What Needs to be Done for Green House Automation using IoT?
The world population is growing drastically day by day also, the food demand is increasing at this rate. The world population will likely be 35% increased in 2050, the food demand will also be double, National Geographic Magazine.
Today’s traditional crop cultivation methods are not enough in this regard. The world is upgrading itself towards modern farming practices like greenhouse or hydroponics.
In this regard, greenhouse automation is the next big thing.
Greenhouse automation is also known as controlled environment agriculture (CEA) or controlled environment plant product system (CEPPS), is the processing of information about certain factors like temp, humidity and moisture, etc., and to execute decisions.
The decision, like when to start cooling fans or how much water is required.
This article is about automation and the various complications involved with it, but if you’re looking for the nitty-gritty, check this greenhouse automation report.
Types of Greenhouse Automation
1. Partially Automatic System
Most of the greenhouse projects have partially automatic. Why? Because it is economically viable, and maintenance is also less.
Various sensors give readings about different factors, and labor performs tasks to control the environment inside the greenhouse.
But the risk of errors in this is very high due to mishandling and inattention of labor, which can cause an effect on production.
2. Fully Automatic System
In a fully automatic system, there is little or no labor required in task handling.
The system consists of various sensors and nodes connected to a control system (commonly a PC).
Sensors send their readings in the form of electrical signals to the control system. Based on these readings, the control system performs various tasks like the opening of irrigation valves and turning ON the artificial lights, etc.
Due to the fully automatic and use of various motors and other equipment, the energy cost in this system is very high, making it uneconomical. But, at the same time, the chances of errors are low.
3. Fully Greenhouse Automation Equipt with the Internet of Things (IoT)
Same system as fully automatic but upgraded with IoT, and what is IoT?
IoT (Internet of things) is the global infrastructure of information and technology.
Your mobile phone, laptops, PCs, TVs, and everything connected to the internet is a part of IoT.
Various sensors and hardware interconnect and communicate to control the environment of the greenhouse. The system has an internet connection, which sends and receives information to execute decisions for better production.
Also, with the help of IoT, multiple growers communicate with each other to share their thoughts, problems, and experiences to make their farms better and better.
Controllers and Sensors
1. Temperature and Humidity Sensor
DHT11 and DHT22 are the commonly used low-cost temperature and humidity sensors. DHT22 is a pro version of DHT11 with more temperature and humidity measuring accuracy and range.
Let’s talk about how the DHT sensor works. It consists of humidity sensitive component and a temperature thermistor.
Humidity sensors have two electrodes closely packed with the moisture-holding substrate in between them. Whenever the humidity rises in the environment, the electrical conductivity of the substrate also increases with it.
Also, there is an NTC temperature thermistor. Thermistor resistance changes as the temperature changes.
IC of sensor detects the changes in resistance of substrate and thermistor and shows these on the screen.
Light Sensor
Light is the first and foremost need for plants to grow and for their photosynthesis operation.
GL5516 photoresistor used as a light sensor. A photoresistor works on the principle of a transistor.
The electrical conductivity of the photoresistor changes with the change in the intensity of light. Which is detected by the control system, and the control system decides when to turn ON the artificial light.
So whenever the outside weather is going to be cloudy, the IoT system of your greenhouse would automatically start the artificial light so that the total demand of plants for light absorption per day will not be affected.
Soil Moisture Sensor
Soil moisture sensor YL-69 has two probes and one IC circuit with a potentiometer on it.
The probe’s output voltage changes with a change in the moisture content of the soil.
Higher moisture content results in lower output voltage and vice versa, which is detected by a potentiometer and converted into an electrical signal.
Based on these signals, the control system decides when to give water to plants.
Wi-Fi Controlling Module for Greenhouse Automation
Netduino 3 Wi-Fi is the best module to control all the above-mentioned sensors and to connect with cloud storage.
Netduino module is hardware to run an application build with .Net MicroFramework.
It has three pins to connect all sensors and also a storage card port, and based on the sensor’s readings it executes tasks like when to start cooling fans and when to start light, etc.
The controlling module sends and receives information about local weather to ensure the efficient working of greenhouse automation.
Also, with this device, the growers can communicate with each other to share their experiences and the problems involved.
Cloud Storage
It is hard to conduct analytical codes on IoT systems available on site.
We should have cloud storage access to run these tasks and store huge chunks of data for future use.
