Design and simulation of an automated motion sensing sprinkler system

Sprinkler systems are usually found around both corporate and industrial areas, where they are often used to water lawns. At most times, sprinkler systems operate during working hours. Hence the sprinklers tend to disturb the everyday movement of by-passers (workers and students) by spraying them with water ('water jetting'). This poses a problem to workers' daily activities as they must opt for alternative routes to avoid areas with sprinklers, which is a tedious and inconvenient process. This paper presents the design and simulation of an Automated Motion Sensing Sprinkler System (AMSSS), which automates controlling the spray distance and tilting of water sprinklers upon motion detection to prevent water jetting of workers and students. The presented work is designed to interface between sprinklers and their water supply via water pumps to control the water flow rate and the sprinkler spray distance. Furthermore, it uses a tilt mechanism actuator controlled by a motor to direct water spray area or location. The system is based on Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, NE 555 timers, and SR latches to detect motion and provide the signals used to control and coordinate the sprinkler spray patterns. The circuit was designed, simulated, and tested in Proteus with positive results.