Elecrow(GrowCube)的人们正在为他们的最新产品GrowCube(Elecrow)启动Kickstarter。GrowCube是一个“智能自动浇水套件”，它使用连接到GrowCube应用程序的湿度传感器，当您的植物需要水时提醒您。GrowCube将自动浇灌(GrowCube)多达四种植物。
您可能还记得我们对CrowPi2(Elecrow)的评论中的 Elecrow(review of the CrowPi2)，这是一款Raspberry Pi笔记本电脑，包含一系列令人眼花缭乱的游戏、编码和创建交互式电子对象的功能。Elecrow显然有一些有创意的工程师为他们工作，他们还想出了另一个创新产品(innovative product)。
我们有机会试用GrowCube，看看它是否符合炒作的要求。我们将带您了解GrowCube的功能、购买后会得到什么以及我们对其质量和性能的看法。
GrowCube 盒子里有什么？
在GrowCube包中，您会发现：
- 1 成长方块
- 4个土壤湿度传感器
- 4个喷嘴
- 1根10m长的水管
- 1个过滤头
- 12个括号
- 1个水管切割器
- 1个电源适配器
- 1份用户手册
GrowCube本身为180x170x100(GrowCube)毫米，采用 12V/2A电源(power supply)。水箱最多可容纳 1.5 升，Elecrow说这应该足够四盆植物 15 天。
您还需要下载适用于 iOS 和Android的(Android)GrowCube应用程序。
GrowCube 做什么？
在物联网(Internet of Things)设备越来越普遍的世界里，我们不断问自己，“这个对象真的(really)需要连接到互联网吗？” 对于GrowCube 来说(GrowCube)，答案是响亮的，“是的！” 虽然您可以在没有互联网连接的情况下使用GrowCube，但您需要将其连接到互联网以充分利用该产品。
GrowCube本质(GrowCube)上做了四件事：
- 提供(Provides)有关植物土壤水分含量的数据。
- 自动给植物浇水适量。
- 在植物日记中记录有关土壤湿度、浇水操作和环境温度的数据。
- 使您可以访问有关工厂和工厂维护的大量信息数据库。
如何使用成长方块
GrowCube的初始设置既快速又简单。在水箱内安装过滤器后，将其中一个土壤湿度传感器连接到GrowCube的背面。将另一端放入土壤中。用户手册提供了一些关于最佳放置土壤湿度传感器的提示和技巧。
接下来，将水管切成合适的长度。它应该从植物到达GrowCube。然后将喷嘴连接到水管并将喷嘴放置在植物的底部。你会希望从喷嘴出来的水到达你植物的根部，所以把它放在靠近茎的土壤水平。确保(Make)喷嘴上的小孔朝下，进入土壤。否则，水会从锅中喷出。您可以使用支架来帮助定位喷嘴。
放置传感器和喷嘴后，将GrowCube水箱装满水并打开电源。您会看到红灯和蓝灯交替闪烁。这意味着GrowCube正在等待您配置网络。
安装应用程序(App)并选择(Choose)连接模式(Connection Mode)
下一步是在您的 iOS 或Android设备上安装GrowCube应用程序。(GrowCube)GrowCube有两种模式：直连模式(Connection Mode)和联网模式(Networking Mode)。他们推荐连接到您的 wifi 网络的网络模式。(Networking Mode)如果您使用联网模式(Networking Mode)，您将能够添加多个GrowCube(GrowCubes)并通过应用程序监控它们。
如果您没有WiFi，可以使用直连模式(Connection Mode)，让手机直接连接到GrowCube。但是，如果您使用直接连接模式(Connection Mode)，您的手机将无法通过WiFi连接到互联网。这就是我们选择网络模式(Networking Mode)的原因。
我们通过GrowCube应用程序设置网络(GrowCube)模式(Mode)没有任何问题。将植物添加到应用程序同样容易。您可以给连接到GrowCube的每个植物起一个昵称。在应用程序中输入(Enter)每种植物的信息，GrowCube将自动从其数据库中添加有关植物的信息，例如最佳土壤湿度水平。如果在其数据库中找不到植物，您可以手动输入所需的土壤湿度范围。
将植物添加到GrowCube应用程序后，您可以坐下来，确信您的植物会得到正确的浇水量。当水位变低时，应用程序会显示一个提醒补充水箱。如果任何水管被阻塞或任何传感器断开连接，该应用程序也会提醒您。
添加外部供水
GrowCube包含一些我们认为非常有用的高级功能。如果水箱对于您的植物来说不够大，您可以将GrowCube连接到外部供水系统。
GrowCube 的性能如何？
总体而言，GrowCube似乎是一款优质产品，尤其是管道，这很好，因为这是整个系统最有可能出现故障的地方。我们怀疑管子是由硅胶制成的。对于质量较差的管道，您必须将其加热以确保它不会泄漏。GrowCube 不需(GrowCube)要这样做。此外(Furthermore)，水管切割器的效果非常好。
设置GrowCube最困难的事情是确保喷嘴上的小孔面向土壤。
GrowCube背面的连接器是磁性插头。连接器上有一个槽口，因此它只能以一种方式工作。如果您以错误的方式放置它，您会立即知道。磁性连接器还意味着，如果电源线被拉出，GrowCube本身不会翻倒，溅出水。
自动浇水系统完全按照它说的做，使用一周后，我们的植物看起来比以往任何时候都更健康。很可能我们之前浇水不够，GrowCube已经纠正了这一点。
总的来说，我们喜欢GrowCube。至少，我们会在出城时用它来给一些植物浇水。不是每个人都希望在他们的植物中看到所有这些管子和传感器线，更不用说GrowCube本身了，但如果你不介意，那就买这个产品。
Review of GrowCube: Smart Plant Watering
Τhe fоlks over at Elecrow are launching a Kickstarter for their newest product, the GrowCube. GrowCube is a “smart automatic watering kit” that uses moisture sensors connected to the GrowCube app that alert you when your plant needs water. The GrowCube will water up to four of your plants automatically.
You might remember Elecrow from our review of the CrowPi2, a Raspberry Pi laptop that includes a bewildering array of features for gaming, coding, and creating interactive electronic objects. Elecrow clearly has some creative engineers working for them, and they’ve come up with another innovative product.
We had the opportunity to try the GrowCube to see if it measures up to the hype. We’ll walk you through what the GrowCube does, what you’ll get if you buy one, and our thoughts on its quality and performance.
What Comes in the GrowCube Box?
Inside the GrowCube package, you’ll find:
- 1 GrowCube
- 4 soil moisture sensors
- 4 nozzles
- 1 water tube 10m in length
- 1 filter head
- 12 brackets
- 1 water tube cutter
- 1 power adapter
- 1 user manual
The GrowCube itself is 180x170x100 mm and takes a 12V/2A power supply. The water tank can hold up to 1.5 liters, which Elecrow says should be enough for 15 days for four pots of plants.
You’ll also want to download the GrowCube app, available for both iOS and Android.
What Does the GrowCube Do?
In a world where Internet of Things devices are becoming increasingly common, we constantly ask ourselves, “Does this object really need to be connected to the internet?” For the GrowCube, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” While you can use the GrowCube without an internet connection, you’ll want to connect it to the internet to get the most out of this product.
The GrowCube essentially does four things:
- Provides data on the moisture level of your plants’ soil.
- Automatically waters plants with the appropriate amount.
- Records data on soil humidity, watering operations, and environmental temperature in a plant diary.
- Gives you access to a massive database of information on plants and plant maintenance.
How to Use the GrowCube
The initial setup for the GrowCube is fast and easy. After installing the filter inside the tank, connect one of the soil moisture sensors to the back of the GrowCube. Put the other end into the soil. The user manual gives some tips and tricks for the best placement of the soil moisture sensors.
Next, cut the water tube to the right length. It should reach from the plant to the GrowCube. Then connect the nozzle to the water tube and place the nozzle at the base of the plant. You’ll want the water that comes out of the nozzle to reach your plant’s roots, so place it at soil level near the stem. Make sure the tiny holes in the nozzle are facing downward, into the soil. Otherwise, the water will spray out of the pot. You can use the brackets to help position the nozzle.
Once the sensors and nozzles are placed, fill the GrowCube tank with water and turn on the power supply. You’ll see red and blue lights flashing alternately. That means the GrowCube is waiting for you to configure the network.
Install the App and Choose a Connection Mode
The next step is to install the GrowCube app on your iOS or Android device. GrowCube has two modes: Direct Connection Mode and Networking Mode. They recommend Networking Mode which connects to your wifi network. If you use Networking Mode, you’ll be able to add multiple GrowCubes and monitor them all via the app.
If you don’t have WiFi, you can use Direct Connection Mode, which allows the phone to connect directly to the GrowCube. If you use Direct Connection Mode, though, your phone won’t be connected to the internet over WiFi. That’s why we chose Networking Mode.
We didn’t have any trouble setting up Networking Mode via the GrowCube app. It was equally easy to add plants to the app. You can give a nickname to each plant connected to the GrowCube. Enter information about each plant into the app, and GrowCube will automatically add information from its database about the plant, like the optimal soil moisture level. If it can’t find the plant in its database, you can manually enter the desired soil moisture range.
Once you’ve added your plants to the GrowCube app, you can sit back, confident that your plants will be watered the correct amount. When the water level gets low, the app will display a reminder to refill the tank. The app will also alert you if any of the water tubes are blocked or if any of the sensors are disconnected.
Add an External Water Supply
The GrowCube includes a few advanced features we think will be really useful. If the water tank isn’t big enough for your plants, you can connect the GrowCube to an external water supply.
How Does the GrowCube Perform?
Overall, the GrowCube appears to be a quality product, especially the tubing, which is good because that’s the most likely place for the whole system to fail. We suspect the tubing is made of silicone. With lesser-quality tubing, you’d have to heat it up to ensure it wouldn’t leak. There’s no need for that with the GrowCube. Furthermore, the water tube cutter works really well.
The hardest thing about setting up the GrowCube is making sure the tiny holes on the nozzle are facing into the soil.
The connectors on the back of the GrowCube are magnetic plugs. There is a notch on the connector so it only works one way. You’ll know immediately if you put it in the wrong way. The magnetic connector also means that if the cord gets yanked out, the GrowCube itself won’t fall over, spilling water.
The automatic watering system did exactly what it says it’ll do, and after using it for a week, our plant looked healthier than ever. It’s quite possible that we weren’t watering it enough before, and GrowCube has corrected that.
Overall, we like the GrowCube. At the very least, we’ll use it to keep a few plants watered while we’re out of town. Not everyone will want all those tubes and sensor cords to be visible among their plants, not to mention the GrowCube itself, but if you don’t mind that, get this product.
