Project Spotlight
Designing an Automated Irrigation System for BAT Bangladesh
“When irrigation decisions are driven by real-time conditions—not guesswork—every drop and every watt counts.”
Overview
I recently had the opportunity to design and deploy a custom Smart-Agri solution for British American Tobacco (BAT) Bangladesh. The goal was to modernize their field operations by creating an automated pump controller that reacts to real-time environmental data.
Instead of relying on manual guesswork, I built a system that measures soil moisture and air humidity to trigger irrigation exactly when the crop needs it.
My Technical Design
To meet the rigorous demands of real field deployment, I couldn’t rely on off-the-shelf hobbyist parts. I engineered a robust solution from the ground up.
Custom PCB Design
I designed a custom printed circuit board (PCB) powered by the ESP32-S3-WROOM microcontroller. I chose this architecture for its reliability and processing power. The board integrates a heavy-duty relay to switch the pumps and visual indicators (LEDs) for immediate status feedback.
Custom ESP32-S3 PCB with relay switching and on-board indicators.
Dual-Sensor Logic
The system monitors two key variables:
- Soil Moisture: External probes connected via terminal blocks to check root-zone saturation.
- Air Humidity: An embedded sensor (visible through the enclosure vents) to measure ambient humidity. This prevents the pump from running if the air is already saturated, saving water.
Professional Enclosure
I designed ruggedized 3D-printed enclosures featuring embossed “BAT BANGLADESH” branding to deliver a professional, finished product that can withstand field conditions.
Rugged enclosure design with embossed client branding for field readiness.
Field Implementation
One of the biggest challenges in agricultural IoT is power. Since these fields are often far from the grid, I designed the infrastructure to be completely off-grid capable.
Solar Autonomy
I set up solar pole stations to power the units, ensuring they can run 24/7 without constant maintenance or battery swaps.
On-Site Testing
I personally visited the fields to install and calibrate the units. It was crucial to verify wiring integrity and validate sensor data in real soil conditions.
Scalability
I built multiple units to demonstrate how this solution can be scaled across multiple plots with consistent performance.
Installation, calibration, and real-world validation in the field.
Conclusion
This project represents what Ruhul Engineering is all about: solving real-world problems with precise engineering. By combining custom hardware with practical solar infrastructure, I delivered BAT Bangladesh a tool to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and support better crop outcomes.
If you’re building field-ready IoT systems and need reliable, engineered hardware—not prototypes—I’d love to collaborate.
Product Demo
BAT Bangladesh – Automated Irrigation Controller (Short Demo)