SmartGrids and M2M

Lew RothVP Business Development

Partners 1993

Nothing grows without water

or Congress!

Applying M2M Solutions to Agriculture

• Problem• Application• Technologies• Success

Stories• Incentives

Wireless Climate Solutions for Greenhouses and Farms

Growers Need Climate Solutions

Leaf Curl and Desiccation greenhouse temperatures

and light levels are high

Leaf Distortionsdramatic

temperature and humidity changes

Powdery Mildew on Lilac Leaves

warm moist conditions

Deteriorationinsufficient humidity

Cracking insufficient humidity or

high temperature & light

Splitting insufficient humidity or high

temperature & light

Deformationinsufficient humidity or high

temperature & light

Where?• Research

• Commercial Greenhouses

• Open Field Production

Concerns with Climate Solutions• R&D Greenhouses

– Wiring, installation, and experimental flexibility – Data aggregation and collection– Sensor availability, resolution, sensitivity and

durability• Commercial Greenhouses

– All of the above– Labor costs– Energy, water and chemical usage

• Open Field – Wiring, energy availability in fields, infrastructure

costs– Available water, run-off concerns– In-field PC systems and maintenance– System ease of use and reliability

Wireless Climate Solutionsfor Greenhouses and Farms

• In Field Wireless Mesh - Self Healing Network• Low Power Sense & Control Nodes• Mobile Technology• Product as a Service (Remote Mgmt.)

Primary In-Field Components• Cellular M2M Central Data Aggregation

– GSM – Solar or battery powered – High resolution data collection

• Wireless Sensor Nodes– Can be installed where you want – Solar or battery powered

• Mix and Match Sensors• Temp, Humidity, Solar Radiation, Soil Humidity, Soil

Temperature, Soil Conductivity…– Local sensor wiring only

8

Example Network SetupZone5 Zone4

Zone3

Zone2

Zone1

0

1

2

Main Gateway

101 Relay/Control

Node

3

5

4

8

7 910

11

12

13

14

15

6

Legend: Main Gateway Sensor Node Relay/Control Node (Actuator) Data Transfer Link Neighborhood Link

102 Relay/Control

Node

Control environmental systems

• Irrigation (solenoid valves, pumps)• Heating • Vents• Misting• Fans• Heat & shade curtains• Cooling pads • Lighting

Remote Monitoring and Control

• Web Services– Remote data collection and

set points– Authenticated accounts– Browser based configuration,

monitoring and set points• Mobile

– Mobile phone application for Java (J2ME)

– Setup, Monitoring and Alerts– Same as Web

T

t

!

12

100’s of Success Stories“The solution has allowed us to observe the increase in humidity in specific areas of the greenhouse, enabling us to take precautions against the formation of mildew, a highly dangerous disease for tomatoes. Were it not for the early diagnosis, and early precautions being taken, one third of the greenhouse could have been exposed to the infection in 10 hours, ultimately resulting in the loss of the entire crop. We are able to prevent diseases by instantaneously monitoring the increase in temperature and humidity.“

Para Magazine, October 5th 2008

Precise Agriculture is Possible Now

• M2M technology and operational models are ready and deployed

• Intrinsic Incentives and Benefits– Measures Conditions Experienced by the Crop– Saves Water– Reduces Chemical Use and Runoff– Increases Yield + Protects Against Loss

• External Incentives would also be Great– Government – Crop Insurers