UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

DESIGN OF A SMART INDOOR GARDENING SYSTEM VIA PID

CONTROL SCHEME

This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal

Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering
Technology (Industrial Power) (Hons.)

by

NOOR RADZIAH BINTI MOHAMMAD SA’AT

B071210267
901123016570

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

2015
 DECLARATION

I hereby, declared this report entitled “Design Of A Smart Indoor Gardening System via
PID Control Scheme” is the result of my own research except as cited in references.

Signature : …….………………………………..

Author’s Name : Noor Radziah binti Mohammad Sa’at

Date : 12th January 2016

 APPROVAL

This report is submitted to the Faculty of Engineering Technology of UTeM as a partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering Technology in
Electric (Power Industry). The member of the supervisor is as follow :

………………………………………..

( Ahmad Muzaffar bin Abdul Kadir )

Project Supervisor
 ABSTRAK

Sistem Perkebunan Dalaman melalui Skim Kawalan PID adalah projek yang
menyediakan alat-alat taman pintar untuk sistem berkebun tertutup. Penggunaan sistem
berkonsepkan kebun adalah untuk semua pusingan tahun dengan mengawal elemen
tumbuh-tumbuhan untuk berkembang maju. Sistem ini menggunakan PID sebagai
pengawal untuk mengawal keseluruhan sistem dan untuk elemen kawalan, sistem ini
menggunakan kipas, pam air DC dan mentol AC. Kipas akan diguna untuk mengawal
peredaran udara di sekeliling tanaman. Sensor kelembapan, sensor LDR dan sensor suhu
LM35 digunakan sebagai unsur pengukur untuk sistem ini. Sensor kelembapan akan
mengesan jika tanah tidak lembap dan maklumat itu akan dihantar untuk dianalisis oleh
pengawal untuk mengawal persekitaran pembesaran yang sihat untuk tumbuh-tumbuhan.
Sensor suhu akan mengesan suhu persekitaran yang diperlukan untuk tumbuhan untuk
tumbuh dan berkembang maju. Sensor LDR digunakan untuk mengawal jumlah
pemberian pencahayaan yang mencukupi untuk tumbuhan. Keadaan tanah, suhu dan
cahaya akan dipaparkan pada skrin komputer. Kelebihan sistem ini ialah ia boleh
mewujudkan konsep rumah hijau dengan berkebun tertutup. Kesimpulannya, Sistem
Perkebunan Tertutup melalui Skim Kawalan PID telah dihasilkan dengan menggunakan
perisian LabView versi 2015 untuk mengawal tumbuhan untuk hidup dan berkembang
maju. Perisian Arduino versi 1.6.4 digunakan sebagai penyambung antara papan
Arduino dan perisian LabView.

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 ABSTRACT

The Smart Indoor Gardening System via PID Control Scheme is a project that
provides smart garden devices for indoor gardening system. The systems are use
gardening concept which is for all year round gardening by controlling the element of
the plants to thrive. This systems are used PID as the controller to control the whole
system and for the control element, this system use the fan, the DC water pump and the
AC bulb. The fan is used to control the circulated air surrounding the plants. The
moisture sensor, the LDR sensor and LM35 temperature sensor is used as the measuring
element for the system. The moisture sensor will detect if the soil is not moist and the
information is send to controller to analyze it by the controller to control healthy grow
environment for the plants. The LM35 temperature sensor will detect the temperature
surrounding and control it based on the needed for the plant to growth and thrive. . The
LDR sensor is used to control the sufficient lighting for the plant. The condition of soil,
temperature and light is displayed on computer. The advantage of this system is that it
can create the greenhouse concept with indoor gardening. In conclusion, the Smart
Indoor Gardening System via PID Control Scheme was developed using LabView
software version 2015 to control the plant to grow and thrive. The Arduino software
version 1.6.4 is used to link the Arduino board with LabView software.

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 DEDICATION

To my lovely and beloved parents,

Mohammad Sa’at bin Salamat and Fadzilah binti Muhamad

My siblings,

Mohammad Anuar bin Mohammad Sa’at, Noor Rashidah binti Mohammad Sa’at,
Mohammad Hafidz bin Mohammad Sa’at and Mohammad A’riff bin Mohammad Sa’at

My beloved friends,

Kamarulhuda bin Mohd Nazri, Mohamad Syufaat bin Md. Amil, Mohamad Azri, Soleha
binti Ahmad, Nor Syazana binti Hasan, Farha binti Jumali, Siti Aisyah binti Jumat and
Siti Safwanah binti Misri,

My Supervisor,

En. Ahmad Muzaffar bin Abdul Kadir

Dedicated in thankful for the supporting, best wishes and encouragements.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Alhamdulillah and thanks to Allah S.W.T give me spirit and strength to finish
my studies in UTeM. Thank to everyone, who always around me, continuously
supporting me, understanding and give contribution towards the successful completion
of my final year project.

A special thanks to my supervisor, En. Ahmad Muzaffar bin Abdul Kadir who
had continuously give guidance and enthusiasm given throughout the progress of this
project. It would be difficult to finish this project without his understanding and
tolerance.

Furthermore, a million thanks to both my parents, my siblings and my

colleagues, who always there for me in times of difficulties, happiness and for
supporting me in my studies at University Technical Malaysia Melaka.

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

Declaration
Approval
Abstrak i
Abstract ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of Content v
List of Tables x
List of Figures xi

CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background Of The Project 1
1.2 Problem Statement 2
1.3 Objective 3
1.4 Scope 3
1.5 Report Outline 4

CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.1 The Type Of Plant 5
2.1.1 Orthosiphon Stamineus 6
2.1.2 Phaleria Macrocarpa 6
2.1.3 Andrographis Paniculata 7
2.2 The Applications Of Indoor Gardening 8
2.2.1 Forced Air Circulation For Indoor Gardening 8
2.2.2 Without Forced Air Circulation For Indoor Gardening 9

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2.3 Characteristic Recognition And Requirement For The Plant to Growth 10
2.3.1 The Temperature 11
2.3.2 The Relative Humidity 11
2.3.3 The Fertilizer 13
2.3.4 The Splash Of Water On Plant 13
2.3.5 The Sufficient Lighting 13
2.4 The Arduino Controller 15
2.5 Using PID As The Control Scheme For The System 17
2.6 Previous Plant Watering System 21
2.6.1 The Green House Solar Powered For Plant Watering System 21
2.6.2 The Smart Garden System 22
2.6.3 The Rooftop Gardening 22
2.7 Conclusion Of Review 23

CHAPTER 3 : METHODOLOGY 24
3.1 The Project Planning 24
3.2 The Overview Of The Project 27
3.3 The Construction Model 28
3.4 The Hardware 30
3.4.1 The Arduino Uno 30
3.4.2 The DC Water Pump 31
3.4.3 The AC Bulb 31
3.4.4 The Fan 32
3.4.5 The LM35 Temperature Sensor 32
3.4.6 The Soil Moisture Sensor 33
3.4.7 The LDR Sensor 34
3.4.8 The Two Channel Motor Driver Module 34
3.4.9 The Single Channel Relay Module 35
3.5 The Arduino Software Version 1.6.43.4 35

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3.6 The LabView 2015 Software 36
3.7 Close-loop Diagram 36
3.7.1 Close-loop Diagram Of Temperature Parameter 36
3.8 The Conclusion Of Review 38

CHAPTER 4 : RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 39

4.1 Hardware Development 39
4.2 Software Development 42
4.3 Results 44
4.3.1 Data On/Off Control Condition For Moisture Level 44
4.3.2 Data On/Off Control Condition For Intensity Of Light 47
4.3.3 Data PID Control For Temperature 50
4.4 Discussion 55

CHAPTER 5 : CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 62

5.1 Conclusion 62
5.2 Recommendation 63

CHAPTER 6 : PROJECT MANAGEMENT 64

6.1 The Schedule of The Project 64
6.2 The Cost To Develop The Project 66

REFERENCES 68

APPENDICES
A Data On/Off Control Condition For Moisture Level

B Data On/Off Control Condition For Intensity Of Light

C Data PID Control Condition For Temperature

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D Data Manipulated Variable Of PID Control Condition For Temperature

E The Program Developed Using LabView Software

viii
 LIST OF TABLES

2.1 The technical specification of Arduino Uno 16

2.2 The power pins of Arduino Uno board 17
2.3 The equation of controlled system with compensation 21

3.1 The features of Arduino board 30

3.2 The temperature required by the plant 37

6.1 Gantt chart for semester one 56

6.2 Gantt chart for semester two 57
6.3 The cost of electronic component 58
6.4 The cost of other items 59
6.5 The cost of the plant 59
6.9 The total overall cost for Smart Indoor Gardening System 59

ix
 LIST OF FIGURES

2.1 Orthosiphon Stamineus 6

2.2 Phaleria Macrocarpa 7
2.3 Andrographis paniculata 8
2.4 Forced air circulation for indoor gardening 9
2.5 Without forced air circulation for indoor gardening 10
2.6 Same temperature with different relative humidity 12
2.7 Same relative humidity with different temperature 12
2.8 Process photosynthesis of the plant at day and night 14
2.9 The distance range limit from the plants to the light 15
2.10 The Arduino Uno board 15
2.11 The block diagram of the process under PID control 17
2.12 The simplified block diagram 18
2.13 The proportional characteristic 18
2.14 The transfer function, the algorithm and the gain for proportional control 19
2.15 The transfer function, the algorithm and the gain for integral control 19
2.16 The transfer function and algorithm for derivative control 20
2.17 The estimation of open loop time constant 20

3.1 Methodology flow 24

3.2 Progress to develop the system 26
3.3 Overall design to develop the system 27
3.4 The construction model 29
3.5 The Arduino Uno 30
3.6 The DC water pump 31
3.7 The AC Bulb 31

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3.8 The Fan 32
3.9 The LM35 temperature sensor 32
3.10 The soil moisture sensor 33
3.11 The circuit diagram of the soil moisture sensor 33
3.12 The LDR sensor 34
3.13 The Two Channels DC Motor Driver Module 34
3.14 The single channel relay module 35
3.15 The Arduino software version 1.6.4 35
3.16 The LabView software version 2015 36
3.17 The close-loop diagram for temperature parameter 37

4.1 The wiring part inside the black box 40

4.2 The Smart Indoor gardening System via PID Control Scheme 41
4.3 The monitoring site 42
4.4 The part of block diagram created for the whole system 43
4.5 The control display for moisture level when program is running 44
4.6 The data for moisture level converted into graph with Microsoft excel 45
4.7 The data for moisture level taken using LabView software 46
4.8 The control display for intensity of light when program is running. 47
4.9 The data for intensity of light converted into graph with Microsoft excel 48
4.10 The data for intensity of light taken using LabView software 49
4.11 The control display for temperature when program is running 50
4.12 The data of temperature converted into graph with Microsoft excel 51
4.13 The data of temperature taken using LabView software 52
4.14 Data of manipulated variable converted into graph with Microsoft excel 53
4.15 The data of manipulated variable taken using LabView software 54
4.16 The control display for moisture level at LabView software 55
4.17 The block diagram of moisture level created at LabView software 56
4.18 Comparison between data taken and the theory of on/off control condition 57
4.19 The control display for intensity of light at LabView software 57

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4.20 The block diagram for intensity of light created at LabView software 58
4.21 Comparison between data taken and the theory of on/off control condition 59
4.22 The control display for temperature at LabView software 60
4.23 The block diagram for temperature created at LabView software 60

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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this project is to build the model of Smart Indoor Gardening
System via PID Control Scheme. This chapter will briefly discuss the project overview
on how the project is developed. The systems providing optimum condition for the plant
to grow and thrive. It also can be automatically watering plant without looking after
plant to be under or over watering. The sufficient lighting for the plant to growth can be
maintained for the whole day. The control element for this system would be temperature.
The temperature surrounding would be controlled in analog output by using the PID
control scheme to control the system. The background of the project, problem statement,
objective, scope, and the outline report will be presented in this chapter.

1.1 Background Of The Project

The Smart Indoor Gardening System via PID Control Scheme is a system that
controlling the element of the plants to thrive by using the gardening concept for all year
round gardening. Nowadays, the planter cannot control the plant growth to be in good
state. The soil fertility and plant fertility also cannot be maintained. Therefore, the
system of the Smart Indoor Gardening System via PID Control Scheme are be made to
overcome the problem. The systems are providing optimum condition for the plant to

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grow and thrive especially in country of four seasons. It also helps the planter produce
plant with good quality, matured and unaffected. The plant used for the system is more
to valuable plant like herbaceous plant, which is can be used for medicinal use. Other
than that, the humidity of the soil can be maintained to be always in good state at the
range needed by the plant. The sufficient lighting for the plant to growth can be
maintained for the whole day. The system also can be automatically watering plant
without looking after plant to be under or over watering. The systems are using Arduino
Uno as the controller to control the LDR sensor, the moisture sensor, the LM35
temperature sensor, the DC water pump, the fan and the AC bulb.

1.2 Problem Statement

The most common problem encountered in looking after plant is the plant
produced are not in good quality, not matured and affected because the plant grown are
not controlled and maintained properly. The required amount of water for each plant
depends on what type of the plant it is. To make the plant healthy, it must be avoided
from drowned of water. So, the automatic systems would watering the plant when
needed are developed to overcome the problem.

Other than that, the humidity of the soil during day and night cannot be
maintained. The humidity needed for the plant during day and night should be controlled
in the range needed by the plants. The sufficient lighting for the plant to growth and the
temperature of surrounding also cannot be controlled. This project needs to control for
the lighting and detect temperature surrounding with good technology to make the
system success in providing optimum condition for the plant to go and thrive.

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1.3 Objective

There are several objectives need to achieve in this project:

1. To maintain the sufficient lighting for the plant to growth.

2. To detect and maintain the temperature surrounding the plant.

3. To maintain the moisture level of the soil in good state at the range needed by the
plant during day and night.

1.4 Scope

The scope of the project is to build hardware and design a system for the indoor
gardening which can produce plant with good quality, matured and unaffected by
controlling and maintaining the plant growth. The plant used for the system is more to
valuable plant like herbaceous plant, which is can be used for medicinal use like
Orthosiphon Stamineus, Phaleria Macrocarpa and Andrographis paniculata.

The systems are using Arduino Uno as the controller to control the system of the
Smart Indoor Gardening System via PID Control Scheme.

The systems are using the fan and the AC bulb as the control element. The fan
are circulated the air and maintain the temperature surrounding the plants. The AC bulb
is used to ensure the plant get enough intensity of light.

There are three types of sensor used in this system which is soil moisture sensor,
LM35 temperature sensor and LDR sensor. The moisture sensor will detect the moisture
level of the soil. The LM35 temperature sensor will detect the temperature surrounding
and optimizing it to the value suitable for plant. The LDR sensor will detect the presence
of light and control the intensity of light needed by the plant.

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1.5 Report Outline

This report is organized into six chapters and the outline of each chapter is
explained briefly as follows.

In chapter 1, the objectives, project advantages, problem statement and scope of

the project is discusses in the introduction.

For chapter 2, the idea for the project and all theoretical are explained in the
literature review.

In chapter 3, the methodology of the project described. In this chapter shows the
planning of project implementation. This chapter also explains in detail the methods that
have being selected.

At Chapter 4, the development process for the project was explained. This
chapter also will show the equipment involve to accomplish this project.

Chapter 5 is the project result. This chapter consists of discussion and analysis of
the project results.

The last chapter is chapter 6, conclusion for the project. The whole project was
summarized in this chapter. Some additional idea is discussed to implement in the actual
field and for improvement in the future.

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 CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

At this chapter, all components and all information that involve in the Smart
Indoor Gardening System via PID Control Scheme are described. This project is
controlled by the Arduino Uno to provide optimum condition for the plant to grow and
thrive. This chapter reviews existing project created to get an idea about the
specification, project design, conception and any information that related to this project.
The flow of the system is based on the reviews made from existing project and the
previous project.

2.1 The Type Of Plant

The Smart Indoor Gardening System developed to help the planter produce plant
with good quality, matured and unaffected. The plant used for the system is more to
valuable plant like a herbaceous plant, which is can be used for medicinal use. There are
several types of plant used for the system test on which is Orthosiphon Stamineus,
Phaleria Macrocarpa and Andrographis paniculata.

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2.1.1 Orthosiphon Stamineus

The Orthosiphon Stamineus are also known as “Misai Kucing”. This plant is a
traditional herb and can be distinguished by its white or purple color flower that
resembles cat whiskers. It is widely grown in tropical areas [1].

The characteristic of the plant is it can grow up to height of 1.5m. The leaf
arranged in opposite pairs and the petiole is relatively short, about 0.3cm in length. The
flowers are borne on verticals about 16cm in length and white bluish in colour. The
flowers are about 6.2m in length with very irregular flower symmetry and it is a
hermaphrodite in nature. There are two calyx lobes, which are measuring about 6mm in
length, greenish red in color and the other one entire, both covered with minute white
hairs [2]. Figure 2.1 show the Orthosiphon Stamineus.

Figure 2.1: Orthosiphon Stamineus [1]

2.1.2 Phaleria Macrocarpa

The Phaleria Macrocarpa is a dense evergreen tree. It is also known as “Mahkota

Dewa”. It thrives in loose and fertile soil. The characteristic of this plant is this chronic
shrub grows up to 2.5m tall, round its trunk, it is brown in colour, the surface is rough,
single leaf, short-stemmed and located opposite. The flower lying scattered on the stems

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or leaves armpits, tube shape, small, white and come out throughout the year. The fruit
are 3 to 5 cm in diameter, smooth, grooved, and round in shape. The seeds is round,
brown and hard.

Parts of plant used as medicine are the leaves and fruit leather. The skin of the
fruit and the leaves can be used dried or fresh, while the flesh of the fruit is used after
drying it [3]. Figure 2.2 show the Phaleria Macrocarpa.

Figure 2.2 : Phaleria Macrocarpa [3]

2.1.3 Andrographis Paniculata

The Andrographis paniculata is an annual herbaceous plant and also known as

“Hempedu Bumi”. It is extremely bitter in taste in all part of the plant body. It can grow
up to 60 to 70 cm. The stems are quadrangular and the leaf is green in color, glabrous,
simple and decussately arranged with entire margins. As the plant matures, the leaf size
is reduced [4].

This plant will start issuing new branch in 2 to 3 weeks after planning. The
flower will start out at age 6 to 8 weeks after planting, followed by the formation of pods
10 weeks after planting. Figure 2.3 show the Andrographis paniculata.

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 Figure 2.3 : Andrographis paniculata [4]

2.2 The Applications Of Indoor Gardening

Indoor gardening is the practice of cultivating the plants and growing up the
plant as part of the horticulture. For this project, it is created by combining the DC water
pump, the fan, the AC bulb, the soil moisture sensor, the LDR sensor and the LM35
temperature sensor. There are two types of indoor gardening which is forced air
circulation for indoor gardening and without forced air circulation for indoor gardening

2.2.1 Forced Air Circulation For Indoor Gardening

This type of indoor gardening use exhaust fan to gives a uniform temperature
surrounding the plants. The temperature can be constant and meet the requirement of the
plants. The fan circulated the air inside the cage when it detect the temperature
surrounding is higher than the level required for the plants to grow and thrive. Figure 2.4
show the forced air circulation for indoor gardening.

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 Figure 2.4: Forced air circulation for indoor gardening

2.2.2 Without Forced Air Circulation For Indoor Gardening

This type of indoor gardening is different than the type of indoor gardening with
forced air circulation because it don’t use fan inside it. The air inside is circulated by
convection. There are holes at the surround of the cage for indoor gardening as the air
source from the outside of the case. The cages protect the plant from rain and straight
directly exposed to the sunlight. The temperature surrounding the plant cannot be control
and the air flow naturally inside the cage without help of forced air. Figure 2.5 shows the
without forced air circulation for indoor gardening.