Greenhouse Automation with User interface.

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Hi all,

I am actually working towards building a project, entitle Greenhouse Automation with User interface using the Arduino kits. Due to the fact that im totally new to this Arduino Field, i would kindly like to request few helps from experts people present on this forum. :slight_smile:

Project: Designing an automatic Greenhouse with presets for specific cultivation along with a user interface.
Control Parameters: The control will be restricted up to 3 parameters for easy going:

Inputs

  1. Controlling the ambient temperature of the Greenhouse.
  2. Controlling the humidity level of the soil.
  3. Controlling the light of the Greenhouse.

Outputs

  1. Ventillation shall be activated to regulate desired temperature.
  2. Irriggation pump shall be set to ON/OFF upon humidity level of soil.
  3. Activating the light on request due to ambient light source available.

User Interface

  1. The user should be able to swap between pre-programmed presets.
  2. If possible customized presets can be set by user.
  3. User can be able to change specific parameters like temperature without going into the core programming of the Arduino.

Certainly the Interface part seems tough for me , specially when im totally new the Arduino Programming language.

I would like to have suggestions on the hardware parts and instrumenations to be used for this specific prototype.

Should i go for which ATMEL ?? since the user interface also is contributing to the bulk of the program.

Once the parts is decided, i shall take note and anyone so kind will please help me with the code writing, i will do my own effort though but please be kind to me, i will be grateful. :slight_smile:

Looking forward

Regards

taz . .

2

Are you intending that the user interface be on the Arduino? Or, are you intending the user interface be run on a PC that talks to the Arduino?

If the user interface is to be on the Arduino, you need some kind of graphic LCD to show text and art on, and some switches for input (up/down for temperature, for instance). Alternatively, a text-based LCD to show just text, and a menu structure to navigate through would be needed.

3

Where is your interface going to be? On a wall of the greenhouse, on a computer, on the Arduino itself, accessible via the web from anywhere?

4

Re the UI (and assuming for the moment that it's on the Arduino itself) I would look at something like the Phy boards and software from one of our members (Luidr)

Should i go for which ATMEL ?? since the user interface also is contributing to the bulk of the program.

I would get a Mega, it may wind up being more than you need and they are more expensive than say a Uno but unless you're a poor student another $30 or so shouldn't matter. If it does matter then get a Uno.

Inputs

  1. Controlling the ambient temperature of the Greenhouse. Simple LM35 style sensor or maybe a DS18S20 1-wire device.
  2. Controlling the humidity level of the soil. Measure resistance between two nails in the soil, there are also sensors that do the same.
  3. Controlling the light of the Greenhouse. Transistor or relay, depends on voltage and wattage of light.

Outputs

  1. Ventillation shall be activated to regulate desired temperature. Transistor or relay, depends on nature of the regulating device, ie fan, door,
  2. Irriggation pump shall be set to ON/OFF upon humidity level of soil. Transistor or relay, either turn on a pump or open a solenoid valve.
  3. Activating the light on request due to ambient light source available. Transistor or relay, depends on voltage and wattage of light.

As you can see a lot more information is required re the exact nature of the things being controlled

Rob

5

PaulS:
Are you intending that the user interface be on the Arduino? Or, are you intending the user interface be run on a PC that talks to the Arduino?

It will be smoother to start with the user interface to be running on a PC that communicates with the Arduino, since we do have the USB port as an advantage on Arduino kits, i will be making use of it . . :slight_smile:

I came across some researches with Arduino Scada, will that do for my project, i still do not know the complexity behind building this interface via scada and the codes to be implemented, but i can see this way will be easier. . .
Any other suggestions please will be welcome . . .

Graynomad:
I would get a Mega, it may wind up being more than you need and they are more expensive than say a Uno but unless you're a poor student another $30 or so shouldn't matter. If it does matter then get a Uno.

I will be seeing both the specs of the Mega and the Uno, and of course the price to see if it meets my budget, :slight_smile: and will decide it soon.

Graynomad:
Inputs

  1. Controlling the ambient temperature of the Greenhouse. Simple LM35 style sensor or maybe a DS18S20 1-wire device.

Can this LM35 signal be controlled as analog ?

I will look into the specs ASAP, my worry for the sensing part will be the voltage supply, Im I to provide an external power supply to the sensing devices or can it get the supply form the Arduino supply ? ?

Graynomad:
2. Controlling the humidity level of the soil. Measure resistance between two nails in the soil, there are also sensors that do the same.

Will look into a ready made sensor, else i will be building one i got a circuit for that . . see attached. .

If i will be building the sensor what should i use for the sensor leads . . copper will be best suited, how to fix something, will nail do the job?

Graynomad:
3. Controlling the light of the Greenhouse. Transistor or relay, depends on voltage and wattage of light.

For the light i will be going for an LDR, i will need to resolve the supply issue to be able to move forward . . :slight_smile:

As far as outputs is concerned, well i will be going through the relays, more appropriate, but as for now, i shall concentrate upon choosing the right inputs first and clear the voltage issue and choose my arduino kit.

Suggestions and comments are always welcomed and will be appreciated . . :slight_smile:

Thanks . .

taz . .

soil moisture.JPG

6

I came across some researches with Arduino Scada, will that do for my project

No. The Scada implementation for Arduino is far from complete.

Developing your own protocol and PC application (I like C# for that) that talks to the Arduino (via the serial port (I really like C# for that)) will be far easier than trying to understand and extend the Scada protocol.

I have a sample application, written in C#, that lets the PC talk to the Arduino. If you would like that as a starting point, PM me.

7

I don't know how extensive your plans are, but there was this kickstarter project that just finished, that is trying to do the greenhouse automation on a larger scale. Depending on your budget and scale, you might be able to buy building blocks from them, or at least take inspiration from their design: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/plantincity/plant-in-city-architecture-and-technology-for-plan?ref=48hr.

8

This has been done multiple times by various people - google garduino to get some ideas.

9

Again, (everybody) before you build a project of this complexity you really should build a model -- UML, state Machines, Pictorial whatever. Tackling it piecemeal will probably for nowhere. Post the model here -- then start asking questions -- you will get lots of help when people understand the entire plan.

See here:
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,112462.0.html

There is lots of info on sensors and design in the training link. There is further modelling info in the latest post I added.

10

Tackling it piecemeal will probably for nowhere.

Not sure exactly what you meant, here, but coding the Arduino piecemeal IS a good idea. Get one part working at a time. Don't try to write all the code for all the inputs and outputs and expect it all to work perfectly. Write a bit, test a lot. Repeat until done.

Then, throw it all away and do it again. Chances are good that the second code will be better than the first code.

11

PaulS:
Are you intending that the user interface be on the Arduino? Or, are you intending the user interface be run on a PC that talks to the Arduino?

If the user interface is to be on the Arduino, you need some kind of graphic LCD to show text and art on, and some switches for input (up/down for temperature, for instance). Alternatively, a text-based LCD to show just text, and a menu structure to navigate through would be needed.

Hi,this question of yours hit the point of my project!:
I am building an aquaponics system too.....
Would like to monitor a lot of parameters in different parts of the project (temp,PH,OD, flow.....solenoid valves .... ) .
The question is:
Can I use Arduino to visualize on the dedicated PC all the analog and Digital values in a simplified UD?
If yes, do you suggest some program in particular?
We would like to store the daily datas to understand how we can orbtain the best ambient/water quality for the plants and the fish.
Any opinion will be highly appreciated.
Thanks and all the best
Andrea

12

Can I use Arduino to visualize on the dedicated PC all the analog and Digital values in a simplified UD?

Yes.

If yes, do you suggest some program in particular?

You'll need to write the program.

We would like to store the daily datas to understand how we can orbtain the best ambient/water quality for the plants and the fish.

You want the Arduino to store the data or the PC?

The Arduino could wear an ethernet shield and store the data in a relational database on a server somewhere, so it could be access from anywhere, with any reasonable time frame of interest.

13

PaulS:

Can I use Arduino to visualize on the dedicated PC all the analog and Digital values in a simplified UD?

Yes.

Thanks

If yes, do you suggest some program in particular?

You'll need to write the program.

What do you think about LabView?

We would like to store the daily datas to understand how we can orbtain the best ambient/water quality for the plants and the fish.

You want the Arduino to store the data or the PC?

On the PC, I don't need any screen or Ethernet shield (to don't complicate things to much for now)....

Thanks Paul for your advises
Andrea

The Arduino could wear an ethernet shield and store the data in a relational database on a server somewhere, so it could be access from anywhere, with any reasonable time frame of interest.