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Objectives
The project aims to integrate, implement and optimise satellite and 5G technology into Farmer Charlie’s communication module to provide a seamless use of our sensors in every circumstance. It includes the validation of both satellite and 5G technologies as effective tools for decision assisted-IoT farming offered to individual farmers, allotment users and garden owners.
Our aim is allowing individual/small/private garden and allotment owners and farmers to remotely monitor their cultivation through interoperable, competitively priced plug-and-play (soil) sensors (starting with humidity), at the same time testing technologies such as 5G/NB-IoT and LoRA via satellite, with an interoperable RF communication system.
A tailored app, easy farming information and support, sustainable resource management (e.g., water, fertiliser) provide advice for allotment owners, gardeners, and individual farmers, with special benefits in the current climate change and unpredictable weather conditions. Besides, implementing 5G communication to this purpose paves the way to useful applications for exchanging advice, market information and further services for urban and individual farming/gardening.
The service includes multiple RF-technology sensors, connectivity options, and the associated application available on a tablet or telephone. The sensor is a self-standing device, with an initial fixed price planned around £70/€75 and attractive subscription models estimated at £30/€35 pa.
Benefits
The main advantage offered by our product is the provision of seamless communication − regardless of where the user is − at an affordable price.
Farmer Charlie addresses the sector of urban farming including allotment farmers, private vegetable garden/roof garden/raised bed growers. Urban vegetable farming has increasingly gained reputation for its role in achieving self-sufficient, locally grown, sustainable food production.
Our basic sensor helps address the issue of managing resources such as water, measuring and reducing its consumption. With climate change impacting rain levels, the benefit of a sensor to control irrigation and water use is critical.
The sensor also allows to use fertilisers more wisely, as they can be sprayed when the soil has the right level of humidity and pH for maximum efficiency, therefore reducing the risk of waste.
There is a certain number of humidity sensors on the market; however, they are not sold at our target price but are remarkably expensive (£312 to £800). Conversely, we found out plainer cheap sensors (around £20-30 each) that provide results on the spot only, therefore not providing the user with any connection to remote systems
Features
The system integrates a ground segment terminal with telecommunication and space transmission. It is aimed at providing a cost-effective service to users.
Its key strengths are:
• The plug-and-play feature of the sensors.
• Farmer Charlie Team’s background knowledge and expertise in telecoms, 5G, IOT, e-sims, satellite communications (Farmer Charlie is a spin-out of parent company AB5 Consulting, specialised in the space and satellite domain).
• Integration of technology through connection with WI-FI, 4G and other technologies.
• Affordable cost. Identification of a sweet spot for the sensor with the targeted price tag.
• Intelligent sensor including GNSS, processor, soil parameters (humidity, temperature, pH).
• Adaptability to other uses. The temperature and moisture soil sensor was adapted to monitoring values in a refrigerated container (previous project). Satellite allows the use of the sensors in a large variety of markets, which in turn will permit us to mass produce the electronics at an effective cost,
• Sustainable economic impact through the development of a UK-based supply chain where possible.
• Sustainability through recycled electronics and efficient choice of batteries and power options. The sensor can be returned to Farmer Charlie when its life span is over.
Challenges
As the project explores the integration of satellite technology, one of the main challenges is linked to the interoperability of the system with it.
In-depth research has been conducted on various satellite options and offers available on the market to identify the most compatible and efficient solution.
Cost-effectiveness for the user has also been an essential concern since the establishment of Farmer Charlie. The sensors are meant to be sustainable and cheap, hence their components, manufacturing and integration are continuously assessed to match this purpose.
System Architecture
The crucial component of the system are the sensor and radio modules, offering a plug-and-play tool that detects soil and weather values, and transmits them to the growers.
The sensor is composed of the following parts:
• Power Unit. Battery. Long-duration battery with potential to connect solar panels for sustainable power.
• Sensing Unit. Probe with entries, such as soil humidity, temperature, pH.
• Processing Unit. Internal chip for managing the device and data processing.
The communication unit is composed of the following parts:
• Satellite connectivity transferring values to the Cloud.
• Cloud for data storage.
• 4G/5G chip on mobile/tablet for data gathering and transmission.
• User app developed by Farmer Charlie. User interface and app features to connect, receive and read data, decision-making.
Plan
The GAUFF project lasts twelve months, from 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025.
It is arranged in four phases:
• Definition
• Technology
• Product
• Demonstration
The project plan follows the above phases and is organised in five works packages (WPs), the fifth being the overall Project Management. Each WP is split in Tasks.
The following Milestones are scheduled:
• MS1 – Requirements Review (RR)
• MS2 – Critical Design Review (CDR)
• MS3 – Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)
• MS4 – Site Acceptance Test (SAT) / Final Review (FR)
Current Status
The project is progressing through the Definition and Technology assessment phases. During the first quarter of it, Farmer Charlie conducted a review of the current sensor performance and identified user needs and pains through a survey with 580 allotment and garden users based in the UK. This permitted to confirm the user requirements.
A review of potential RF technologies also took place (5G, NB IoT, LoRAWAN, LoRA/satellite, 5G/satellite, Wi-Fi 5/6), with an assessment of their integration for maximum interoperability, in particular exploring opportunities for multi-technologies modules (e.g., NB-IOT or e-sim, LoRA and space LoRA) in a cost-effective manner to meet the 75€ target.
The User Interface of the app was also reviewed following the survey, with UI options explored and defined based on the user requirements and consultation with design experts.
Much effort was devoted to identifying a sustainable power source supporting the battery life. The integration of a GNSS module within the sensor was achieved. Hardware & Software Integration (incl. RestAPI) was conducted. Integration with e-sim/5G NB-IoT connectivity is ongoing.
Data transmission and connectivity are constantly tested in parallel with battery consumption, in view of achieving the longest duration and cost affordability.
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