Concept:
“Pet the Plant” is an interactive project that merges the physical and digital realms to provide users with the satisfaction of nurturing a virtual plant without the responsibilities and risks associated with real plants. Inspired by the creator’s struggles in maintaining live plants, the project employs Arduino and various sensors to simulate the physical actions of caring for a plant, while the digital aspect, coded in p5.js, reflects the plant’s growth.
Components:
1. Arduino Sensors:
– Potentiometer: Used to select from five different virtual plants.
– Force Resistor Sensor: Mimics soil patting motions by squeezing between fingers.
– Water Level Sensor: Allows users to virtually water the plant by pouring water into a cup.
– Photocell: Reads ambient “sunlight” affecting the virtual plant’s size and cloud visibility.
2. Digital Interface:
– Coded in C++ for Arduino and p5.js for the virtual experience.
– Utilizes p5.serialcontrol for communication between Arduino and p5.js.
– Screenshots in a GIF format showcase various scenes of the digital experience.
“Plant the Pet” Set-Up:
The physical interface is designed to align with the plant theme:
– Arduino and wires hidden inside a shoebox with a connecting hole to the laptop.
– Four holes on top for the sensors, placed inside small plant pots.
– Brown air-dry clay serves as simulated dirt, covered with fake grass to enhance the plant-like appearance.
Smart Plant Growth Monitor:
This project introduces a hands-on experience for users to monitor virtual plant growth on a computer screen. Key components include:
– Physical Soil Sensor: Arduino-powered soil moisture sensor.
– Digital Plant Simulation: Developed using P5.js for visual appeal.
– Real-time Data Exchange: Arduino collects and sends soil moisture data to the P5.js environment.
– User Interaction: Users physically water the virtual plant by adding water to the soil sensor.
– Feedback System: Visual feedback in the P5.js simulation reflects plant growth based on soil moisture levels.
Arduino & P5.js Outgoing Ongoing Data:
The Arduino collects real-time soil moisture data and transmits it to the P5.js environment. This ongoing data exchange facilitates a dynamic and responsive virtual plant simulation, allowing users to observe the impact of their actions on the plant’s growth in real-time. The interaction is designed to be user-friendly, creating an engaging and educational experience in the realm of virtual gardening.
Arduino Code
int pot; //potentiometer
int fsr; // force sensitive resistor
int humid; // humidity & temperature level sensor
int light; // photocell
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
pot = analogRead(A0);
fsr = analogRead(A1);
humid = analogRead(A2);
light = analogRead(A3);
Serial.print(pot);
Serial.print(',');
Serial.print(fsr);
Serial.print(',');
Serial.print(humid);
Serial.print(',');
Serial.print(light);
}