Plant Homie 3D Model ⚙️

As a prototyping continuation for Plant Homie, a medium-fidelity 3D model was created. This allows a deeper analysis of the viability of the design using OnShape.

You can view the first post of the Plant Homie series here. 🌱

Design

Plant Homie offers an IoT solution for your plant giving you three options:

1. Adding water or light automatically using sensors detecting the soil moisture and root growth
2. Adding water or light through the mobile app
3. Adding water or light using the button manually

The purpose of Plant Homie is to give users flexibility in caring for their plant. Whether you’re at home, traveling, or don’t have time to care for your plant, Plant Homie is there for you!

In terms of feasibility from the low-fidelity prototype and sketches, this 3D model was achievable and practical to replicate through OnShape. I was able to replicate the generic shape, features and size of my physical prototype with the 3D model.

The overall goal of this prototype is to allows users the ability to make decisions wherever they are. Users may include first-time plant owners, busy plant owners, and IoT enthusiasts.

Prototype

The 3D model below was created through OnShape, a free, online CAD (computer-aided design) software.

Left to right: front view, side view, top view.

Referencing from my previous low-fidelity prototype, I began to break down the object into basic geometric forms.

I started with the base on the origin and top plane with a simple rectangle 12 x 3 inches. I then extruded the base to get a working 3D model.

By creating the base first, I was able to create a hole for the plants to sit in, add additional shapes (water/light attachment & on/off switch) using the same method of:

1. Creating a sketch on the correct plane and surface
2. Extruding to create a 3D shape or creating a hole/subtracting/revolving off the 3D sketch

The rationale of each design decision follows the same reasoning as my first low-fidelity prototype. It was important to start with the base and then add the other working features — editing along the way.

Analysis & Conclusion

Adding final revisions and having critique time with other students, I learned there are still many other features of OnShape I have yet to learn. This was a good experience making a medium-fidelity model from a low-fidelity model.

With more time with OnShape and the process itself, I would:

1. Replicate the high walls and low side-walls — my previous intent with my low-fidelity prototype. I had difficultly replicating the exact low fidelity prototype using OnShape.
2. I also should have watched more OnShape tutorial videos in the preparation for this assignment. I found the Youtube tutorials valuable and the OnShape training modules overwhelming.

Overall, I am happy with Plant Homie’s 3D model — given that this is my first time working with CAD since middle school. The 3D model was overall feasible given that I was able to reference my low-fidelity prototype to determine the sizes and shapes to use.