Suggestions on my new project?

[jabelian]

Hello!
I dont smoke anymore but I wish to get some help from the growing community. This hear is a prototype. I am making a fully automated green house.

Here is what it can do right now.

• Soil Moisture Sensing
• UV Radiation Sensing
• Temperature Sensing
• Humidity Sensing
• Light Sensing
• Motion Detection
• Grow Lights (Control in Real Time via Phone)
• Venting (Control in Real Time via Phone)
• Buzzer/Alarm System
• Programmable Watering Times (Control in Real Time via Phone)
• Either Nitrogen CO2 or Oxygen monitoring in real time
• Multiple programmable buttons for various functions
• WIFI capable
• Wifi Controls and Data Logging

This is a prototype but essentially what I want to do is allow the user the ability to monitor, control and track the progress of each plant. This prototype can be sized up for a full plant and I have plans on the way for a multiple plant set up. I am just wondering what the community would like to see from a system like this. As a fun tidbit, I plan to save all the data I record to optimize suggestions for future builds if I wish to yield more of X instead of Y. So the more data you have the more control you have to the final result.

The coolest part? You can monitor all of this on your phone without worry. Im adding nightvision and HD video camera streaming soon but the going rate for a full stand up with the above features is 1200$ and not much more for a multiple plant set up since the infrastructure is already in place. I just want to know your opinions.
Suggestions?

 

[jabelian]

Oh forgot to mention, time lapse photography and gently playing classical mozart are in development. Im on a quest for high growth rate, high potency, high yield and rapid turnaround. Just peeling the algorithm of the perfect grow.

 

[Granger2]

What's the cost of all the "sensing" and wifi, phone capabilities. Not sure why it's an advantage. -granger

 

[amanda88]

You may not smoke ....but have you ever grown? ...as one aspect of growing I very much enjoy is being with my plants, often I'm asked what I'm doing? ...I reply 'working in the grow room' ..which means I'm just hanging with my plants, its nice look into it?

 

[jabelian]

You may not smoke ....but have you ever grown? ...as one aspect of growing I very much enjoy is being with my plants, often I'm asked what I'm doing? ...I reply 'working in the grow room' ..which means I'm just hanging with my plants, its nice look into it?

I can understand that, the process of growing is the hobby. What about a much cheaper model that would tell you the differences of environment between two identical plants or any plants. That way you could isolate the variables that are responsible for specific grow pasterns you can use for your next plant. No automation just show the environmental and growth difference between two plants each time, or more plants if you so desire.

This was originally intended for small time agriculture but i felt growers may have some interest too. Just seeing the market potential.

I also would love to know what you guys would find useful in a product for a grow op. I need more insight. Small time farmers like the ideas but thats for mass production and livelihood. Not a passion

 

[Picarus]

Is that a greenhouse for ants?! Its going to have to be... at least 3x that size!

 

[jabelian]

Is that a greenhouse for ants?! Its going to have to be... at least 3x that size!

I know, its a prototype. I wanted a proof of concept before I made anything larger. The full side version would roughly have the height and width of a bedroom door with 3 to 5 feet of depth. The idea works though, its automated, records data and can be monitored over wifi. I dunno, I thought some of that information would be useful for future iterations of growing.

 

[coldcanna]

I like the ideas- while many people grow as a hands on hobby there are still many yet that grow for profit and visit multiple sites at staggered periods of time. I'd say the most important thing would the adaptability of the design- ie; breaks down into small manageable pieces, is modular and can be assembled to fit in different size rooms, ect. Keep in mind there are already dozens of options for climate control, automation, tents for growing, ect.... Your going to need a gimmick or something that makes you stand out

 

[mufinman]

What's the cost of all the "sensing" and wifi, phone capabilities. Not sure why it's an advantage. -granger

granger asked this question. it is a good one.
although a handy instrument, being in a not legal state, wifi would make me nervous (GPS and all).

but all in all, make a biger one that has proven it can grow a plant from veg thru bloom with little human interface, still have to mix the nutes though and put a price on it some will buy it coze they are not interested in 'growin' and learning how its done, only the product at the end. and your device might do that for them.. GLuck.

 

[amanda88]

I put your post to my tea club we meet each weekend to swap stories etc, of the 7 I'm the most inexperienced , we are enthusiastic amateurs, and often impart our products for monetary gain

1: Camera mounted into grow space in mid or long shot

2: Phone to receive images and alerts

3: multiple temperature sensors, including external

4: Remotely operated extract fan

5: Motion Detection via camera

This in our opinion is the basic setup, as most growers are out during the day, the biggest fear is theft, and too much heat, mold too but that can be sorted once home, or perhaps upgrade the basic package to include relative humidity(mold prevention) and water dispersal management, then for the super lazy, or the non caring noob, the luxury package that you offered above ...my 5 cents?

 

[Granger2]

Automation and remote connections appear to be nice, and are in certain ways, especially for security. But grows are hands on, out of necessity. Assuming weekly visits, can you keep Spider Mites, etc. from getting way out of hand? -granger

 

[queequeg152]

biggest problem i have with all of these arduino type systems is the shitty sensors.

cheap ass pcb based humidity sensors suck period.

cheap pcb air temp sensors, thermistors are fine. they can be very accurate, but humidity sensors are different. IMO you should have a hair type hygrometer for long term accuracy. hair hygrometers can be repeatedly calibrated which is invaluable.

sensing of CO2 should be done with hvac sensors.

soil moisture sensing via electrical resistance sucks too.
you really want a soil tensiometer with a low vacuum transducer(transmitter of sensor data).


how do you propose to monitor nitrogen concentrations in real time?