Dryad

Inspiration

Dryads are nature spirits from Greek mythology associated with trees and forests. We wanted to bring that idea to life by giving a real plant its own digital voice and personality.

What it does

Dryad uses Arduino sensors to monitor soil moisture, light, and temperature. Users can talk to Dryad through voice recognition, ask questions, and receive AI responses based on the plant’s real-time condition. It can also alert caretakers when the plant needs attention.

How we built it

An Arduino sends sensor data to a laptop acting as our central server. The backend stores the data in PostgreSQL/Tiger Data, while Flask connects it to the website. An LLM analyzes the readings and generates Dryad’s responses.

Challenges we ran into

Our main challenge was connecting physical sensor data with AI and the website. We solved this by separating the Arduino data collector from Flask and using the database as the connection between them.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

We combined hardware, sensors, AI, databases, and voice interaction into one system. Dryad doesn’t just display plant data—it turns that data into an actual conversation.

What we learned

We learned how to connect hardware with backend systems, databases, AI, and web applications while keeping each part of the system reliable and independent.

What’s next for Dryad

We want to create automatic payments for plant caretakers, plus specialized Kids Mode and Senior Mode experiences. Kids Mode will teach responsibility through interactive plant care, while Senior Mode will focus on accessibility and simplicity. We also want Dryad to remember each plant’s history and become more personalized over time.