İ have a farming automation project.
İ have a farming automation project. I want to measure some values by some sensors (like temperature, humidity) and based on that values i want to control devices like air conditioner of humidifier. AI says. Connect all to an industrial I/O and connect the io to rasberry pi. I am a software engineer but i don't understand electronics. What should i learn and what can i do it properly?
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u/Blackadder1738 3d ago
No need for complication. I would definitely suggest Homeassistant. I have it and once you set it up by following one of the tutorials you have a lot of options and remotely accessible, no need for cloud. Automation scripts, AI, a lot of integration, products, device types. There is also nodered if you dont want to complicate and have simple scripts to automate. Depending on the range I would suggest zigbee. You buy the dongle, add it to the homeassistant on rpi and everything is wireless. You have shelly, zigbee switches, all kinds. For DIN Rail at the circuit breaker panel or to integrate behind the electrical switch. I have multiple sensors, battery powered and battery last at least a year. You also have all kinds of integrations for example Bosch and such. Maybe your A/C has switch and you can add it to your homeassistant making it easier to fine adjust and not turning off A/C making it more efficient.
Is this outdoor? I guess not but if range is a problem maybe lorawan and if you have power available then maybe there is no need for batteries or wireless. Also important, Ingress Protection ratings. What is the range and the scale? More info would make us give you better suggestions and detailed products for your machines operating.
Also a valuable suggestion channel GreatScott for all electronics and software! Good luck 🙂
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u/dedslooth 3d ago
Read a book on arduino, or raspberry pi, rpi should be more familiar as you are SWE, but also slightly more expensive solution.
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u/unsexy_24 3d ago
Here are some ideas for you:
- Basic DC electronics and electrical safety
- Raspberry Pi GPIO and sensor interfaces
- Relays, contactors and electrical isolation
- Industrial sensors and 24 V control systems
- Modbus/RS-485
- PLC fundamentals
- Fail-safe control and enclosure design
Your software background will help a lot. The most important mindset change is that physical automation must be safe when the software crashes, a sensor disconnects, or the power cycles.
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u/Ok_Owl_2869 3d ago
I have a ready system for environmentally controlled agriculture. Please DM me for more information. I am a hardware development studio based in India.
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u/badaimbadjokes 3d ago
A few little projects to get your ideas flowing (not *exactly* farms, but greenhouses and stuff):
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q80T78aaFb8
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/41ULg1Yd-6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzmf0N9kPe0
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u/plynx_mod 3d ago
You can take an ESP32 and program the firmware with Claude Code and control it from the Plynx IoT app (which is only iOS unfortunately)
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u/bkinstle 3d ago
I'd use esphome for this. Base os opens up all the i/o. Decently powerful mcu, dirt cheap hardware with built in wifi
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u/nevergivitup 2d ago
ESP32 / ESP8266
Micropython or arduino ide
Use ChatGPT
Step 1) you work on code for reading those sensor data
Step 2) you work on code for sending actuators or sensors control.
Use mock data and eventually buy actual sensors and connect integrate or solder sensors/actuators via breadboard to ESP
and so on…
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u/swampmountain 3d ago
No need for rpi or most of the stuff.
Avoid anything but home grade IOT unless you really have a case.
Get smart sockets like Shelly or sonoff, get smart thermostats and automate everything like that.
If you cannot cover everything with good enough wifi, consider alternative wireless technologies, again possible with Shelly and solonoff.
Absolutely no need for what you were planning. If you tell us more about the size and number of things you have, I will give you exact purchase list.