HYDRUINO: ARDUINO IRRIGATION SYSTEM

A TITLE PROPOSAL

Presented to

the Faculty of the College of Computer Studies

Filamer Christian University

Roxas City, Philippines

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the degree in

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

BORBON, CHYDALE YVONNE

CUADERNAL, KRISTINE

October 2022
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Overview of the Current State of Technology

Hydruino is an automatic irrigation system for terrestrial and semi-aquatic plants.

It is a device created through the use of the Arduino platform. The term Hydruino is a

compound word made up of the words "Hydro," which means "water," and "Arduino." To

overcome the unpredictable nature of irrigation, Hydruino is made to automate and

enhance the irrigation process by evaluating the soil's moisture content, the water's

conditions, and the climate conditions, such as intense heat and rain.

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware

and software. Over the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from

everyday objects to complex scientific instruments. Arduino was born at the Ivrea

Interaction Design Institute as an easy tool for fast prototyping, aimed at students

without a background in electronics and programming. The Arduino software is beginner

friendly yet flexible enough for advanced users. Teachers and students use it to build

low-cost scientific instruments, to prove chemistry and physics principles, or to get

started with programming and robotics. (Arduino Introduction - 2018)

In farming, there are two main agricultural watering processes that farmers used

to cultivate crops; namely Rain-fed farming and irrigation. While Rain-fed farming is the

natural application of water to the soil through direct rainfall, irrigation is the artificial

application of water to the soil through various systems of tubes, pumps, and sprays. An
irrigation system is usually used in areas where rainfall is irregular or dry times or

drought is expected. There are many types of irrigation systems, in which water is

supplied to the entire field uniformly. Irrigation water can come from groundwater,

springs or wells, surface water, rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, or even other sources, such

as treated wastewater or desalinated water. As a result, farmers must protect their

agricultural water source to minimize the potential for contamination. (Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention - 2016)

Desired State of Technology

This study aims to develop Hydruino, an Arduino irrigation system for terrestrial

and semi-aquatic plants, designed to combat the unpredictable nature of irrigation and

automate the irrigation process. Although the goal of this project is to create an

automated watering system, initial settings will include buttons for manual modification.

Following the first configuration, Hydruino will manage the entire procedure following the

parameters specified during initialization.

The Arduino project will have the capability of supporting smallholder irrigations

like Drip, Sprinkler, and Mist, to provide adequate irrigation for semi-aquatic plants like

rice and spinach that have partially or completely submerged roots underwater, as well

as terrestrial plants like corn, carrots, and cabbage that grow on, in, or from the ground.

The Arduino project will use a soil moisture sensor to gauge the moisture content

of the soil. Hydruino will automatically turn on the water pump to deliver a suitable

amount of water when the soil moisture level drops and crosses the desired moisture
content. On the other hand, if the sensor detects the proper level of soil moisture,

Hydruino will turn the water pump off.

The Arduino project will use DHT22 which is a popular temperature and humidity

sensor to determine the weather conditions that will work on par with the soil moisture.

A submersible Hydrostatic pressure level sensor will also be needed for the Arduino

project to gauge the water level in deep tanks or water reservoirs. Hydruino will have an

OLED panel that will show the sensed values of the soil, water, and humidity that are

critical in the maintenance and growth of the plants.

The goal of this project is to create Hydruino, a solution for irrigation's

unpredictable nature, such as over- and under-irrigation, and to outperform the farmers'

traditional irrigation practices, such as manual labor. To predict the conditions that affect

the cultivation of the plants, Hydruino will be developed to maximize time, minimize

effort, and offer an accurate output.

Statement of the Problem

1. Farmers are having trouble in maintaining conventional irrigations due to

unpredictable weather conditions such as; draught and low tide.

2. Smallholder farmers, if not all, use the Rain-fed method in farming to irrigate their

fields and/or fill the lakes and water reservoirs.

3. Farmers spend hours under the sun to maintain the irrigation and the condition of

the plants.
Objectives of the Study

General Objective

To develop Hydruino, an Arduino irrigation system for terrestrial and semi-aquatic

plants, designed to combat the unpredictable nature of irrigation and automate the

irrigation process.

Specific Objectives

1. To develop an Arduino irrigation system that can gauge and evaluate the soil's

moisture content, the water's conditions, and the climate conditions, such as

intense heat and rain.

2. To develop an Arduino irrigation system that has the capability of supporting

smallholder irrigations like Drip, Sprinkler, and Mist, to provide adequate irrigation

for semi-aquatic and terrestrial plants.

3. To develop an Arduino irrigation system that will automatically turn on the water

pump when the soil moisture level drops and crosses the desired moisture

content.
Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

ON THE PROCESS. Hopefully we can finish it by tomorrow, Friday.

Operational Definition of Terms

Irrigation System. The artificial application of water to the soil through various

systems of tubes, pumps, and sprays. Irrigation systems are usually used in areas

where rainfall is irregular or dry times or drought is expected.

Rain-fed Farming. A type of farming that relies on rainfall for water. It provides

much of the food consumed by poor communities in developing countries.

Terrestrial Plants. Are the plants which grow on land. Desert plants are a type of

terrestrial plants.

Semi-aquatic Plants. Are the plants that have their roots partially or entirely

submerged underwater.

Soil Moisture Sensor. Used to measure or estimate the amount of water in the

soil. These sensors can be stationary or portable such as handheld probes. Stationary

sensors are placed at predetermined locations and depths in the field, whereas portable

soil moisture probes can measure soil moisture at several locations.

Scope and Limitations

This study includes an Arduino project that can combat the unpredictable nature

of irrigation and automate the irrigation process by evaluating the soil's moisture

content, the water's conditions, and the climate conditions, such as intense heat and

rain. It will be developed through hardware design, programming, development, testing

of the water pump, and other features. It will have the capability of supporting

smallholder irrigations like Drip, Sprinkler, and Mist, to provide adequate irrigation for

semi-aquatic plants as well as terrestrial plants.

This study excludes support for aquatic plants that are fully submerged

underwater and types of irrigation systems that don't use water pumps or low-

pressurized irrigations except for Drip that uses gravity feed.

Significance of the Study

This study aims to create Hydruino, a solution for irrigation's unpredictable

nature, such as over- and under-irrigation, and to outperform the farmers' traditional

irrigation practices, such as manual labor. To predict the conditions that affect the
cultivation of the plants, Hydruino will be developed to maximize time, minimize effort,

and offer an accurate output.

Furthermore, the following may also find importance from the study:

Farmers. Hydruino is built to make farming easier and efficient which will greatly

benefit the farmers as it will automate the process of irrigation, therefore reducing

manual labor and unpredictable external factors.

Consumers. This study aims to reinforce an existing irrigation system to improve

its process and thus, better quality and healthier products are expected.

Agriculture. This study aims to boost the process of farming by maximizing time,

minimizing effort, and offering an accurate output to unpredictable natural forces.

Economy. This study aims to boost Philippine Agriculture, upheld its diligent

farmers, and provide quality products, thus, improving our economy on the bigger

picture.