Video report: Homeschooled siblings claim bronze at international competition

PHUKET: Two homeschooled youngsters from Phuket won bronze medals at the Malaysian International Young Inventors Olympiad (MIYIO) this month for their innovative automated plant-watering invention.

Nattaya Sompranon, 14, and Phimphan Sompranon, 10, invented the ‘Smart Watering Controller’, which automatically waters plants when the humidity in the soil is low.

The young Phuket-based inventors were among more than 280 teams competing from seven countries; Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Türkmenistan, Indonesia, and Singapore.

The aim of the competition was to encourage application of the latest scientific and engineering technology to solve everyday problems while protecting the environment and reducing power consumption.

“The machine can both work automatically and manually. If set to ‘automatic’, it will water the plant by itself when the humidity in the soil is low. The unique aspect of this machine is that unlike other watering devices, it waters your plants based on soil humidity, rather than timing,” said Ms Phimphan.

She added that a device functioning on a similar premise could be adapted for use by farmers as well.

The inventors’ mother, Papatsorn Sompranon, said she was delighted with their achievements.

“As a mother, I am glad to see the creative and bright sight of my children. With some further technological development, this device can be helpful in many situations,” Ms Papatsorn told the Phuket Gazette.

— Kongleaphy Keam