*This control system was developed for the smart planter described in this project.

Challenge and Objectives:

A control system to automate fog delivery, grow lights, nutrient and filtration systems, and other peripherals, with a mobile app for manual control and real-time data monitoring.

The challenge was to design an electronic system that meets these requirements while being modular and scalable for quick, easy integration with all Smart Planter configurations.

My Role

I initially served as the sole engineer on this project, developing and testing various prototypes before finalizing two PCBs for production. Later, I transferred this knowledge to new team members as they joined the project.

This work was part of Green Global Aggrovation, a Gujarat-based startup, where I contributed from September 2021 to January 2023.

Solution Flow

Prototype

These initial circuits allowed the first planter pods to function, enabling the growth phase to begin and supporting further R&D.

The control board was a simple monitoring and control setup, primarily assembled on breadboards with wired modules.

PCB - Alpha

This was the first PCB-based control system, designed to control and automate fog delivery and lights, with five darlington-transistor outputs for controlling additional peripherals. Notably, this was also the first PCB I ever designed—a fact evident in the pictures.

Failures

This design faced several challenges. Accessibility was limited, making it difficult to manage connections in final assembly, and a few connections required additional jumpers to ground, complicating the wiring.

After installation, the improper housing design allowed fog from the fog chamber to seep into the electronics compartment. This brought moisture and salts on the PCB metal, causing corrosion and eventually short circuits.

To address this, we had to revisit and improve the main body stacking design to prevent fog leakage into the electronics bed.

PCB - Venus32

PCB Venus32 marked a significant upgrade from the first PCB. It included additional configurations for peripherals.

Incorporating lessons from the previous design, this version prioritized better electronic isolation, making it more resilient.

It also featured improved accessibility and integration, allowing for easier installation within the main planter body. And it looked pretty.

*Detailed specifics are omitted in compliance with the NDA with the organization.

PCB - Jupiter32

PCB Jupiter32 was the most advanced version in the PCB lineup, designed for the top-tier planter pods.

It supported nutrient dosing, filtration, and climate control systems, providing comprehensive automation for optimal plant care.

This one turned out prettier.

*Detailed specifics are omitted in compliance with the NDA with the organization.

Control Application

The control app, developed in Flutter, enabled remote monitoring and management of the device. Users could define themed control environment tailored to the specific produce they wished to grow.

Additionally, users could switch between automatic and manual modes; in manual mode, they could control watering cycles, temperature, light, mood lighting, and other elements. Firebase served as the backend, allowing for quick and seamless integration.

After developing the control application and drafting a patent for the design and unique aspects of the project, I exited the company.

Behind the Scenes

Some Electrical Work

There was no power supply in the greenhouse assigned to us by the government. Fortunately, a lamp post just outside the greenhouse had a power outlet box.

Figuring out the electrical setup—distributing a single-phase connection into the greenhouse—was straightforward, though a bit nerve-wracking. In the end, it was executed peacefully.

Working desks at the time

Initially there was no table so I had to use the kitchen platform as one, odd but it did the job - kitchen-cum-workstation arrangement.

Then we sourced an actual desk from a contact in the aluminium and furniture industry, allowing us to move the workspace from the kitchen into the hall.

A Note on the Back of the Door 🗒️

This note was an excerpt from The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, a book recommended to Shubham (GGA Founder & Director) by his teacher, which he later passed on to me. I found this note on the back of his bedroom door, where I was staying at the time. Among all the notes there, this one resonated with me deeply—it sparked something within me.

Two years later, I found a similar message in Chapter 1 of the Bhagavad Gita. In this chapter, Dhritarashtra, driven by fear, asks questions that reveal his reluctance to face reality. He is afraid to admit his sons could lose the battle of Kurukshetra. This fear shapes his words and also reveals his impotency.