When thinking about a farm, most people conjure up an image of an old tractor plowing through a field, or ranchers perched atop their horses wrangling a herd. These images are terrific for the daydreamer, but modern farms are far from low-tech. Wireless sensors and control systems are today’s normal. Embracing farm technology is a critical piece to having a successful agricultural business. So how can R9 Technology’s Picogate system help facilitate your smart farm needs? Let’s explore a few of the key features that make Picogate ideal for your business.
Simplistic sensor interfacing
When combined with a Piconode endpoint, R9’s IoT solutions can meet most agricultural sensing requirements. Currently, Piconode can support the following sensor types: moisture, humidity, temperature, PH, barometric, and light. Additionally, because Piconode supports bi-directional endpoint communication, control functions can be supported as well. This allows customers using a single Piconode to sense up to 3 conditions (moisture, light, PH) and then use the fourth output to initiate an action. For example, a soil moisture sensor detects a low moisture level and reports the condition. After the cloud based function processes this condition, it turns on the water control valve. The above scenario can be accomplished using one Picogate and one Piconode.
Remote and expanded coverage areas
Picogate was designed to meet the diverse needs found in the agriculture industry. Picogate’s use of a cellular interface for cloud connectivity is ideally suited to support the remote environments found in the industry. Additionally, the Sub-GHz sensor network allows for a widely-distributed service area. Using the external Sub-GHz antenna port and a mast mounted antenna, Picogate can service a multi-kilometer area.
Remote Apiary Monitoring
R9 Technology’s Smart Frame hive management system provides beekeepers with hive health metrics while they are deployed for pollination services. Because the system utilizes the cellular network for communication, staying connected to your hives has never been easier. By using the latest in battery and solar technology, R9’s hive management system can operate for years in remote apiaries. The system is designed to provide beekeepers with real time hive status including brood temperature, air quality, hive humidity, and feeder levels.
Hydroponics and container grow systems
The use of hydroponics and urban grow container systems has really come into its own over the last few of years. Once considered a novelty, this industry has seen sizeable growth, as urban dwellers clamor for organic or farm fresh options for their daily dietary needs. Many times these systems are deployed in areas where traditional infrastructure services do not exist. Picogate is ideally suited to fit this need. Using the built-in cellular interface, Picogate is able to quickly provide the connection between our cloud-based analytics platform and the deployed sensor and control functions necessary to sustain your farm. Below is a list of typical sensing and control functions that are necessary when deploying a grow system.
- Lighting
- CO2
- Nutrients
- PH
- Air Temperature
- Humidity
- Fan Control
- Water Temperature
- Water Flow
- Water Levels
- Root zone Temperature
Our Picogate Cellular gateway, in combination with several Piconode endpoints, can provide the above functions and much more. What’s better? It’s all wireless!
Notifications
Most growers don’t have time to monitor dashboards. Although the Picogate system comes complete with a customizable display cockpit, the use of notifications is the real value of the system. Whether it’s an equipment failure, lost animal, or a condition needing immediate attention, the Picogate system allows you to decide how and when you get notified. Standard notification methods include: text, email, or automated phone call.
Customization to achieve a “Perfect Fit” solution
With so many IoT solutions to choose from, how does one choose? Most of the time the selection process boils down to which solution comes the closest to the requirement without breaking the budget. What if you could get a customized solution tailored to provide a “perfect fit”. R9 Technology is committed to providing just that. Select from our extensive library of gateway and sensor node solutions and let us do the rest. We can provide customized hardware, software, and mechanical solutions to fit your exact requirements. Interested in a white label product? So are we. Let R9 Technology provide the engineering know-how, allowing you to focus on growing your business.