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  • Author Author: dimonic
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In the Air - Automated Greenhouse First Post

dimonic

Firstly - thanks Element14 and Sponsors. This is an amazing opportunity. As a first reaction, I am a little staggered by the enormity of what I have taken on. My second reaction has been to reach out to people I know for assistance and encouragement.

 

The environment has long been a passion of mine, and at the same time I have always loved gadgets and building things. With this project I can scratch both itches, and advance my own understanding of electronics, software and agriculture.

 

My initial plan is to get the help of a few people with enthusiasm and/or knowledge in the areas of gardening, environment, sensors, actuators, microcontrollers and software. Then we will probably get together and shoot crazy ideas back and forth for a bit, capturing all ideas. Following that we will give ourselves some time to digest everything, and I will create some kind of framework for us to move forward from that point.

  • I agree with Shabaz.

    You obviously had a good idea in your application (hence they chose you), so follow that and stick with it.

     

    I found that sitting down and deciding what I would concentrate on each week, helped focus my resource.

    Don't get bogged down with bits you are stuck on. Put them aside for a day or two, and work on something else, and often the solution/idea comes to you.

     

     

    Leave yourself time at the end for final assembly and the writeup, as you may find there is some bits you didn't cover, or someone suggests something you missed.

     

    Don't be afraid to ask for help, the Forget Me Not challenge showed how everyone had something to offer regardless of their skills.

     

     

    Mark

    I think you'll find some moisture sensing was done here.

    Forget Me Not: Episode 11B - Soil Sensor Design

  • in reply to mcb1

    Even with honeymoon, I think I managed pretty well image

     

    Had a look, and it would seem that we have 18 weeks for this particular challenge (as opposed to 12 for Forget Me Not), seems like a very long time ...

  • in reply to fvan

    I think you and I both knew time management was going to sort out the boys from the men (unfortunately we had no female challenger's), and it did.

     

    At least this time you haven;t got that Honeymoon thing in the middle image

     

     

    Mark

  • Great advice, Frederick and shabaz. I am already looking to prototype a few basics - soil moisture sensors,  temperature, ambient light, and experiment with various sources of light for growing. Christmas and new years will definitely have a time impact, and I am anxious to have a lot working by then.

  • I agree with Frederick, the time is actually short, it's a good idea to do the research now, but also good to move fast straight away with some prototyping with the devices you know you'll use (e.g. the processor boards, temperature sensors, any actuators).

    Popele work differently, I find at some stage an initial prototype is needed even if I know I may re-write everything later.

    Often you don't know what you need until you've got your first prototype running.

    Anyway, good luck!!