Bloom Hub : Connected Greenhouse

I- Introduction

We're going to introduce our project about the connected greenhouse.

Objective: To revolutionize greenhouse management by optimizing energy consumption (light, water, wind, etc.) and improving productivity through advanced connectivity and monitoring.

Technology & Connectivity:

• Network: Utilizes the LoRaWAN network for robust, wide-range connectivity, enabling efficient communication between the greenhouse and the monitoring platform.

• Sensors & Components: Equipped with a comprehensive array of sensors to monitor soil moisture, temperature and humidity, and light levels, alongside essential electronics components for precise control and data collection.

Features:

• Energy Management: Sophisticated algorithms help manage and reduce energy consumption, ensuring sustainable operation while maximizing productivity.

• Data & Analytics: Users are informed of energy consumption and environmental conditions through detailed graphs and analytics, facilitating informed decision-making for greenhouse management.

• Custom Electronics: Tailored electronic components and sensor integration for optimal performance and reliability in monitoring and controlling greenhouse conditions.

Platform Compatibility:

• Mobile Application: Exclusively designed for iPhone users, offering a seamless and intuitive interface to monitor and control the greenhouse environment from anywhere.

Benefits:

• Enhanced productivity through precise environmental control and energy management.

• Monitoring and analytics for informed decision-making.

• Sustainable operation with reduced environmental impact.

II-Connectivity & Technologie

The connectivity and technology section of the report on our connected greenhouse highlights the innovative use of LoRaWAN technology through the MKR WAN 1310 board to ensure effective and low-energy communication between the system's various components. The setup includes three sensors (a DHT11 for air temperature and humidity, a soil moisture sensor, and a light sensor) and three actuators (an LED, a 5V water pump, and a 5V fan), controlled by two dedicated relays for the pump and the fan, respectively. This arrangement enables advanced automation of the ventilation and watering systems, crucial for maintaining optimal environmental conditions within the greenhouse.

The system employs the DHT11 sensor to monitor temperature and humidity fluctuations, activating the fan via a relay to cool the air as needed.

The DHT11 sensor to monitor temperature and humidity, activating a fan via a relay when fluctuations surpass predefined thresholds, so when it's too warm.

This automation ensures efficient regulation of environmental conditions, crucial for applications like agriculture or confort control.

By circulating air as needed, the system optimizes energy usage and maintains optimal conditions without requiring constant manual oversight, offering convenience and efficiency in temperature and humidity management.

Similarly, the soil moisture sensor plays a critical role in triggering the water pump when the soil becomes too dry, there by ensuring plant hydration.

The inclusion of a soil moisture sensor within the system serves a pivotal function in maintaining optimal plant hydration levels.

This sensor constantly monitors the moisture content of the soil, and upon detecting a drop below a specified threshold, it activates a water pump.

The pump then delivers water to the soil, ensuring that plants receive adequate hydration to support their growth and health.

This automated mechanism eliminates the risk of under-watering, safeguarding against potential damage to plants due to drought conditions.

By promptly responding to changes in soil moisture levels, the system fosters an environment conducive to thriving vegetation, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing crop yields.

The light sensor, on the other hand, controls the LED's activation to compensate for insufficient natural light, providing the necessary UV rays for plant growth.

In addition, the integration of a light sensor within the system plays a crucial role in regulating the activation of LED lights to supplement insufficient natural light conditions.

Continuously monitoring ambient light levels, the sensor triggers the activation of LED lights when natural light falls below a specified threshold.

This ensures that plants receive adequate illumination, including essential UV rays, crucial for photosynthesis and healthy growth.

By providing supplemental lighting as needed, the system optimizes plant growth even in environments with limited natural light, fostering optimal conditions for cultivation.

This automated approach not only promotes efficient resource utilization but also supports robust plant development, contributing to enhanced crop productivity and quality.

Now we can see all sensors, relays and actuators rely on the mkrwan card, we also see that the led isn’t rely on the mkrwan card. We have also connected a small LoRaWAN gateway on the MKR WAN 1310 card to send the datas to a LoRaWAN gateway, then it will send that to the things network, so it transmits datas to the node-red server which transmits datas to the InfluxDB database.

All data collected by the sensors is sent to an InfluxDB database, so we can see a graphical visualization of the greenhouse's environmental state.

Additionally, the development of an iPhone app in Swift offers the capability to monitor the greenhouse conditions remotely and continuously, a particularly useful feature for users on the move or on vacation. This integrated system underscores the importance of connectivity and advanced technology in managing and sustaining optimal conditions for greenhouse cultivation, with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

Here we can see a graphical which represents data detected by the sensors and colected in an influx db data base.

Even if our data are collected in an influx db data base, We’ve used Node-Red.

III- LoRaWANtechnologie

Our connected greenhouse uses a LoRaWAN technologie, and we’re going to explain what’s LoRaWAN technologie.

LoRaWAN, the acronym for Long Range Wide Area Network, epitomizes a cutting-edge wireless communication protocol tailored meticulously for the multifaceted demands of the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape. Powered by the groundbreaking LoRa modulation technology engineered by Semtech, LoRaWAN boasts an unparalleled ability to establish communication channels over expansive distances, exceeding a remarkable range of 15 kilometers. Beyond its extensive reach, LoRaWAN networks exhibit an extraordinary capacity, supporting connectivity for up to a staggering one million nodes, making it a formidable choice for sprawling IoT deployments. Furthermore, LoRaWAN distinguishes itself with its remarkable energy efficiency, enabling connected devices to operate on battery power for over a decade, thus minimizing maintenance requirements and operational costs.

Moreover, LoRaWAN networks are characterized by their streamlined synchronization mechanisms and the absence of hop counts in mesh configurations, thereby reducing overhead and enhancing overall network efficiency. Security remains paramount within LoRaWAN infrastructures, with robust encryption protocols safeguarding data integrity and confidentiality throughout transmission, bolstering trust and compliance in IoT deployments. Additionally, LoRaWAN networks demonstrate exceptional immunity to interference, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted communication amidst congested radio frequency environments.

In essence, LoRaWAN emerges as a transformative force in the realm of IoT connectivity, offering unparalleled long-range capabilities, unprecedented scalability, prolonged battery life, streamlined operation, fortified security, and superior resilience to external interference. With these remarkable attributes, LoRaWAN stands as a cornerstone technology empowering innovative IoT applications across diverse industries, from smart cities and precision agriculture to industrial automation and asset tracking, driving progress and efficiency on a global scale.

IV- Low power connectivity

LoRa's low-power consumption not only extends the operational lifespan of IoT devices but also fosters innovation in diverse industries by enabling applications that were previously impractical or economically unfeasible. In the field of environmental monitoring and conservation, for instance, LoRa-powered sensors can be deployed in remote forests, wildlife habitats, or marine environments to gather real-time data on ecosystem health, biodiversity, and climate patterns.

These sensors can operate for extended periods without human intervention, providing researchers, conservationists, and policymakers with invaluable insights into ecological dynamics and environmental changes over time. Moreover, in industrial settings, LoRa's low-power capabilities enable the deployment of smart infrastructure for predictive maintenance, asset tracking, and process optimization. By integrating IoT sensors into machinery, equipment, and facilities, businesses can monitor operational parameters, detect anomalies, and preemptively address issues before they escalate, thereby reducing downtime, optimizing resource utilization, and improving overall productivity.

Additionally, in smart agriculture, LoRa-enabled devices facilitate precision farming practices by monitoring soil conditions, crop growth, and weather patterns with minimal energy consumption. This enables farmers to make data-driven decisions, optimize irrigation schedules, and enhance crop yields while conserving water and energy resources. Overall, LoRa's low-power characteristics catalyze innovation across sectors, empowering organizations to leverage IoT technologies for sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

V- Physical realisation

In this part, we’ll how we made the greenhouse, with which materials and why we choose these materials. We can see a picture of our greenhouse that we’ll explain you.

The physical realization of our greenhouse embodies a thoughtful integration of materials and design principles aimed at creating an efficient and sustainable growing environment. At the core of our construction lies a wooden framework meticulously crafted to offer not only structural integrity but also visual harmony with the surrounding landscape. This choice of wood not only provides robustness but also adds a touch of natural warmth to the overall aesthetic of the greenhouse.

To enhance the functionality and versatility of the structure, we've employed advanced manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing, to fabricate four bespoke posts. These posts serve as pivotal connectors, seamlessly joining each panel of transparent plexiglass that forms the walls and roof of the greenhouse. Their precision-engineered design ensures not only a secure assembly but also facilitates efficient light penetration, vital for the photosynthetic processes crucial to plant growth.

The strategic incorporation of plexiglass for both the walls and roof of the greenhouse underscores our commitment to harnessing natural light effectively. Plexiglass, renowned for its optical clarity and durability, not only allows for the unrestricted passage of sunlight but also provides insulation, maintaining optimal temperatures within the greenhouse environment.

Moreover, this design choice aligns with our sustainability ethos by reducing the reliance on artificial lighting and minimizing energy consumption. By maximizing natural illumination, we aim to create an eco-conscious growing space that promotes healthy plant development while minimizing our ecological footprint.

In essence, our greenhouse represents a harmonious fusion of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, all aimed at fostering an environment where plants can thrive sustainably amidst the nurturing embrace of sunlight.

Our greenhouse is designed with a sophisticated structure for maximum efficiency. The four walls made of plexiglass, measuring 22 cm long and 22 cm wide, provide optimal transparency for plant growth. With a thickness of 2.5 mm, they are both sturdy and lightweight. The carefully modeled posts feature two 3 mm thick gutters each, allowing the insertion of the plexiglass walls to create smooth sliding connections. This design enables seamless movement of the walls, providing easy ventilation and access to the plants. Additionally, a plexiglass roof measuring 25 cm long and 25 cm wide elegantly rests atop the greenhouse, held in place by the four posts, ensuring total protection while allowing optimal air and light circulation.

VI- Conclusion

In conclusion, the implementation of connectivity and technology, specifically LoRaWAN technology, low-power connectivity solutions, and the meticulous physical realization of our greenhouse structure, mark significant advancements in modern agricultural practices. Through these interconnected components, our connected greenhouse not only enhances efficiency in plant cultivation but also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and innovation. By integrating cutting-edge technology with traditional greenhouse principles, we have created a system that not only optimizes resource usage but also offers flexibility and adaptability to meet the evolving needs of agriculture. The potential for revolutionizing agricultural production and fostering global food security becomes increasingly tangible. Our journey towards a more connected and sustainable future in agriculture is well underway, with the connected greenhouse serving as a beacon of progress and possibility.