02/2026/ARDUINO · POWER
Cultivate
Solar-Powered Autonomous Irrigation
01 / Overview
The project
Closed-loop irrigation that lives outdoors and never asks for power. Capacitive moisture sensors regulate a peristaltic pump through an Arduino threshold loop, fed by a solar-charged 12V battery regulated to 5V. Housing modeled in Fusion 360 for IP-friendly assembly.
- Role
- Independent — Catalyst Program
- Year
- 2026
- Discipline
- ARDUINO · POWER
02 / The why
Why.
Build a self-sustaining plant care system that survives outdoors with no grid power and no user intervention — useful for gardens, balconies, and remote planters where wiring isn't practical.
03 / Toolkit
Skills used
- 01Arduino
- 02Fusion 360
- 03Capacitive Sensing
- 04SOLAR POWER
04 / In depth
How it came together
- 01
Selected capacitive moisture sensors over resistive ones to avoid electrode corrosion in long-term soil contact.
- 02
Built a threshold-based control loop on an Arduino that activates a peristaltic pump only when soil moisture drops below a tuned setpoint.
- 03
Designed the power chain — solar panel charging a 12V battery, regulated down to 5V for the MCU and sensors.
- 04
Modeled an enclosure in Fusion 360 with cable glands and gasket channels to keep electronics dry through rain cycles.
Power
Solar 12V
Control
Threshold loop
Housing
Fusion 360
05 / Result
Outcome
A fully autonomous unit that has run continuously outdoors, watering plants on demand without external power or manual refilling.
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