🚀 As part of the ENVIHEI pilot implementation, 18 students at the Silesian University of Technology (SUT) applied Project-Based Learning (PBL) to real-world challenges in automation, engineering and sustainability over 12 weeks. The activities were carried out within the Projects in Technical Informatics course of the fourth-year Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Automation and Robotics.
🛠️ Working in teams, students followed a practical project-development process, from designing their solutions to testing and documenting the results. This allowed them to combine knowledge from programming, electronics, mechanics and automation while gaining hands-on experience.
🌱 One team developed a Smart Dual-Action Plant Pot, an intelligent system that automatically waters the plant and provides supplementary light when needed. The system uses sensors to monitor soil moisture and light levels and a small programmable controller to manage the watering and lighting. It also allows the collected information to be monitored remotely. By supplying water only when necessary, the project aims to reduce water consumption and improve plant-care conditions.
💻 Another team created a C++ application for strength-of-materials calculations, supporting the analysis of tension, bending and torsion. The tool was designed both to simplify basic engineering calculations and to support students’ understanding of structural analysis.
🌿 The third team designed an automated greenhouse using temperature and humidity sensors to control windows, sprinklers and heating. A dedicated mobile application allows users to monitor conditions in real time and adjust the greenhouse settings remotely.
🎯 Overall, these pilot implementations demonstrated how PBL can connect engineering education with practical sustainability challenges. From smart plant care and resource-efficient technologies to automated agriculture, the projects gave students the opportunity to develop creative solutions while strengthening their problem-solving, teamwork and independent-learning skills.
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