iPlant - Dock Decor
iPlant - Dock Decor
iRobot Co-Op, Summer 2023
For the project, I was the Lead Mechanical Engineer of the team. I was responsible for the CREO CAD and modeling of our prototype. The CAD used Top-Down Skeleton modeling to manage the planting space, water tank, and electronic housing assemblies. The ID intern, Bryce, and I collaborated to create the cardboard prototype model accurately representing the developed CAD.
The Problem
We conducted user tests to find users tuck away their dock in a corner and do not pronounce it as an important aspect of their home decor
How do we turn our docks into functional furniture?
Research
66% of American Household own at least 1 houseplant
Demand for houseplants surged 18% during COVID-19
70% of household plant owners keep their plants in the living room or bedroomÂ
The Solution - iPlant
Key Features
4.7L of planting space
Root Breathability (air/drain channel under potting space)
iRobot 'scallop' design to match dock
800ml removable and easily refillable water tank
Water level indicator
Drip Tray replaces Evac Doc cosmetic cover
Product Features
Automated plant watering
Moisture level detection
Water tank level dectection
App integration for status updates, remote control, and notifications
Electronic Integration
Arduino Nano ESP32
Roomba J7 Combo water pump
Arduino-compatible water level sensor and moisture sensor
Sunfounder Relay Board (5V)
for pump control
5V regulator
Powers 5V electronics from 12V supply
App Features
For the prototype, used MIT App Inventor to control with an app inspired by iRobot Home App
Live updates of planter status
Scheduling automated pump activation with soil moisture sensor
Manual water pump control
Dedicated HTTP connection for ease of use
Demonstration Video
iPlant Demo Video - Made with Clipchamp_1706283761841.mp4The iPlant Team
James (me) - Mechanical Engineer and Prototype Modeler
Dana - Project Manager and Wiring
Bryce - Industrial Designer and Prototype Modeler
Will - Software Developer and Integration
Ryland - App Developer
Ashe - Sensor Integration and Wiring
4 of 6 members in iPlant Team on Presentation Day
I am very thankful for the opportunity to work on this project and the very diverse team I worked with. We had the pleasure to present the iPlant during a company-wide gathering which included our CEO, Collin Angle. He was very impressed with our work and said he would like to use our prototype as a successful proof of concept for robotic plant-home integration. We ended up winning Second Place prize among the other 3 intern hackathon projects.