Ideas find and claim us; we are merely their vessels, not their architects. This phrase perfectly captures the inspiration behind my latest project: a smart plant pot with a touch of personality!

Last year, I built my first smart pot prototype, but it just didn’t feel complete. After reflecting on what I wanted it to achieve, I set out to make a new version that could truly interact with its environment. This blog post will take you through each step of the journey, from 3D design to coding animations and assembling the electronics that bring this smart pot to life.


🌟 About the Smart Pot Project

The Smart Pot project began as an idea to create something more than just a functional planter. My goal was to bring this pot to life, giving it personality and making it interactive with its environment. Initially, I built a prototype over a year ago, but it didn’t fully capture my vision. After refining my ideas, I’m excited to present this new version—a smart pot that not only cares for a plant but also shows how it "feels" about its surroundings.

From 3D design to custom coding, this project has been a blend of creativity and technology. The Smart Pot reacts to light, moisture, temperature, and humidity, giving real-time feedback through an animated "eye" that displays various emotions. Here’s a look at how it all came together.


🎯 Features of the Smart Pot

The Smart Pot is equipped with a set of sensors and displays that work together to monitor plant health and environmental factors. Here are some of its main features:

  • Expressive Eye Animation: The animated eye gives the Smart Pot a unique personality, displaying different emotions based on sensor inputs.
  • Environmental Monitoring: Equipped with a DHT22 sensor for temperature and humidity, an LDR to detect light levels, and a soil moisture sensor, the Smart Pot constantly checks its environment.
  • Modular Electronics with Wi-Fi: The ESP32 microcontroller not only powers the Smart Pot but also offers future expansion options with Wi-Fi capabilities.
  • Sound Module: A TF player module is included for potential audio responses in future updates, making the Smart Pot capable of “speaking” or playing sounds.
  • Low-Power Design: Using a 3.3V voltage regulator ensures efficient power use, enabling the pot to stay active longer on minimal energy.

Step 1: Designing in 3D

The first step was designing the structure in Blender. 3D modeling allowed me to visualize how each component would fit together and plan the dimensions for a perfect fit with the electronics. After finalizing the design, I moved on to the 3D printing phase. With my 3D printer, which might be modest but gets the job done, I printed the main shell of the pot.

But, it wasn’t just about function—this smart pot needed a personality! My girlfriend helped bring this idea to life by designing different sets of expressive eyes and even creating a mobile app interface for future expansion. Maybe in the next version, this smart pot will have an interactive app to match!

Step 2: Coding Emotions with Animated Eyes

To make the smart pot truly engaging, I wanted its “eye” to react to environmental changes and plant conditions. So, I wrote the code to animate the eye, allowing it to express a range of emotions and respond based on various sensor readings. The eye can look around randomly, blink, and shift expressions based on signals from the water, light, and temperature sensors.

While experimenting, I discovered an optical lens that would add depth to the eye’s look, but it arrived a bit too late to use in this build. However, I have exciting plans for this lens in future videos!

Step 3: Painting and Assembly – The Smart Pot Takes Shape

With the printed parts in hand, it was time to give them a unique look. I aimed for a retro-tech vibe, something that looked like it had been protecting the plant for years. Although painting isn't my strong suit, I added a weathered...

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