Automatic Plant Watering System

A DESIGN THINKING PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by

B. Divya Vani 22071A6674

E. Nynitha 22071A6681
K. V. Akshay 22071A66F3
K. Vaishnavi 22071A6790
Krithika 22071A1090

VALLURUPALLI NAGESWARA RAO VIGNANA JYOTHI

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
AICTE Approved; UGC Autonomous; JNTUH Affiliated; UGC “College with Potential for Excellence”; NAAC A++” Grade
ISO 9001:2015 Certified; QS I.GAUGE “Diamond” Rated; NIRF 2020: 127th Rank Engineering (151–200 Band Overall)
NBA Accredited: CE, CSE, ECE, EEE, EIE, IT, ME; JNTUH -Recognised Research Centres: CE, CSE, ECE, EEE, ME
Vignana Jyothi Nagar, Pragathi Nagar, Nizampet (S.O), Hyderabad TS 500 090 India

2023-2024
 VALLURUPALLI NAGESWARA RAO VIGNANA JYOTHI
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
CENTRE FOR PRESENCING AND DESIGN THINKING
AICTE Approved; UGC Autonomous; JNTUH Affiliated; UGC “College with Potential for Excellence”; NAAC A++” Grade
ISO 9001:2015 Certified; QS I.GAUGE “Diamond” Rated; NIRF 2020: 127th Rank Engineering (151–200 Band Overall)
NBA Accredited: CE, CSE, ECE, EEE, EIE, IT, ME; JNTUH -Recognised Research Centres: CE, CSE, ECE, EEE, ME
Vignana Jyothi Nagar, Pragathi Nagar, Nizampet (S.O), Hyderabad TS 500 090 India

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project titled “Automatic Plant Watering System” is being
submitted, by B. Divya Vani (22071A6674), E. Nynitha (22071A6681), K. V. Akshay
(22071A66F3), K. Vaishnavi (22071A6790), and Krithika (22071A1090) in partial
fulfilment of the requirement for the award of degree of Bachelor of Technology to the
Centre for Presencing and Design Thinking at the Vallurupalli Nageswara Rao Vignana
Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology is a record of bona fide work carried out
by them under our pedagogy. The results embodied in this Project have not been submitted
to any other University or Institute for the award of any degree.

Dr. N. Aruna Kumari

Assistant Professor
Humanities & Sciences
VNRVJIET
Hyderabad

Internal Examiners External Examiners

 ABSTRACT
The "Automatic Plant Watering System" is designed to address the challenge of
maintaining optimal moisture levels in indoor and outdoor plants, ensuring they receive
adequate hydration without the need for manual intervention. The system utilizes smart sensors
and algorithms to monitor soil moisture levels and weather forecasts, dynamically adjusting
watering schedules. This promotes healthier plant growth, conserves water, and provides
convenience for users. Our project is targeted towards busy professionals, elderly individuals,
families, frequent travelers, plant enthusiasts, and individuals with limited mobility. The
system’s features include remote monitoring and control through a smartphone app, making it
a tech-savvy solution for urban gardeners and smart home enthusiasts.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Details of Contents Pag
e no.

Abstract IV
Table of Contents V
List of Figures VI

Chapter 1: Introduction to Problem 1

1.1 Objective 1
1.2 Outline 1
1.3 Motivation 1
1.4 Scope of the Project 1
Chapter 2: Discover and Define 3
2.1 Empathy Interview 3
2.2 Persona
2.3 User Needs 4
Chapter 3: Customer service experience 5
3.1 Service experience cycle 5
3.2 Pain point address 5
Chapter 4: Ideation 7
4.1 Ideation Tools 7
4.2 Outcome of Ideation Phase 7
Chapter 5: Prototype model 8
5.1 latent Needs Addressed 8
5.2 Evaluation of prototype Based on Desirability, 9
Feasibility& Viability

Chapter 6: Conclusions and Future Scope 10

6.1 Conclusions 10
6.2 Future Scope 10
References
Appendix A: User Surveys
A.1 Questionnaire for Users 12
A.2 Text Transcripts of User Responses 14

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 LIST OF FIGURES
Details of Contents Page #

Figure 2.1: Working Model 8

Figure 2.2: Prototype 9

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 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objective

The automatic plant watering system aims to provide a convenient solution for
maintaining optimal moisture levels in plants. This project focuses on automating the watering
process to ensure consistent and adequate hydration, ultimately improving plant health and
promoting sustainable gardening practices.

1.2 Introduction

The theme of this project revolves around the domain of smart gardening solutions,
specifically targeting the challenge of plant watering. With the rise of smart home technologies,
integrating an automated system for plant care presents a significant advancement. This system
uses soil moisture sensors and weather data to dynamically adjust the watering schedule,
ensuring plants receive the right amount of water at the right time. The methodology involves
designing and implementing a system that combines hardware and software components to
create a user-friendly and efficient plant care solution.

1.3 Motivation

The motivation behind this project stems from the need to provide a convenient and
reliable method for plant care, particularly for busy professionals, elderly individuals, and
frequent travelers. Manual watering is often inconsistent and can lead to poor plant health due
to overwatering or underwatering. By automating the watering process, we aim to improve
plant health, ensure consistent care, and promote sustainable gardening practices by reducing
water wastage.

1.4 Scope for the Work

The project focuses on designing and implementing an automatic plant watering system that
can be used for both indoor and outdoor plants. The system will include smart sensors to
monitor soil moisture levels and weather forecasts, allowing for dynamic adjustments to the
watering schedule. Additionally, the system will feature a user-friendly interface for remote

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monitoring and control, making it accessible and convenient for users with varying levels of
gardening expertise.

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 CHAPTER 2
DISCOVER AND DEFINE
2.1 Empathy Interview

Empathy interviews were conducted to understand the challenges faced by various

users in maintaining plant health. The interviews focused on understanding users'
daily routines, difficulties with manual watering, and their expectations from an
automated plant watering system.

2.1.1 Previous Work

Several projects and studies have explored the development of automatic plant
watering systems. Most of these systems use soil moisture sensors to determine the
watering needs of plants. Some advanced systems also incorporate weather data to
optimize watering schedules. However, many existing solutions lack customization
options and user-friendly interfaces, limiting their effectiveness and usability.

2.1.1.1 Technology Used

The key technologies used in automatic plant watering systems include soil moisture
sensors, microcontrollers, and water pumps. These components work together to
create a system that can automatically adjust the watering schedule based on real-time
data.

2.2 Persona

• Neha, 32, Marketing Manager

• Background: Lives in a small apartment in a bustling city.

• Gardening Preferences: Enjoys balcony gardening in her free time.
• Needs and Goals: Automation for convenience, efficient watering, and peace of mind
knowing her plants are cared for even when she's busy or away.
• Challenges: Limited time, inconsistent weather, and space constraints on her balcony.

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2.3 User Needs

• Convenience: Automate plant watering to save time.

• Reliability: Ensure plants receive the right amount of water.
• Customization: Different watering schedules for various plants.
• Monitoring and Feedback: Real-time updates on soil moisture levels.
• Integration and Compatibility: Seamless integration with smart home devices.
• Water Conservation: Efficient use of water to prevent wastage.

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 CHAPTER 3
CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE
3.1 Service Experience Cycle

The service experience cycle involves the stages of interaction users have with the
automatic plant watering system:

o Awareness: Learning about the system through marketing and user

recommendations.

o Consideration: Evaluating the system's features and benefits.

o Purchase: Buying the system and initial setup.

o Usage: Daily interaction with the system, including monitoring and

adjustments.

o Support: Accessing customer service for troubleshooting and maintenance.

o Feedback: Providing feedback for future improvements.

3.1.1 Feedback Collection Methods

To gather valuable insights, various feedback collection methods are employed. These
methods include surveys, interviews, and focus groups, which provide qualitative and
quantitative data on customer experiences and expectations.

3.1.1.1 Analysis of Customer Feedback

The collected feedback is analyzed to identify common themes and specific areas for
improvement. This analysis helps in understanding the pain points customers face
with existing plant watering solutions and highlights the features they value the most
in an automated system.

3.2 Pain Point Address

Addressing key pain points identified during the empathy interviews:

• Forgetfulness: The automated system ensures plants are watered regularly without
manual intervention.

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• Time Constraints: Saves users' time by automating the watering process.

• Physical Difficulty: Reduces the physical effort required for watering, benefiting
elderly and disabled users.

• Water Wastage: Smart sensors and weather forecasts optimize water usage.

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 CHAPTER 4
IDEATION
4.1 Ideation Tools

Various ideation tools were used to generate and refine concepts for the automatic plant
watering system, including:

• Brainstorming Sessions: Group discussions to generate a wide range of ideas.

• Mind Mapping: Visual representation of ideas and their connections.
• SWOT Analysis: Evaluating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of each
concept.
• Prototyping: Creating low-fidelity prototypes to test and refine ideas.

4.2 Outcome of Ideation Phase

The ideation phase resulted in the development of a comprehensive solution that

integrates:

• Smart Sensors: For real-time soil moisture monitoring.

• Mobile Application: For remote control and monitoring.
• Weather Integration: Adjusts watering schedules based on weather forecasts.
• Customizable Settings: Allows users to set specific watering schedules for
different plants.

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 CHAPTER 5
PROTOTYPE MODEL

Figure 1 :Working Model

5.1 Latent Needs Addressed

The prototype addresses latent needs identified during user research:

• Peace of Mind: Users can monitor and control the system remotely, ensuring
their plants are cared for even when they are away.
• Efficiency: The system optimizes water usage, reducing waste and promoting
healthier plant growth.
• Integration: Seamlessly fits into users' existing smart home ecosystems.

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5.2 Evaluation of Prototype Based on Desirability, Feasibility, and Viability

Figure 2: Prototype

• Desirability: User feedback indicates high satisfaction with the convenience and
reliability of the system.
• Feasibility: The system uses readily available technology, making it easy to
produce and maintain.

• Viability: The cost of production is reasonable, and the potential market is large,
ensuring the product's commercial success.

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 CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE SCOPE
6.1 Conclusions

The automatic plant watering system effectively addresses the key challenges faced by
plant owners:

• Convenience: Automates the watering process, saving time and effort.

• Efficiency: Optimizes water usage to promote healthy plant growth.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other smart home devices, enhancing user
experience.

6.1.1 System Performance Evaluation

The performance of the developed system was evaluated through various tests. The
results indicated significant improvements in plant health and water conservation compared
to traditional watering methods.

6.1.1.1 User Feedback and Improvements

User feedback was collected to identify potential areas of improvement. Users

appreciated the convenience and reliability of the system but suggested enhancements in
the mobile application's interface and additional features like weather integration and plant-
specific care tips.

6.2 Future Scope

Future enhancements to the system may include:

• Advanced Features: Predictive watering schedules based on detailed weather

forecasts.
• Expanded Plant Support: Customizable settings for a wider variety of plant
species.
• Improved Mobile Application: Enhanced user interface and additional features
like plant care tips.

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• Sustainability: Exploring alternative energy sources to power the system, making
it more eco-friendly.

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Appendix A: User Surveys
A.1 Questionnaire for Users

1. Name:
2. Age:
o a) Under 18
o b) 18-24
o c) 25-34
o d) 35-44
o e) 45-54
o f) 55+
3. Occupation:
4. Do you own indoor or outdoor plants?
o a) Indoor
o b) Outdoor
o c) Both
5. How many plants do you own?
o a) 1-5
o b) 6-10
o c) 11-20
o d) 21+
6. How frequently do you water your plants?
o a) Daily
o b) Every few days
o c) Weekly
o d) Rarely
7. What challenges do you face with your current plant watering routine?
o a) Forgetting to water
o b) Overwatering/underwatering
o c) Time-consuming
o d) Physical difficulty
8. Have you used any automated systems for plant care before?

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 o a) Yes
o b) No
9. What features would you like to see in an automatic plant watering system? (Select
all that apply)
o a) Remote monitoring
o b) Weather-based watering adjustments
o c) Integration with smart home devices
o d) Customizable schedules
o e) Notifications/alerts
10. How important is remote monitoring and control of the system to you?
o a) Very important
o b) Somewhat important
o c) Not important
11. How much are you willing to spend on an automatic plant watering system?
o a) Under 500/-
o b) 500/-1000/-
o c) 1000/-2000/-
o d) Over 2000/-
12. Are you concerned about water conservation in your plant care routine?
o a) Yes
o b) No

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