Applications and Implications

  1. Home
  2. Assignment 16

What will it do?
I am going to make a Smart Planter. The main features of my Planter would be:
  • Self-watering depending on soil humidity
  • Self-lighting depending on light surrounding
  • Notifying the user about the condition of water reservoir(empty, full, half-empty in terms of water level) via LED that changes color on the planter itself and via the Desktop application.
Who has done what beforehand?
I planned the project and talked to my instructor how to implement everything and what to order. I already have all the components and created my final project board.
What materials and components will be required & how much do they cost?
All the materials, components and their costs can be found in Bill of Materials document.
Where will they come from?
Most parts are ordered at a german vendor called Conrad. We order wood at a german supplier Holzdirekt24.
What parts and systems will be made?
Parts:
  • The body of the system
  • Water reservoir
  • Cup for water reservoir
  • The plant pot
Systems: One board that does all the communication between input/output devices and connects to the laptop via bluetooth module.
What processes will be used?
  • Laser cutter for the water reservoir and the plant pot
  • CNC mill for the body of the system
  • 3D printer for the cup for water reservoir
  • Milling machine to produce own PCB boards
  • Soldering station to solder own PCB's
What tasks need to be completed?
  • 3D print the cup
  • Laser cut the water reservoir
  • Laser cut the plant pot
  • Solder the light strip and connect it to the body of the system
What questions need to be answered
How to get it done in time? I guess there is only one answer. Work hard, play hard.
What is the schedule?
This is a rough view of how the schedule should be in ideal world:
  • January: Project brainstorming.
  • February: First weeks -> designing the pressfit-kit of the body and 3D design of the cup.
  • March: Making tha body of the system (CNC-mill)
  • April: First ideas for the final board layout. Milling this board and prepare it or later on soldering, i.e. order components etc. for the final board. Also start ordering list for the rest of the crib parts.
  • May:
    First two weeks -> Working on the group project for mechanical & machine design.
    Last two weeks -> Working on the implementation of final board.
  • June: Put all parts together, create a demo video and slide.
How will it be evaluated?

If my plant will be alive more than a month (never happened), than I am succeed.