Vol.
3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
Arduino in Agriculture
GatkalN. R1., Nalawade S. M2. and Nimbalkar D. V3.
1
Ph. D. Student, Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr.
Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, MPKV,
Rahuri- 413722, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India.
2
Professor and Head, Department of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering, Dr.
Annasaheb Shinde College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, MPKV, Rahuri.
District- Ahmednagar State- Maharashtra Pin-413722, India.
3
Business Manager, ICAR-CIRCOT, Bombay.
ARTICLE ID: 05
Introduction:
An open-source microcontroller called an Arduino may be updated at any time and is
simple to program. In 2005, the first Arduino was introduced. The Arduino microcontroller
was created to help professionals and students create devices that interact with the
environment using sensors. The Arduino microcontroller has inputs and outputs that may be
used to get information. The Arduino can then provide output based on the information it has
received. Using HTTP requests, Arduino microcontrollers are also capable of sending and
receiving data online. The Esp Board is a simple microcontroller with an internet connection.
Esp microcontrollers have two options: they may connect to a Wi-Fi server or take on the role
of a Wi-Fi server.
Software and hardware make up the Arduino platform. The development board for
Arduino is the hardware that it utilizes. The Arduino IDE is the name of the software used by
Arduino to create code (Integrated Development Environment). These microcontrollers may
be readily programmed using the C or C++ language in the Arduino IDE and are equipped
with either an 8-bit Atmel AVR or a 32-bit Atmel ARM microcontroller, both of which are
produced by Atmel.
When utilizing a USB cable to upload fresh code to the Arduino board, another
application for it is possible. With the help of the Arduino IDE, users may create programs
for the Arduino platform using the C or C++ programming languages on nearly any personal
computer. The Arduino IDE is multiplatform software that can run on several platforms
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including Microsoft, Linux, and Mac OS X making the user community even larger
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
Market vendors provide a wide variety of Arduino microcontroller boards. A little research is
needed in order to use the appropriate Arduino board for the project. Each Arduino board
offers unique features and characteristics. The use of Arduino microcontrollers as opposed to
other microcontrollers is advantageous for a variety of reasons.
Arduino Co-founder Massimo Banzi mentioned some very important reasons to use Arduino
boards (Louis, 2016).
1. Active User Community: Users of Arduino can submit a message and discuss their
ideas. If you run into an issue when using the Arduino board, you may post it to a
community site where other users will typically offer suggestions or solutions.
2. Growth of Arduino: Arduino microcontrollers are less expensive than their
competitors. for newbies to get going right away, which makes it ideal.
3. Inexpensive Hardware: The main website of the Arduino platform offers free usage.
Users simply have to pay for the Arduino hardware.
4. Arduino Board as a Programmer.
Different types of Arduino boards:
There are several different types of Arduino boards in the Arduino board family.
Boards like the Arduino BT have a Bluetooth module built in for wireless connection. These
built-in modules can also be purchased separately and used in conjunction with it. Shield
refers to these modules. a few of the well-liked Arduino shield as shown in Figure 1.
Arduino Ethernet shield: This shield allows an Arduino board to connect to the internet by
Ethernet library and to read and write an SD card using the SD library.
• Arduino Wireless shield: this shield allows the Arduino board to communicate wirelessly
using Zigbee.
• Arduino Motor Driver Shield: this shield allows Arduino boards to interface with the
driver of a motor etc.
Elements of Arduino boards: Elements of an Arduino Board can be done into two categories:
a) Hardware
The Arduino microcontroller consists of many components. Here are some of those main
components and their functionality:
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
i. Microcontroller: This serves as the development board's central processing unit and may
send and receive commands to any attached peripheral devices. Every board contains a
different microcontroller, and they all have different specs.
ii. External Power Supply: The Arduino microcontroller is powered by this power source
using a DC voltage that ranges from 9 to 12 volts.
iii. USB plug: On the Arduino board, this connector is a key port. Using a USB cable, it is
used to upload programs to microcontrollers. In the absence of an external power supply,
the Arduino board is powered by a DC voltage of 5 volts from the USB connection.
iv. Internal Programmer.
v. Reset button.
vi. Analog Pins: These pins are used for analogue input and output. Analog pin counts differ
from board to board as well.
vii. Digital I/O Pins: Digital input and output are handled by these pins. Additionally, each
board has a different number of these digital pins.
viii. Power and GND Pins: The development board has pins that can pass 3.3 and 5 volts as well
as ground via them.
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Fig.1: Arduino
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
1. Arduino Coding Basics:
The code is written in a simple programming language similar to Cand C++.
Let's discuss the basics to start with Arduino programming.
i. Brackets
There are two types of brackets used in the Arduino coding, which are listed below.
ii. Parentheses ( )
The parentheses brackets are the group of the arguments, such as method, function, or a
code statement. These are also used to group the math equations.
iii. Curly Brackets { }
The statements in the code are enclosed in the curly brackets. We always require closed
curly brackets to match the open curly bracket in the code or sketch.
Open curly bracket- ' { '
Closed curly bracket - ' } '
iv. Line Comment
There are two types of line comments, which are listed below:
// Single line comment
The text that is written after the two forward slashes are considered as a single line
comment. The compiler ignores the code written after the two forward slashes. The comment
will not be displayed in the output. Such text is specified for a better understanding of the
code or for the explanation of any code statement.
The // (two forward slashes) are also used to ignore some extra lines of code without deleting
it.
/ * Multi - line comment */
The Multi-line comment is written to group the information for clear understanding. It
starts with the single forward slash and an asterisk symbol (/ *). It also ends with the / *. It is
commonly used to write the larger text. It is a comment, which is also ignored by the
compiler.
v. Coding Screen
The coding screen is divided into two blocks. The setup is considered as the
preparation block, while the loop is considered as the execution block. It is shown below as
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shown in Figure 2:
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
For example:
Fig 2:Coding screen.
The set of statements in the setup and loop blocks are enclosed with the curly
brackets. We can write multiple statements depending on the coding requirements for a
particular project.
1. void setup ( )
2. {
3. Coding statement 1;
4. Coding statement 2;
5. .
6. .
7. .
8. Coding statement n;
9. }
10. void loop ( )
11. {
12. Coding statement 1;
13. Coding statement 2;
14. .
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15. .
16. .
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
17. Coding statement n;
18. }
vi. PinMode( )
The specific pin number is set as the INPUT or OUTPUT in the pinMode () function.
The Syntax is: pinMode (pin, mode)
Where,
pin: It is the pin number. We can select the pin number according to the requirements.
Mode: We can set the mode as INPUT or OUTPUT according to the corresponding pin
number.
Let' understand the pinMode with an example.
vii. digitalWrite( )
The digitalWrite( ) function is used to set the value of a pin as HIGH or LOW.
Where,
HIGH: It sets the value of the voltage. For the 5V board, it will set the value of 5V, while for
3.3V, it will set the value of 3.3V.
LOW: It sets the value = 0 (GND).
If we do not set the pinMode as OUTPUT, the LED may light dim.
The syntax is: digitalWrite( pin, value HIGH/LOW)
Arduino Syntax and Program Flow
2. Syntax
Syntax in Arduino signifies the rules need to be followed for the successful uploading of
the Arduino program to the board. The syntax of Arduino is similar to the grammar in
English. It means that the rules must be followed in order to compile and run our code
successfully. If we break those rules, our computer program may compile and run, but with
some bugs.
Functions:
The functions in Arduino combine many pieces of lines of code into one.
a. The functions usually return a value after finishing execution. But here, the function
does notreturn any value due to the presence of void.
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b. The setup and loop function have void keyword present in front of their function
name.
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
c. The multiple lines of code that a function encapsulates are written inside curly bracket.
d. Every closing curly bracket ' } ' must match the opening curly bracket '{ ' in the code.
e. We can also write our own functions, which will be discussed later in this tutorial.
2.1 Spaces
a. Arduino ignores the white spaces and tabs before the coding statements.
b. The coding statements in the code are intent (empty spacing at the starting) for the easy
reading.
c. In the function definition, loop, and conditional statements, 1 intent = 2 spaces.
d. The compiler of Arduino also ignores the spaces in the parentheses, commas, blank lines,
etc.
2.2 Tools Tab
a. The verify icon present on the tool tab only compiles the code. It is a quick method to check
that whether the syntax of our program is correct or not.
b. To compile, run, and upload the code to the board, we need to click on the Upload button.
4.4. Uses of Parentheses ( )
a. It denotes the function like void setup ( ) and void loop ( ).
b. The parameter's inputs to the function are enclosed within the parentheses.
c. It is also used to change the order of operations in mathematical operations.
4.5. Semicolon ;
a. It is the statement terminator in the C as well as C++.
b. A statement is a command given to the Arduino, which instructs it to take some kind
of action. Hence, the terminator is essential to signify the end of a statement.
c. We can write one or more statements in a single line, but with semicolon indicating
the end of each statement.
d. The compiler will indicate an error if a semicolon is absent in any of the statements.
e. It is recommended to write each statement with semicolon in a different line, which
makes the code easier to read.
f. We are not required to place a semicolon after the curly braces of the setup and loop
function.
Arduino processes each statement sequentially. It executes one statement at a time before
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moving to the next statement.
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
4.6. Program Flow
The program flow in Arduino is similar to the flowcharts. It represents the execution
of a program in order.
We recommend to draw the flowchart before writing the code. It helps us to understand the
concept of code, which makes it the coding simpler and easier.
4.7. Flow Charts
A flowchart uses shapes and arrows to represent the information or sequence of
actions.
An oval ellipse shows the Start of the sequence, and a square shows the action or processes
that need to be performed.
The Arduino coding process in the form of the flowchart is shown below:
Here, the processor enters our code, and the execution of code begins. After the setup,
the execution of the statement in the loop begins.
Example. Calculate RPM of wheel using Ultrasonic sensor through Arduino.
uint32_t startTime;
volatile int rpmcountr1 = 0;
int rpmr1 = 0;
const byte interruptPinr1 = 2;
unsigned long lastmillis = 0;
#include <Wire.h>
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("speed = ");
pinMode(interruptPinr1, INPUT_PULLUP);
attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(interruptPinr1),
rpm, FALLING);
}
void loop() {
if(millis()-lastmillis==1000)
{
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rpmr1 = rpmcountr1 * 60/4;
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rpmcountr1 = 0;
lastmillis = millis();
Serial.print("speed = ");
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Serial.println(rpmr1);
}
}
void rpm(){ /* this code will be executed every time
the interrupt 0 (pin2) gets low.*/
Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
Result:
Fig. 4: Arduino, Ultrasonic sensor.
3. Arduino applications:
i. Smart homes: With Arduino boards, we may regulate household activities using control
systems like motion sensors, outlet controls, temperature controls, blower controls, garage
door controls, air flow controls, sprinkler controls, and bill of materials controls (David et
al., 2015).
ii. Defence: An object's range, altitude, direction, or speed can be determined using RADAR
(Radio Detection and Ranging), a technology that uses radio waves to detect things.
Different sizes and performance requirements are possible for radars. It may be used for
long-range surveillance, early-warning systems in ships, and air traffic control at airports.
This system is the brain of a missile guidance system. In times of conflict, both large-
room systems and a variety of compact, portable radars are maintained and controlled
(Bhor et al., 2016).
iii. Industries: Because of its simple programming environment, variety of signal types, and
ease of adaptability to new setups, Arduino is used in a wide range of industries. For
adding remote control and monitoring features to tiny legacy industrial systems, Arduino
boards provide a versatile, low-cost alternative to the typical industrial gadgets. The
proliferation of WiFi and other wireless technologies over the past few years has made
wireless systems boring in our daily lives (Teja et al., 2017).
iv. Traffic Signal Control: Today, Arduino is used to control traffic lights. It may also be
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used to operate real-time systems with configurable timings and illumination for
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pedestrians, among other things. In a traffic control system, junction timing is
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
automatically adjusted to facilitate smooth vehicle movement and prevent waiting at
junctions.
v. Medical: The number of heartbeats in a minute is counted using an Arduino-based
heartbeat monitor. This has an integrated heartbeat sensor module that detects the
heartbeat when a finger is placed on the sensor. The open-source EEG, ECG, and EMG,
the thermometer, the WiFi body scale with Arduino Board, and many more pieces of
medical equipment are designed using the Arduino platform (Rákay et al., 2015).
vi. Laboratories: Arduino offers a useful platform in the lab for developing and studying
circuit design. Beginning users run the risk of breaking something or doing something
incorrectly, and using new electronic components may be expensive for them. The
Arduino Simulator provides a solution to these issues with no cable clutter, no hardware
expense, faster circuit development, and no harm to your components. The automatic
slide movement microscope built on Arduino is a relatively affordable lab tool (Rubio et
al., 2015).
vii. Body Control with Arduino: Arduino can operate a variety of bodily parts, including
handSight gloves, breathalyzer microphones, heart rate monitors, and other medical
devices. A heart rate monitor powered by Arduino is more sophisticated than one that
only measures the user's heart rate. Our heart rate sensors are speaking! Each button
verbally explains what it does while also displaying the data on the screen. This monitor
will average the most recent four readings, show them, and provide some motivational
sayings (Mallickand Patro, 2016).
viii. Aerospace: Classical control theory to an airplane flap model and integration of RC
vehicles in a Robotic Arena (Alvarez et al., 2015).
ix. Automatic Vehicle Control: It is used to control various system in machinery like wheel
speed, rpm, distance, torque, load etc(Alvarez et al., 2015).
Conclusion:
Successful development and control of five smart home apps using an Arduino
platform and an Android smartphone In a mock smart house, the apps regulate the
temperature and humidity display, the fan speed, the lighting and electrical outlets, the fire
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alarm system, and the poisonous gas alert system. Following the purchase of the necessary
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parts for these systems, the wiring circuits and controllers were put into place. In a later
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
study, Arduino components may be wirelessly linked to Android cell phones. Different
controllers, including PLCs, might also be employed and studied.
References:
Abdulkareem,M. M., Mohammed, Q. A. and Shakir,M. M. 2016. A Short Range Radar
System : Rangefinder,‖ Technical Report TR-EEE351, Electrical and Electronics
Department, University of Turkish Aeronautical Association Electric and Electronic
Engineering Department.
Alvarez,E.C.,Holguino, J.and Restrepo, V. 2015. Applying Classical Control Theory to an
Airplane Flap Model on Real Physical Hardware. Proceedings of the 13th Latin
American and Caribbean Conference for Engineering and Technology.
ARDUINO.CC, “Arduino – Introduction”, 2015 [Online] Available:
ttp://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Introduction. [Accessed: 5- Dec - 2022].
Bhor, G., Bhandari, P., Ghodekar,R.and Deshmukh,S. 2016. MINI RADAR. International
Journal of Technical Research and Applications. 39: 68-71.
David, N., Chima, A., Ugochukwu, A. and Obinna, E. 2015. Design of a Home Automation
System Using Arduino. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research.
6(6): 795-801.
Louis, L. 2016. Working principle of Arduino and using it as a tool for study and research.
International Journal of Control, Automation, Communication and Systems
(IJCACS). 1(2): 21-29. DOI: 10.5121/ijcacs.2016.1203.
Mallick, B. and Patro,A. K. 2016. Heart Rate Monitoring System Using Finger Tip Through
Arduino And Processing Software. International Journal of Science, Engineering and
Technology Research (IJSETR). 5(1): 82-89.
Rákay,R.,Višňovský,M.,Galajdová, A. and Šimšík,D. 2015. Testing Properties of E-health
System Based on Arduino. Journal of Automation and Control. 3(3): 122-126.
Rubio, H., Soriano, E. and Barber,R. 2015. A Low-Cost Lab Monitoring System Based on
Arduino Microcontroller andAndroid, Proceedings of ICERI2015 Conference. 8014-
8022.
Swetha, B.R. Yuvasri,D., Karthiga,M. and Padma, S. 2017. Density Based Traffic Control
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System Using Arduino Uno,SSRG International Journal of Industrial Engineering. 5-
Page
7.
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Vol. 3 Issue-5, January 2023 (e-ISSN: 2582-8223)
Teja,P.S., Krishna, V. M. and Raja,D.C. 2017. Industry Supervising System By Using
Arduino &IOT,‖ International Journal of Advanced Research in Electronics and
Communication Engineering , vol. 6(3): 93-95.
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