Hyposense: an integrated sensor device for hydroponics farm monitoring

Abstract

In recent years, the monitoring of hydroponics farms has undergone a significant transformation due to the integration of sensors. However, the conventional method of manually observing measurements from multiple sensors has proven to be excessively time-consuming and costly. Additionally, the lack of automatic data recording options in most sensors has been a limiting factor. To address these challenges, we conducted an experimental study to introduce a novel integrated sensor device named “HypoSense”, designed to monitor essential parameters such as temperature, humidity, pH, light intensity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and Electrical Conductivity (EC) in hydroponic systems. HypoSense consists of three microcontroller units (MCUs) incorporated with two controlling circuits based on the Arduino platform: the Arduino UNO, ESP32, and the ESP8266 (NodeMCU) microcontrollers. The device is designed using high-precision sensors, including the DHT11 for temperature and humidity monitoring, an Analog pH sensor kit for pH measurement, BH1750 for light intensity, and an Analog TDS sensor kit for TDS and electrical conductivity measurements. These sensors were chosen for their reliability, accuracy, and compatibility with the Arduino platform, ensuring that HypoSense delivers precise and consistent readings. HypoSense is a cost-effective, portable sensor device specially designed for monitoring growth parameters simultaneously in hydroponic farming, saving growers time and effort. The evaluation was carried out in two phases. Firstly, field sensors were employed to calibrate HypoSense device sensors. Next, a secondary evaluation was conducted to confirm the practicality and user-friendliness of the HypoSense device. To facilitate the evaluation of HypoSense, we set up an indoor hydroponic system for growing tomatoes and lettuce. The results of these evaluations, focusing on the performance and applicability of the HypoSense device, will provide valuable insights for hydroponic growers and future researchers in precision agriculture.