Lightweight Energy-Constraint Wireless Sensor Solution for Plant Monitoring

Plants are continuously in motion, and their movements change rapidly under suboptimal conditions. Tracking these movements offers a unique way to assess their physiological condition and detect stress. This paper presents a novel approach to real-time plant movement monitoring using a lightweight wearable wireless sensor system with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Integrating IMU data in crop monitoring allows precise detection and analysis of plant motions, providing insights into growth patterns and environmental responses. Our sensor solution is designed to minimize weight and power consumption, supporting complete long crop cycles of various greenhouse crops without the need to recharge or replace batteries. The sensor weighs only 17.89 g without casing and has a 14-month lifespan. Its wireless capability facilitates real-time data collection and easy deployment. Initial in-situ validation confirms that this non-intrusive, cost-effective sensor solution presents a convenient approach for emerging plant sensing applications and Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled crop monitoring systems.