In the fertile farmlands of Vinh Long, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, vegetable cultivation is part of daily life — yet most farmers still rely on manual care, dependent on weather and experience. The result: uneven yields, high labor costs and unpredictable quality. A student team at Tra On High School designed the Automatic Crop Care System, a model that applies IoT and renewable energy to help farmers grow clean, safe and sustainable crops. The system monitors and adjusts temperature, humidity, soil moisture, light and water salinity automatically, creating an optimized microclimate for plants to thrive.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Powered by solar energy and controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller, the system collects real-time data through a network of sensors: air temperature and humidity, soil moisture, water quality and sunlight levels. Based on this data, it automatically activates fans, sprinklers and misting systems for cooling and irrigation, and controls sunshades and artificial lighting. A solar panel and battery serve as the main power source, cutting energy costs and ensuring continuous operation. Sensor data is shown on an LCD display and in the E-Ra mobile app, so users can monitor and control the system remotely via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth — with audio alerts when values drop below optimal levels. An affordable, eco-friendly solution that reduces manual labor, conserves water and electricity, and improves the quality of produce.
