The problem
The client needed to maintain precise environmental conditions — soil moisture, temperature, light levels and irrigation timing — across a greenhouse facility with multiple independently controlled zones. Running wired sensors to every zone was not practical; the client needed a wireless solution that could be expanded without re-cabling.
What we built
Each zone is served by a sensor node built around the Wio-E5 module, which integrates an STM32 microcontroller and an SX126x LoRa radio in a compact form factor with FCC/CE certification.
Node firmware reads soil moisture, ambient temperature, humidity and light intensity, then transmits a data packet to the central gateway every five minutes. When sensor values cross configurable thresholds, the node activates local actuators, irrigation valves, shade motors, directly, without waiting for the gateway, to ensure fast response even if the radio link is momentarily unavailable.
The central gateway aggregates data from all nodes, runs zone-level automation logic and communicates with a supervisory web interface. We designed and manufactured the main electrical control cabinet, which houses the gateway, 24 V power supply, circuit protection and the terminal blocks for all field wiring.
Outcome
The system has been running continuously through multiple growing seasons. Zone automation has reduced manual intervention by the facility's staff and allowed consistent crop conditions across all zones regardless of external weather variation.