Hydroponics IoT Plant Pot

The initial work on this project involved product definition followed by engineering specif development. The product functionality and developed user stories suggested the product should comprise these components and modules:

1. A "Pot" for growing plants
2. A cup for periodic seed germination
3. A module for triggering seed germination and growth (stepper driven peristaltic pump)
4. An ultrasonic fog/mist generator for plant root nutrition
5. Blowing of the radiator to cool the nutrient solution
6. Enabled solution circulation over the membrane of the mist generator
7. Solution temperature control
8. pH sensors to control the solution acidity and indirect control of the dissolved fertilizers’ concentration
9. Chemical control of the nutrient solution
10. Solution level control
11. Water tank built into the body - 20L + the filler neck with filter
12. Replaceable containers for concentrated chemicals - 0.5 L, 5 pcs.
13. Periodic ventilation of the mist chamber
14. Ultraviolet treatment of the solution
15. Height-adjustable stand with Phyto LED lamp
16. Light sensors
17. Plant growth controls and sensors
18. External temperature sensor
19. External  humidity sensor
20. Glazing + ventilation of the pot
21. Back-up battery + charging unit
22. User interface: Indicator panel
23. Wireless IoT-enabled mobile/cloud connectivity to gather sensor data
24. Light reflector

Hydroponics is not ideal technology from the IoT and automation standpoint as the salty solution mist is highly corrosive for various parts and components exposed. For example, many plant pot IoT solutions are plagued with the problem of ‘fertilizer salts crystallization,’ which dramatically reduces their lifespan and requires painstaking maintenance.  
Additionally, the humid hydroponic environment enables the growth of various bacteria, germs and fungi which can impact the host pot/plant as well as cause a plethora of other unwanted implications. Therefore, it is crucial in design and engineering of the smart IoT agriculture products to consider special materials and water/humidity proof enclosures for modules involved.

We developed the technical concept with this spec together with the preliminary bill of materials (BOM). Industrial design sketches and render visuals helped visualize various paths for product appearance. The developed technical concept and component arrangement were all made in CAD so it was a lot easier for the industrial designers to work with the form and shape of the product.

The consumer market for smart agronomy demands a “click-and-grow” solution, which seems easy to design at first glance. Available smart B2C solutions often frustrate consumers as they demand much routine maintenance, DIY skills for tweaking them and leave users with their hands dirty as if they were growing their flowers and vegetables traditionally.