenhouse, designed to house various plants like cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes. After addressing early challenges, such as humidity issues, the creator implements an automated system using sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, and soil moisture, all controlled via LoRa wireless technology. The system is powered by solar energy, with data uploaded to the internet for remote monitoring. The video covers both the physical greenhouse setup and the electronics behind the automation, demonstrating the integration of solar panels, sensors, and Arduino programming for a self-sustaining, tech-driven gardening experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 A greenhouse was built in the garden to grow various plants, including cucumbers, strawberries, watermelon, and tomatoes.
• 😀 Despite some plants being affected by a fungus due to high humidity, no plants died, and the issue led to the idea of automating the greenhouse.
• 😀 The automated system will monitor temperature, humidity, and soil moisture, sending data via LoRa wireless connection to a gateway 300 meters away.
• 😀 The system will also control temperature and humidity by opening a window and watering plants when soil moisture is low, all powered by solar energy.
• 😀 The greenhouse was assembled from a large kit, requiring precision to connect aluminum beams and clips for securing plastic windows.
• 😀 Power electronics include a 12V lead-acid battery, a 12V solar panel, and a solar charge controller, with a setup tested successfully in the garden.
• 😀 A wooden chest was used to house the electronics, including the solar panel mounted on the roof, protected by a layer of wood glaze.
• 😀 The automation electronics consist of an Arduino board, LoRa transceiver, soil moisture sensors, and a BME280 temperature/humidity sensor.
• 😀 The Arduino sends sensor data to the Things Network via LoRaWAN every 60 seconds, allowing remote monitoring of the greenhouse.
• 😀 The soil moisture sensors were waterproofed with nail polish, and the sensors were installed inside the greenhouse with wires running through drilled holes in the foundation.
• 😀 After testing the system successfully with the Things Network, the first part of the project was completed, and the setup is now functional and remotely accessible.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the greenhouse automation project described in the video?

The purpose of the greenhouse automation project is to create an automated system that can monitor and control the temperature, humidity, and soil moisture inside a greenhouse, while also allowing for remote monitoring and automated watering and ventilation.

What components were used to build the greenhouse?

The greenhouse was built using a metal foundation, aluminum beams, plastic windows, and connectors. The assembly also required securing the structure with clips and screws to complete the setup.

What problem did the greenhouse face, leading to the idea for automation?

The greenhouse faced a fungal issue caused by high humidity. This problem could have been avoided with better ventilation, which led to the idea of automating the greenhouse for better environmental control.

How does the system gather and transmit environmental data?

The system uses sensors to measure temperature, humidity, and soil moisture. The data is sent via LoRa wireless communication to a gateway in the house, which uploads it to an IoT website for remote monitoring.

What kind of power system is used to run the greenhouse automation system?

The greenhouse automation system is powered by a solar panel, a 12V lead-acid battery, and a solar charge controller. The battery stores power from the solar panel to run the system.

Why was a 12V 44Ah battery chosen for the power system?

The 12V 44Ah battery was chosen because of its large capacity, which is beneficial for powering the motors in the future. While the sensor system only draws around 24mA, the larger battery helps to ensure sufficient power during periods of low sunlight.

What kind of sensors are used in the automation system, and what do they measure?

The system uses a capacitive soil moisture sensor to measure the moisture levels in the soil, and a BME280 sensor to measure temperature and humidity.

What is LoRaWAN, and why is it used in this project?

LoRaWAN is a low-power, long-range wireless communication protocol. It is used in this project to send data from the greenhouse sensors to a gateway over long distances (up to 300 meters).

How did the creator test the power system before completing the greenhouse setup?

The creator tested the power system by wiring up the solar charge controller, battery, and solar panel, and confirmed that the system worked when the sun was shining, charging the battery without issues.

What challenge did the creator face when building the greenhouse, and how was it addressed?

The creator faced difficulty in assembling the greenhouse due to a poorly detailed manual, which made it challenging to identify the correct aluminum parts and connectors. This was resolved through patience and trial-and-error during assembly.