The Development of a Semi-automated Plant Watering Robotic Scarecrow With a Smoke Detector Sensor and Solar Tracker Panel for San Martin IV Bulacan Vegetable Farm

Vol.4, No.1

Abstract

A scarecrow, a human-shaped device, is important for farmers to deter birds from damaging
their agricultural fields. This study innovates the automatic scarecrow equipped with sensors
and an additional feature of a smoke detector and plant watering system. This robotic
scarecrow uses clean energy; it has an automatic solar tracker panel.

The prototype’s design was implemented with a schematic diagram, control system, and data
analysis of the study. Using the Arduino IDE and C language, the researchers code the
Arduino Mega to command the automatic moving arm and solar tracker panel, while the
Arduino Uno is for the buzzer of smoke sensors and relay module for a water pump. The arms
of the scarecrow successfully move automatically when the PIR sensor detects birds' and
other animals’ movements. However, the detection distance is limited to only 5 meters. The
solar tracker is tested for two days and shows that the LDR sensor functions. The smoke
sensor works accurately with a sensitivity distance of 2-3 cm sensitivity distance. The water
pump works well together with the four sprinklers. Based on the observation, the water pump
has an output of 2 liters per minute. The respondents' opinions regarding the efficiency,
durability, safety, and prototype were acquired through a provided survey questionnaire
divided into two parts.

The semi-automated plant watering scarecrow has sensors to move the arms automatically
and solar panels to detect smoke for possible farm fires, including a plant watering system.
The microcontrollers used, including the Arduino Mega and Uno, were compatible with the
technologies. Thus, the prototype was functional, and the creation was successful. Based on
the summary distribution of the respondents, they unanimously agreed that the development
of the prototype is very satisfactory in terms of efficiency, durability, safety, and economy.
Thus, the researchers conclude that utilizing an Arduino as a microcontroller effectively
develops the prototype.