Comparison to Existing Solutions
Originality of the project, impact, and usefulness
Whilst the concept of incorporating 'smart' technology into a greenhouse has been previously explored to various extents, no such system has involved all of the SmartGreenhouse features in one product. By exploiting the full capabilities of the Raspberry Pi, SmartGreenhouse provides more sophisticated functionality than other products. The modular sensor system permits use with different plant species in versatile environments such as windowsill gardens, large garden greenhouses or can be scaled up for use industrially. The streamline and personalised hardware design reduces costs, making SmartGreenhouse one of the most affordable on the market. The key feature that differentiates SmartGreenhouse is the automated response system when sensor readings fall out with defined threshold ranges, making maintenance of a perfect microclimate effortless. Finally, SmartGreenhouse prioritises user satisfaction, utilising social media and publicity outlets to create a community of users and online presence as well as ensuring attractive and intuitive user interfaces and guides.
There is a variety of commercially available smartgreenhouses, a select few are detailed below and compared to SmartGreenhouse.
Sensaphone provides remote monitoring devices, auto dialers and sensors for industrial greenhouses to measure falling temperatures, poor ventilation, high CO2 levels, humidity changes, equipment failures, water leaks and power outages. Notifications are sent via text or email, and current status can be checked from their webpage and apps [1]. As well as being designed for industrial use and not modular enough to downsize, this system also does not provide automatic or remote control of responses and systems.
Growtronix provides a modular system that can support up to 32 components to monitor indoor gardens. Such systems utilise software operating on Windows operating systems and can interact with the user through personalised settings for text or email updates and allows for a schedule to be specified for the system [2]. This system is limited to Windows operating systems and does not provide automated responses.
Monnit utilises wireless sensors to measure the atmospheric conditions and notify users if any readings fall out with optimal conditions. Monnit systems track temperature, humidity, light and monitor the opening and closing of windows and doors. Users can access data from desktop and mobile webpages and receive free text and email alerts when necessary [3]. This system is targeted towards large scale operations such as use on a farm, furthermore no automatic or remote manual control is involved.
The Climate Manager uses multiple micro computers located in multiple panels throughout a greenhouse to measure and control heating and cooling, vents, fans, Co2, boilers, lighting, shading, heating on-off valves or modulation hot water valves [4]. Despite useful features this system has a dated and non-intuitive user interface.
BioControle is a Raspberry Pi add-on board created by Upsilon Engineering for small aquaponic or hydroponic gardens. The nature of the system allows for the user to define the use of inputs and outputs. A limitation of this system is for operation a Raspberry Pi 3 or higher is required, with the board being an additional cost of ~ £68 [5].
Arduino controlled greenhouse monitors and regulates temperature and humidity. The system involves automated fan operation, heat lamps and water drip system however, the prototype was a larger scale garden greenhouse [6].
[1]: https://www.sensaphone.com/industries/greenhouse.php
[2]: https://www.growtronix.com/cart/blog/how-growtronix-works-n5
[3]: https://www.monnit.com/solutions/greenhouse-monitoring
[4]: http://www.climatecontrol.com/climate-manager/
[6]: https://hackaday.com/2012/06/05/large-scale-arduino-controlled-greenhouse-does-some-serious-farming/
