AutoPot: An Innovative Urban Gardening with IoT-enabled Watering System

Abstract

Urban living environments such as condos, apartments, flats, and other
high-rise buildings often lack personal garden spaces, compelling
residents to grow plants in pots. Residents who cultivate plants in pots
encounter difficulties in regulating watering routines, necessitating
irrigation during dry weather while refraining from watering during
humid weather. This can be particularly difficult for those with busy
work schedules. Therefore, there is a need for an automated watering
system to assist them in maintaining optimal soil moisture levels
without the constant need for manual intervention. The AutoPot is
proposed to address this gap by developing a prototype that leverages
IoT technology to optimize watering practices. The AutoPot integrates
sensors to monitor soil moisture, humidity, and temperature levels in
real-time, automatically activating a water pump when the soil moisture
drops below a preset threshold. This study evaluates the AutoPot
system based on its efficiency in watering plants by monitoring soil
moisture levels. The system's performance is assessed by its ability to
maintain optimal soil moisture, ensuring plants receive adequate water
without over- or under-watering. Data collected at regular intervals
demonstrate that the AutoPot successfully maintains soil moisture,
humidity, and temperature within desired ranges. Future work will
explore adaptive algorithms that adjust watering schedules based on
soil type, plant species, and growth stages to further optimize water
usage and plant health.