Development of Solar-Powered Paddy Sowing Vehicle Using ESP32 for Automated Agricultural Application

Automation in agriculture involves integrating electrical and mechanical systems to replace manual tasks, addressing concerns about the impact of harsh weather on worker health. Agricultural workers are frequently exposed to challenging conditions, which can lead to health issues such as back pain, respiratory problems, and allergies due to prolonged hours and pesticide exposure. Traditional semi-automated sowing machines still require a considerable amount of human involvement, particularly for steering and direction control in the field. The adoption of full automation in agriculture has the potential to enhance efficiency and reduce the reliance on manual labor. A Remote-Controlled Paddy Sowing Vehicle is designed to reduce the need for human effort in the field. This vehicle features a sturdy steel frame with a plywood cover and is powered by a battery that is charged via a solar panel. The vehicle's movement is managed by a wiper motor, and it is equipped with a microcontroller that has an integrated Wi-Fi module. This allows for remote operation using a smartphone within a range of 50–200 meters. The seed sowing mechanism is built into the frame, and the motor driver module is controlled by the microcontroller, which greatly decreases the necessity for manual labor. The smartphone can be used as a remote control for the vehicle by connecting the microcontroller to the Remote XY application. The primary objective is to streamline agricultural processes through automation, thus keeping workers out of wet paddy fields and reducing their exposure to health risks.