Giard{U}ino Energetico

GiArd{u}ino Energetico is a smart garden project designed to save water and make gardening easier. It creates a fully automated irrigation system that minimizes water waste and ensures efficient water use. The system detects soil moisture levels and automatically activates a valve controlled by an Arduino board (ESP32 D1 MINI). This allows for precise watering, tailored to each plant's needs, reducing both overwatering and underwatering. The project also includes IoT features, allowing users to monitor and control the irrigation process remotely through the Blynk app, making gardening more efficient and convenient.

The primary objective of GiArd{u}ino Energetico is to improve water efficiency in home gardening. This is achieved by developing a system that reduces water waste through precise, automated irrigation based on real-time soil moisture data. Additionally, the project seeks to automate the entire irrigation process, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring that plants receive the optimal amount of water at the right time. By incorporating IoT technology, the system also aims to provide users with the ability to monitor and adjust irrigation schedules remotely, further enhancing the overall efficiency and convenience of the gardening experience.

Hardware 

• Laser-cut wooden panels;
• Laser-cut plexiglass panels;
• 3mm diameter plastic hydraulic tubes;
• Wemos ESP32 D1 Mini board;
• L fittings;
• T fittings;
• 5V DC water pump with a flow rate of 100 l/h; 
• 3D-printed hooks;
• 5V relay;
• Resistive soil moisture sensor;
• Electrical wires for Arduino;
• 9V battery;
• Soil;
• 3 basil plants;
• 3 parsley plants;
• 3 carnation plants.

Software

• Arduino IDE;
• Blynk;
• SolidWorks.

Use makercase.com to create designs for both wooden and plexiglass components, ensuring precise dimensions and fit.

Utilize a laser cutter to accurately cut the designed pieces from wooden and plexiglass panels. 

Glue and mount the laser-cut wooden pieces together to form the main frame of the garden. 

Coat the assembled wooden structure with wood stain to protect it from moisture and enhance its appearance.

Glue the plexiglass pieces together and apply silicone at the joints to ensure they are watertight.

Place the plexiglass pots into the wooden frame and fill them with soil, ready for planting. 

 Use SolidWorks to create designs for 3D-printed hooks that will support the hydraulic lines and other components.

 3D print the designed hooks and attach them to the wooden structure to secure the hydraulic lines.

Insert the soil inside the structure

Attach plastic tubes to the solenoid valve and run them to each pot using L and T fittings.

Make small holes in the tubes near the soil surface to allow water to drip into the soil.

Carefully plant the basil, parsley, and carnations in the prepared soil within the plexiglass pots.

Write the Arduino code to control the irrigation system based on soil moisture readings. 

 Integrate the Arduino code with the Blynk platform to enable remote monitoring and control.

Wire the soil moisture sensor to the ESP32 board to read soil moisture levels. 

Connect the solenoid valve to a 5V relay and power it using a 9V battery, ensuring all connections are secure.

Wire the relay to the ESP32 board to control the solenoid valve based on moisture readings.

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in GiArd{u}ino Energetico allows for remote monitoring and control of the irrigation system. By utilizing the Blynk software, users can:

• Monitor soil moisture levels in real-time.
• Adjust irrigation schedules and parameters remotely.
• Receive notifications and alerts for system status and water levels.
• Access historical data to analyze and optimize water usage.

The ESP32 D1 Mini board facilitates wireless connectivity, ensuring that the system can be managed from anywhere with an internet connection, thus enhancing convenience and efficiency. Here’s the procedure to set up the Blynk application:

1. First, go to the Blynk website and create a new account using your email. Log in to your account and create a new template. For this project, you can name it “Plant watering system” or choose a name you prefer:
2. Next, click the "Datastream" tab and create two virtual pins with the following configurations: • Name: Soil moisture value / PIN: V0 / MIN: 0 / MAX: 100 • Name: Water pump / PIN: V1 / MIN: 0 / MAX: 1 
3. Create a dashboard using one button and one gauge. Click the gear wheel icons on the widgets, select the appropriate data stream, and save your settings.
4. Click the search icon to create a new device, selecting the template you created earlier

The Blynk web dashboard is now ready for your project. 

• Enhance the pumping system to balance water distribution across all three sections.
• Improve the structure by using more rigid materials, and enhance waterproofing and insulation.
• Upgrade to a more powerful pump, avoiding submersible types, by implementing a hydraulic derivation.
• Integrate an artificial solar radiation system that is also programmable.
• Incorporate photovoltaic solar panels to self-power the system, reducing battery use and disposal.
• Build a greenhouse to enclose all the plants

SOCIALS

• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/giarduinoenergetico?igsh=dm15cDdvOG5ycXNo
• YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@GiarduinoEnergetico

SITES

• MAKERCASE: https://it.makercase.com/#/