Fully Automated Hydroponic System for Indoor Plant Growth

Growing certain plants and vegetables in remote areas such as deserts and the north and south pole can be a challenge because of the extreme outside weather. Very few species of plants thrive in such situations and are often not used as a food source [1]. In this study, we created a system that can grow common plants and vegetables and can operate without depending on the outside climate. We achieved this by using a technique called Hydroponics. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without using soil [2]. The system was automated using microcontrollers and sensors to keep human intervention at a minimum. An Internet of Things (IoT) network was created to improve reliability and allow remote monitoring and control if needed. The user is only required to plant a seedling and set initial parameters. Once done, the system is able to maintain the parameters and promote healthy plant growth. Copyright (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.