Week 12 (Soil Moisture Sensor Integration and Technical Report Writing on Chapter 3)

In the 12th week of my FYP journey, my focus shifted towards integrating the soil moisture sensor with the ESP32 microcontroller. I began by carefully studying the datasheet provided for the sensor, which contained essential information on its specifications, pin configurations, and communication protocols. Using the datasheet as a reference, I followed the recommended guidelines to establish the physical connection between the soil moisture sensor and the ESP32 microcontroller. Once the wiring was complete, I proceeded to write the necessary code in the Arduino IDE to retrieve the soil moisture readings from the sensor.

Initially, I expected accurate results from the sensor output, indicating the percentage of soil moisture. However, upon analyzing the obtained results, I discovered that they were not as precise and reliable as expected. This discrepancy necessitated a thorough troubleshooting process to identify the root cause of the issue. To address this challenge, I adopted a systematic approach.

Firstly, I carefully reviewed the sensor's datasheet to ensure that the wiring and connections were correctly established. I double-checked the pin configurations and verified that there were no loose connections or faulty components. Next, I meticulously examined the code written in the Arduino IDE. I paid close attention to the calibration parameters, the analog-to-digital conversion process, and the data interpretation algorithms. By scrutinizing the code, I aimed to identify any potential coding errors or inaccuracies that might be affecting the accuracy of the soil moisture readings.

Next, after diligently troubleshooting and making necessary adjustments, I successfully achieved accurate results from the soil moisture sensor. Through a careful and systematic approach, I revisited the sensor's datasheet, reviewed the wiring connections, and scrutinized the code written in the Arduino IDE. By meticulously analysing each component and aspect of the integration process, I was able to identify and rectify the underlying issues that were affecting the accuracy of the sensor readings.

Finally, I continue working on the technical report for Chapter 3, which covers all of the subtopics in the Methodology section. This section digs into each subtopic in the Methodology section, ensuring a thorough understanding of the integration process. It emphasises the need of thoroughly reviewing the sensor's datasheet and adhering to the suggested physical connection recommendations. The Arduino IDE is used to build code, with a focus on calibration parameters, analog-to-digital conversion, and data interpretation methods. The chapter also emphasises the necessity of the troubleshooting process, with a focus on revisiting the datasheet, evaluating wiring connections, and scrutinising the code. Accurate sensor readings are obtained using a methodical approach, proving the integration process's success.