A Flask webapp that runs python code on a Raspberry Pi to control and monitor a growing plant... usually in a SpaceBucket (https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceBuckets/), hence the name. But it could be adapted to other use cases. The webapp will have the rPi take pictures (for time-lapses), read sensors (moisture, humidity, temperature), control fans, lights and water pump, and write data to a csv file as well as to an epaper display. Starter idea and initial code forked from here: https://www.hackster.io/ben-eagan/raspberry-pi-automated-plant-watering-with-website-8af2dc
- A Raspberry Pi (I used a 3B+ I had collecting dust - you might have to steal or beg for one in 2023), and a 32GB micro SD card.
- A 4channel relay (5volt for microcontrollers - used this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PP8HXVD)
- A capacitance moisture sensor (used the "v1.2" available online. Kit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLRYGT1) - Resistance ones corrode easily.
- An Analog-to-digital converter ADS1115 (for the rPi to read the capacitance moisture sensor. Like this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VPFLSMX)
- A low voltage water pump (included in the kit above with the moisture sensor)
- DHT22 sensor (eg: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073F472JL)
- 80mm computer fans (used 2 to create airflow: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YFSHPY)
- LED grow lights (used a stick-on LED strip light: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF65MC)
- rPi camera (eg: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KF7GWJL)
- A 2.7in Waveshare ePaper display (eg: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PKSZ3XK) - I choose that one to be able to use the buttons on it too, however, I have yet to figure out how to access them.
- Power strip and Power supplies (used some USB charger blocks, an some 12v power adapters - mainly on each for the rPi, fans, pump, lights - sensors can be powered from the GPIO pins
- An enclosure - used some clear Sterilite storage box and made holes for the wiring
- Breadboard with expansion GPIO board and holder. It made it really easy to mount the rPi and other electronics: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZYR7R8X
- Jump wires to connect everything with minimal soldering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GD2PGY4
- Hardware store 5ga buckets (About 4) - check https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceBuckets/ for details on how to build one.
- Started with latest Raspbian fully loaded
- Python3, with pip3.. and these packages. YMMV:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install python3-dev python3-pip
sudo apt-get install build-essential python3-smbus
sudo apt-get install ffmpeg
- DHT sensor and ADS1x15 packages:
sudo pip3 install RPi.GPIO
sudo pip3 install Adafruit_DHT
sudo pip3 install Adafruit-ADS1x15
- Flask package and psutil:
sudo pip3 install flask
sudo pip3 install psutil
- For Flask, you will also need a folder structure like:
/path/to/project/python_scripts_go_here.py
/path/to/project/templates/main.html
/path/to/project/static/ # for image files. Read the readme there for more details.
- ePaper: Waveshare lib and pic folder from their repo, copy into your project folder. In samples, you can run and checkout epd_2in7_test.py - FYI, I could not run epd_2in7_V2_test.py successfully.
sudo apt-get install python3-numpy
sudo apt-get install python3-pil
sudo pip3 install spidev
git clone https://github.com/waveshare/e-Paper.git
sudo raspi-config
Choose Interfacing Options -> SPI -> Yes Enable SPI interface
- You can start the different scripts as:
sudo python3 web_plants.py > stdout.log 2> stderr.log
python3 start_time_lapse.py
python3 print_status_epaper.py
- Once confirmed that everything is running as expected, you can setup the root crontab like this (starts webapp, starts the time-lapse picture-taking, starts the stats printing/monitoring, creates a time-lapse mp4 daily at 5am):
$ sudo crontab -e
@reboot cd /path/to/project/; python3 web_plants.py > stdout.log 2> stderr.log
@reboot cd /path/to/project/; python3 start_time_lapse.py
@reboot cd /path/to/project/; python3 print_status_epaper.py
0 5 * * * cd /path/to/project/static/time-lapse/; ffmpeg -f image2 -r 30 -i ./%05d.jpg -vcodec mpeg4 -vb 4M -y time-lapse.mp4
Check out pinout.xyz for pin details. We will use BOARD (Broadcom) pin assignment, which is the sequential number just next to the pin (There is an exception for the DHT22 sensor that I called out in the code). I used a breadboard with a GPIO expansion board, and highly recommend it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZYR7R8X
DHT sensor:
- Signal plugs into pin 40 or GPIO21 (in the code needs to be entered the BCM number: 21)
- Ground ->(any GND pin available)
- VCC -> a 3.3v pwr pin (1 or 17)
- Note: The DHT22 listed in the Hardware Materials comes with a tiny board that contains a resistor. You do NOT need a 10KΩ resistor in line with it if you get that one.
Soil moisture sensor:
- Signal plugs into the ADS1115at: A0
- Ground ->(any GND pin available)
- VCC -> a 3.3v pwr pin (1 or 17)
ADS1115:
- SCL-> 5 (SCL on rpi)
- SDA -> 3 (SDA on rpi)
- Ground ->(any GND pin available)
- VDD -> a 3.3v pwr pin (1 or 17)
Pi Camera:
- Ribbon goes into the camera module of the rpi. Note: the one linked above comes with a 6in ribbon, which was enough for installing inside and reaching back to the rpi.
- For more details on how to enable it, check: https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/projects/getting-started-with-picamera/2
- Channel1: PUMP_PIN=38 # To relay channel IN1
- Channel2: IN2_PIN=36 # for fans
- Channel3: IN3_PIN=32 # available... potentially heat mat, not use yet.
- Channel4: IN4_PIN=37 # for lights
- Ground ->(any GND pin available)
- VDD -> a 5v pwr pin (2 or 4)
- Then wire in-line the power of each device to the NO and COM on the corresponding relay.
The ePaper linked comes as a HAT and also has a wire. We would use the wire the HAT will not fit with other cables connected to the GPIO - Waveshare page - Use "Board" column under Hardware Connection. Then as documented on epaper.py, I needed to modify the ./lib/waveshare_epd/epdconfig.py and change the pin numbers as below as well as line 68: changefrom BCM to BOARD
- RST_PIN = 11
- DC_PIN = 22
- CS_PIN = 24
- BUSY_PIN = 18
- MOSI = 19
- Ground ->(any GND pin available)
- VCC -> a 3.3v pwr pin (1 or 17)
