The Smart Irrigation System’s objective is to ‘enhance’ the irrigation process on agricultural fields. It does so by scheduling optimal irrigation cycles, which aim to reduce water wastage and maximize crop yield.
It has three main components :
Smart Irrigation Controller
Back-End Server
Mobile Application & Web Interface
Smart Irrigation Controller
Controller :
The Smart Irrigation Controller is based on a Raspberry-Pi 3 Model B board (Raspberry-Pi model is subject to change, although they all share a similar structure, operating system, and interfaces).
Operating System :
It will be fitted with a pre-configured micro-SD card containing Raspbian (recently renamed Raspberry-Pi OS), and all required packages & software.
Custom Add-on PCB :
To function as intended, the Smart Irrigation Controller requires modules and interfaces not present on the stock Raspberry-Pi. As such, we have designed a PCB which offers support for these requirements, and which can be connected to the Raspberry-Pi through its GPIO interface.
These include (1) a LoRa Transceiver, (2) a GSM Module, (3) and additional interfaces so the Raspberry-Pi can physically communicate with Irrigation Systems.
Power System :
The Smart Irrigation Controller being based on Raspberry-Pi board, it must follow its requirements, and be powered constantly at a recommended 5V@2A. We can power it either through the Raspberry-Pi’s micro-USB port, or through specific pins on its GPIO interface.
To ensure that our Smart Irrigation Controller is portable & self-sufficient, it remains connected to a power system, using solar power to recharge its batteries.
Software :
An Apache web server will be running constantly on the Raspberry-Pi. This web server will host the web interface, which allows farmers to control irrigation routines & receive information.
A Python script will be running constantly on the Raspberry-Pi. This script will execute irrigation routines, periodically poll the flow meter for changes, and handle all traffic sent/received through the external wireless modules (i.e. LoRa and GSM modules).
Back-End Server
Cloud-Based :
Back-End Server and Database are hosted on the Google Cloud IoT platform, which allows for automatic scaling & load-balancing, as well as database redundancy.
Database :
Stores all necessary information on users and their agricultural fields.
Supports HTTP Requests :
Offers a RESTful API, which facilitates requests from all devices involved in the Smart Irrigation System
Receives data from users to keep track of completed irrigation cycles
Sends recommended irrigation routines to users with registered agricultural fields
Mobile Application & Web Interface
Mobile Application :
Android-based mobile application which allows user to directly configure the Irrigation Schedule on their agricultural fields (assuming they have a Smart Irrigation Controller installed), or simply keep track of recommendations concerning their agricultural fields.
Web Interface
Web-based Interface which runs directly on the Smart Irrigation Controller, and allows us to configure its on-board modules, set the irrigation schedule, and check Irrigation logs/history.
