Week 9: Describe Input & Output Controller

OBJECTIVE : To describe the input and output of the controller.

METHODOLOGY : 1. Identify the input and output of the controller from the block diagram.
              2. Do a research on the function of the components.

RESULTS : The input for the controller is the sensor, which is moisture sensor. For the output of the controller is relay and pump.

ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION : 
1. Soil Moisture Sensor
This sensor is used to test the moisture of the soil. When the soil is having water shortage, the module output is at high level, else the output is at low level. By using this sensor, one can automatically water the plants requiring automatic watering techniques. The soil moisture sensor consists of two probes which are used to measure the volumetric content of water in the soil. The probes allowed the current to flow through the soil and it gets the resistance value to measure the resistance value. 

2. Relay

Relay are electromechanical devices that use an electromagnet to operate from open position to a closed position. It is used to open and close the circuit. It can control electrical circuit by opening and closing the contacts in another circuit. The advantages of relay is it can be used to control motors, heaters, lamps or AC circuits which themselves can draw more electrical power. Relay is also a type of switch.

3. Pump Water

DC powered pump use direct current from motor, battery or solar power to move fluid in a multiple of ways. Motorized pumps typically operate on 6, 12, 24, or 32 volts of DC power. The water pump is used to artificially supply water for a particular task. It can be electronically controlled by interfacing it to a microcontroller. It can be triggered ON/OFF by sending a signal as required. In this project, a 5V DC motor pump is used to transfer the water from the water tank to the plants. The main advantage of DC (direct current) pumps over AC (alternating current) pumps is that they can operate directly from a battery, making them more convenient and portable. They are easier to operate and control, since AC systems typically require a controller to manage speed. DC pumps also tend to be more efficient. However, AC pumps are usually designed for higher speed and huge burst of power.

4. Blynk

Blynk is a smartphone application that allows you to create an interface for controlling and monitoring a project. Blynk app is free to download for Android and iOS. Blynk uses an interface of drag and drop widgets. Blynk also can work over internet, Bluetooth and USB. Basically, to run the Blynk application, they will use an Internet platform. To connect a Blynk server and pair it with smartphone, a Blynk libraries should be writes in the sketch (coding section). It is simple easy because we can just get it from the Internet. 

CONCLUSION : The input and output of the controller has been describe.

Week 8: Design Block Diagram

OBJECTIVES : 1. To design a block diagram for the project.

METHODOLOGY : 1. Do a research on how to design the block diagram that related to the project.

              2. Propose the block diagram to my supervisor.

RESULTS : 


               INPUT                     OUTPUT    

       

Picture 13: Block diagram.

ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION : Based on the block diagram, this project consists of Arduino, relay, pump and a sensor which is moisture sensor. All of the components have their own function. Block diagram helps to determine how much input needed and how much output will delivered and also important for the process part. Based on Figure 4, the block diagram consists of input, operation/process and output. This project is using soil moisture sensor for the input. The soil moisture sensor detected the moisture of the soil whether the soil is moist or dry and it will send the data to arduino. For the process part, this project is using Arduino Nodemcu because it consists of ESP8266 Wi-Fi Module inside it which can help to send data to Blynk apps since this project is using IOT. Users can gained the information of the condition of their plants using Blynk apps on their smartphone.

            In this project, there are three relay and three pump for the output. Relay in this system will help to control any switching conditions that may occur between arduino and the output part. This prototype consists of three plants and three pump water because this prototype will have three different plants which this three types of plants required different environmental. So mean to say, plant 1 will absorbs more water fastly, speedily compared to other plants. For the pump side is that water pressure, it will pump up all the water needed to give which control by the user using Blynk app installed in their smartphone. 

CONCLUSION : A block diagram for this project has been design.

Week 7 : Set up Objectives

OBJECTIVES: 1. To set up objectives for my final year project.


METHODOLOGY : 1. Make a research for my project and list down a few objectives that related to my project.

              2. Propose my objectives of this project to my supervisor.

              3. Ask for his advice and suggestion on how to improve my objectives.

RESULTS : The objective for my project is :
          1. To watering the plant automatically using arduino.
          2. To monitor the soil moisture of the plant.
          3. To get the information of soil moisture using Blynk app.

ANALYSIS : The Blynk app allow users to change some parameters, like the watering interval, watering duration, some thresholds and more. With some effort, more features can be added to the watering system, like using the UV sensor data to stop watering the plants at night. 

CONCLUSION : My objectives for this project have been set up.