[Watford] LUG Meeting today?

[Jim Ford]

On 04/03/16 10:14, Ishaq wrote:
> I have a project I want to get input from you guys on. I want to develop
> an environment monitoring and watering system for an allotment.
> 
> I already have solar power in the allotment and want to use that to
> power the rest of the project.
> 
> The solution will consist of multiple  sensor units, a controller and
> actuators to control the watering depending on various sensor inputs.
> 
> The sensor units will be powered by small solar cells (I want to avoid
> using batteries or running power lines from a centralised source).
> 
> The sensor unit will consist of a temperature and humidity sensor, a
> soil moisture sensor, a light sensor and a low power zigbee wireless
> transmitter. I am thinking of using an Arduino based microcontroller to
> control all the components on the sensor unit.
> 
> The brains will consist of a zigbee hub Attached to a Raspberry pi. The
> pi will use the data from the sensors and use an algorithm to switch on
> relays that will control the flow of water through soaker pipes laid out
> on the ground.
> 
> The watering system will be gravity fed/powered from rain water tanks.
> 
> Further, I want to use the data from the sensors to provide environment
> for reporting through a website, and possibly a camera to monitor and
> report visual activity.
> 
> So that's what I have in mind. I've done some research on the components
> required, but it'd be great to get feedback from anyone that's done
> somthing similar before.
> 
> I'm also interested in hearing about other folks experiences of IOT Tech.

I've dabbled with Arduino projects a bit. A very handy library if you
want to incorporate an LCD display and keypad is:

https://liudr.wordpress.com/libraries/phi_prompt/

Another alternative to the Arduino is the Micro Python board, especially
if you like Python. You just upload the Python script and it runs.

http://micropython.org/

I'll follow your project with interest.

Jim