Is it possible to make a DIY watering system using an old iPad? How?
I have an old iPad (iOS 12.5.5) which I don't use for any purpose currently due to slight screen issues. I was wondering if I could repurpose it into a control hub for some sort of watering system which I could use, possibly with even remote control support - basically replacing the Arduino/R Pi component in most DIY kits. Would this be an idea that's possible without significant effort?
It probably wouldn't be too hard to write an iOS program to send commands via USB or WiFi, but you need to control water valves and I'm not sure if you'll find any/many with USB interfaces. If not you would need to build some circuitry to convert USB signals to whatever kind of control signals your valves need.
It could be a fun project, but I wouldn't call it "without significant effort".
You'd be better off with an older Raspberry Pi, using the iPad solely as a browser.
Like watering your lawn, your garden?