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Remote Gardening
CONTEXT
University
Technical Fundamentals II – 2nd Semester
Supervised by: Prof. Michael Schuster, Benjamin Thomsen
TEAM
Jannes Blobel
Fabienne Vatter
DATE
07/2021
Description
Remote Gardening solves the challenge of plant care during absences. This smart garden system automatically waters your plants based on individual needs, controllable from anywhere. By connecting plant enthusiasts with their greenery remotely, it ensures plants remain healthy while you're away on vacation or business trips.
A video showcasing the construction and usage of our Prototype
Technical Implementation
The system consists of a linear track with 3D-printed components driven by a stepper motor. A mobile carriage equipped with an RFID reader identifies plants by their unique tags. When a plant is detected, the carriage stops and delivers water through a peristaltic pump system. The MongoDB backend stores plant profiles and watering schedules, while the ESP-based control unit manages the hardware operations. The system runs automatic watering cycles twice daily.
User Experience
The intuitive frontend displays plants in their actual arrangement, allowing users to monitor and adjust care parameters. When adding new plants, the system detects unregistered RFID tags and emails users with setup links. Each plant's overview page provides species information, care requirements, and watering history, creating a seamless connection between users and their plants regardless of physical distance.
Sum Up
Remote Gardening transforms plant care through automation and connectivity. By combining hardware engineering with user-centered software design, it offers peace of mind for plant owners and optimal growing conditions for plants. This project demonstrates how technology can solve everyday problems while fostering a community of plant enthusiasts who can care for their greenery from anywhere in the world.
