Robotic watering system?

While I wouldn't consider this a "robotic" system -- any more than a
modern washing machine is a true "robot" -- it's an interesting-looking
product. It waters the way a person would.

Too bad it has just that dinky LCD display for setting up. That could be
a problem right there. Now, if it could just interface to a PC for GUI
programming... Use a simple CAD probgram to lay out your yard, indicate
where the watering head is, and drag the mouse to program the coverage.  

-- Gordon

PS: Sounds like their watering heads use their own network for
communication: "all Watering Heads are connected together in parallel to
the Junction Box with 2 conductor 18 gauge AWG." That's a start in the
right direction.

I agree its is not a robotic system per se but it would seem a good idea
to market it as such considering it is user programmable and flexible.
Also the majority, if not all of its target market would be non-robotic
enthusiasts.

My understanding is that the hand-held LCD programming box also serves
as the master controller with the individual watering heads as networked
dumb slaves.

One wonders how susceptible a networked setup like this would be to
lightening. Something we much of in my neck of the woods.

Think I must give this a try as it appeals to my armchair approach to
garden maintenance.

Thanks for your comment

Ian

    The neat way to do it would be to ship it with a supply of devices that
measure soil moisture and report back over an RF link.  You'd stick these
in the ground where water was needed, and let the sprinkler system learn
where to water.  Once it was trained, you could pull the devices, leaving
one or two to optimize watering as weather and seasons change, and use
them to train the next sprinkler.

                    John Nagle

Why even that complex ?
A simple web interface would do.

Maybe with a bit of security to prevent it getting hacked.



Add a couple of soil moisture probes + temp sensor + maxstream zigbee module

maxstream modules
http://www.maxstream.net/products/xbee/xbee-oem-rf-module-zigbee.php

or go with something like the Rabbit zigbee application kit
http://www.rabbitsemiconductor.com/products/zigbee_app_kit/

Can get prototyping/break out boards from sparkfun (but they aren't allowed
to sell the maxstream modules)
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id ‚76

Anyone got some good leads on cheap soil moisture probes ?
and some 12V or 24V dc valves ?

For temp sensors I've got a few sht15(temp / relative humidity) ,some
ds1820's and
a SCP1000 barometric pressure sensor ic.

This would be a good project to convert to solar(PV) power
as it wouldn't need to much power to run.

Here in Sydney Australia, we are only allowed to water the garden twice a
week:
sunday before 10 am or after 4pm, wedneday before 10am or after 4pm -Level 3
restrictions
http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/WaterRestrictions/

Its very easy to forget to water or may not be home to water.

A lot of NSW country towns are on level 5 water restrictions.
Brisbane (captiol of Queensland) just went on to level 5 restrictions last
week.
http://www.qwc.qld.gov.au/Level+5+restrictions
"What do the restrictions mean for residents?
Residents are being asked to make significant indoor water use savings -
such as 4 minute showers. Specific restrictions include:
 * Gardens - only water existing gardens with buckets or watering cans on
allocated days between 4pm-7pm. You can use tank or grey water at anytime.
 * Vehicles - only use a bucket to spot clean mirrors, lights, glass and
number plates
 * Pools - From 1 July, only top up existing swimming pools from town water
as a last resort and only where a rainwater tank or downpipe rainwater
diverter is fitted and the premises complies with three of the following - a
swimming pool cover, water efficient taps and showerheads, water efficient
toilets, water efficient washing machine
 * New or renovated pools - may only be filled with water sourced from areas
not under Level 5 restrictions (ie brought in by truck)
 * High water users - must submit a water use assessment form to audit their
water use and identify saving opportunities."

Some areas even get restrictions on toilet flushing.


Now if anyone needs a cheap ethernet board
edtp/nerdvilla are clearning out their remaining old boards for US$30 - 40
www.nerdvilla.com
http://www.nerdvilla.com/easyasixavr.htm
http://www.edtp.com/easyethw_page.htm

or there is always the new atmel avr32 networking board for US$69
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_idA02

avr32 studio for windows and linux
 (eclipse based).
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools.asp?family_idh2

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/view_detail.asp?FileName=AVR32NGKit_3_26.html&family_idh2

Digikey now have them in stock and have shipped my order.

they also have a pack of an stk500(for avr not avr32) + avr jtag mark2 for
US$150
http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Criteria?Ref064&Site=US&Cat4144956

The avr jtag mark2's and avr isp mark2's have been confirmed by atmel to
work with both avr and avr32.


Alex

A simple watering system using ethernet is described in the book
Embedded Systems Design using the Rabbit 3000 Microprocessor - Interfacing,
Networking, and Application Development by Kamal Hyder & Bob Perrin


Alex

You guys don't do a lot of gardening, I suppose. You'd have to calibrate
each sensor as to the soil type and the amount of water you want,
seasonally adjusted of course. A lawn might be soaked (to allow the
water to seep further to keep the roots well below ground level) but
other areas of the yard may need quite different watering. I'd drench my
citrus but the ground cover gets a light spray, being drought resistant.
It's not as easy as it seems.

Obviously metering the water with a sensor is needed for any advanced
watering, but the first step is directing where the water should go. A
servo-operated nozzle is the first good step for that. Knowing the
approximate rate of flow and timing the coverage is a very good
approximation; better than watering by hand.

-- Gordon

Calibration shouldn't be to hard. All depends how you set the system up
and how simple you want to keep it and the size of the garden.

Its a bit hard to do gardening when you are in a drought and have
water restrictions in place.
Our area (Manly Warringah)has fairly shallow sandy soil  as its fairly
rugged terrain
(hawksbury sandstone). Usually stick with native australian plants and trees
as they
need a lot less maintenance and are usually tougher/more hardy.
Survive better on twice a week watering.

For my back yard, I just want to stick in a few drip/soaker hoses on the
flower beds
and larger pots.

Sprinklers of any sort are not allowed unless you get an exemption
(not most people) or are using grey/recycled/rain water.

Want to put in a few rainwater tanks and also tanks for collecting laudry
water.


Wish that a automated sprinker / servo controlled nozzle was allowed by its
not.

A lot of the cheap flow rate meters aren't that accurate but should be easy
to calibrate
in the lab at work.

Sydney should really be on level 5 water restrictions not level 4 but as we
just had a state election and plus its politicans that have to make the
decision and
it wouldn't be a popular decision but is needed asap.

I haven't done a gardening water system before thought a
simple ethernet based one might be fun to do.
More fun than bridge vibration monitoring systems(current work project).
Have done environmental monitoring systems including air and water pollution
monitoring.

Alex