CropCoders, the triumphant Italian team at the iPRODUCE Hackathon 2023, proudly presents their winning entry, “CropAssistant.” This innovative solution aims to revolutionize plant watering by automating the process through an accessible computer program.
The concept behind CropAssistant is to provide a user-friendly means of automating plant watering for everyone. By leveraging IoT technology, the system monitors soil humidity levels and adjusts watering accordingly, ensuring optimal conditions for plant growth. With the integration of Home-Assistant and Tasmota, CropAssistant becomes easily usable and configurable, requiring minimal effort from the user.
The core components of CropAssistant include a powerful combination of a soil humidity sensor, an ESP32 development board running Tasmota firmware, and a small pump. The ESP32 establishes seamless communication with the Home-Assistant server using Wi-Fi and MQTT protocols. While the current version relies on manually setting the humidity threshold in the automation process, the CropCoders team envisions the development of a user-friendly Home-Assistant add-on that allows users to effortlessly customize and fine-tune the system via a web-based interface.
What sets CropAssistant apart from existing ideas in the marketplace is its emphasis on ease of use and integration. Leveraging Home-Assistant and Tasmota, this solution ensures a seamless user experience while remaining highly configurable. It opens up opportunities for integration with other systems, making it a versatile choice for plant enthusiasts seeking to automate their small crops, greenhouses, or plant collections.
The potential applications of CropAssistant extend to a wide range of markets. Anyone interested in automating their plant watering routines, particularly those already utilizing Home-Assistant for home automation, will find this solution highly valuable. Whether you have a small home garden or manage an expansive greenhouse, CropAssistant streamlines and simplifies the process, allowing you to focus on other aspects of plant care.
Participating in the iPRODUCE Hackathon has been an enriching experience for the CropCoders team. The opportunity to engage in product development activities and collaborate as a team has been invaluable. Throughout this journey, they have gained profound insights into the importance of teamwork and product development. Their success in the hackathon has led to the integration of CropAssistant into the daily operations of the Fablab greenhouse.
While the initial project showcased the simplicity and effectiveness of CropAssistant, the team aspires to expand its capabilities. Their future plans include the development of a Home-Assistant add-on specifically designed for CropAssistant, simplifying the configuration process further. With this envisioned add-on, users can easily manage sensors, actuators, and automate tasks such as adjusting soil humidity based on specific plant requirements.
For those intrigued by the possibilities presented by CropAssistant, the team welcomes you to explore their ongoing project on GitHub at https://github.com/crop-assistant/crop-assistant. By visiting the repository, you can gain a deeper understanding of their work and contribute to the evolution of this remarkable IoT-enabled watering system.
CropCoders extends their gratitude to iPRODUCE for organizing the hackathon and awarding them this prestigious victory. They express their enthusiasm for the future and remain committed to enhancing CropAssistant, fostering a world where plant care becomes effortlessly efficient and rewarding.
iPRODUCE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 870037. This publication reflects only the author’s view and that the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
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