Smart Farm - Monitoring and Control System
Smart Farm is all about intelligent irrigation and smarter farming. We have developed a comprehensive state-of-the-art monitoring and control system that delivers the information farmers need on a daily and even hourly basis. Our patented wireless communications system integrates smart sensors and pump modules with RF wireless technology for remote field monitoring and well pump control.
The infographic below shows an overview of our terrestrial wireless network. Our system can function on a stand-alone basis and does not require 3rd-party cellular services providers to operate. The main headquarter base station communicates directly to local pumps or weather stations within range. This system can be expanded to hundreds of nodes spread over hundreds of square miles to outlying devices with appropriately spaced repeater towers. In this diagram each repeater tower connects to pumps within its range; each pump connects to its nearby moisture or water level monitoring station.
Our 900MHZ, 1W frequency hopping spread spectrum radio modules employ AES-128 encryption to insure long range and data security. These modules have a typical range of 4 to 7 miles, based on antenna height and terrain.
We offer secure mobile app connectivity allowing operators and farmhands to monitor and control the system on the go, as appropriate, based on three different levels of access rights. The mobile app and base station do require a cell or Internet connection to communicate together.
Some of our products are also ideal for Quarry sites. Select parts provide the ability to easily monitor and control water which increases safety, delivers reports on water removed from waterways for compliance and to provide real-time automation of water for time and money savings.
Based on 5 years of in-field testing work, we developed a state-of-the-art monitoring and control system that delivers the information farmers need to grow more crops and more profits by helping them better manage their field operations.
Pump Control – remote and automated turn-off control of most electric and diesel irrigation well pumps used on farms today.
Pump Monitoring – the essential information a farmer needs to know about the operation condition of his well pumps.
- Water flow rate, flow start and stop times/flow rate variance alert
- Seasonal total volume of ground water extraction
- Diesel pump monitoring parameters:
- Fuel tank level/fuel consumption/fuel tamper alert
- Engine tachometer/speed variance alert
- Battery voltage/low voltage alert
- Murphy panel system faults
Pump Automation Features – easy-to-use, easy-to-understand automation features that have a tremendous positive impact on field operations. Examples include:
- Scheduled automatic off times – diesel and electric pumps
- Rain gauge triggered automatic shutdowns
- Soil moisture level threshold automatic shutdowns
- “All Off” pump command feature
- Water level triggered automatic shutdowns for rice fields based on standing water levels
- Field operator specific automation scheduling access rights
Pump Preventative Maintenance Reminders – will maximize the operation life and efficiency of in-field equipment.
- Filter and fluids scheduler based on run-time tracking
- Organizer for equipment maintenance items by engine type and filter part numbers
- Field operator specific accountability
In-Field Sensor Monitoring – the critical information you need to know about field and environmental conditions – so that you can make the best possible decisions about your irrigation schedules.
- Map view of operational status of entire farm
- Soil moisture levels
- Rice field water levels
- Trend line graphing all sensors, all stations
- Our optional weather stations can be installed at any pump or monitoring locations and provide: Rain gauge accumulations, Anemometer (wind speed and direction), Instantaneous and total accumulated solar radiation, Ambient temperature We also provide critical crop and field information based on crop type and weather station readings: Growth degree days, Evapotranspiration rate, Heat index and Dew point
Greater Peace of Mind
Farmers understand that Ag Business today is full of challenges that are completely out of their control. Weather, seed supply, fed and state regulations, USDA programs, and commodity markets are just to name a few. Profitable farm business today have learned that efficiency is the next step in helping reduce expenses and waste while creating better yields and net profits.
Smart Farm Systems was created by farmers and automation experts to help deliver real time monitoring of one of the most inefficient and wasteful inputs on the farm – water. Fuel, water, and time are very valuable and constantly diminishing and we make most efficient use of all of them. Our app and hardware is easy to use and offers the data needed to make better decisions in the short growing window we all operate in.
Smart Farm has developed a state-of- the-art monitoring and control system that delivers the information every farmer needs to grow more crops and increase productivity – whether they are on the farm or away from the farm.
Through our easy-to- use mobile applications that reside on your smart phone or tablet, you can see your entire farm and keep an eye on everything from home, the office or even while away enjoying family or vacation time. With Smart Farm Systems, you can instantly check on wells, get alerts when something changes, and much more. All the while, you’ll rest assured your farm is better managed and more efficient than ever before.
Enjoy greater efficiency and a better life knowing your farm is under control
- See water status, pump status and more using our handy mobile app – from anywhere
- Get instant alerts on your smart phone or device about water and flow rate variance – anytime
- Manage Assets by tracking service intervals, battery currents, and fuel quantities.
- Focus on family more, knowing your farm is easy to access and under control
- Save time from having to drive on the farm checking wells – it’s all in your hands
- Enjoy greater peace of mind and family time
By creating more time to spend away from pumps and conserving precious ground water, growers now can focus on getting back to their families and leaving them a profitable legacy to build upon one day.
Farming for a better future – for every generation.
At Smart Farm, we hold ourselves accountable for providing the most efficient systems to increase farming capability today while preserving our environments for future generations. The Ag community knows that the environment and land must be treated properly and in sustainable ways now to have strong farms and farming communities down the road.
Through our carefully designed automation and data storage systems, Farmers are able to take better control of their farms and futures in newfound ways. We help reduce water and energy waste, while increasing overall efficiency and crop productivity. Our chief goal is to provide high quality products and innovative solutions to meet your long-term irrigation control needs.
Here are some specifics on our automation capabilities that can help your farm prosper today – and tomorrow.
The more things that are monitored, the more opportunity there is to make informed decisions — and to create control algorithms to automate a process. For automation to truly be useful it needs to be easy to understand and easy to change. Our approach creates a step-by-step process for the farm operator to implement based on the following logic:
When something you’re monitoring hits a pre-specified condition you set (such as water reached a certain level), then the system will automatically take a certain action at specific pumps or all pumps.
For example, when the flow rate of a well pump goes below a certain gallon per minute of discharge, shut down the pump and send an alert to the operator. Or, when the water level in a rice field being filled rises to 4 inches, turn off the well pump and send a notification to the operator.
The following monitored conditions can trigger an event:
- A simple timer
- A date and time alarm clock
- Rainfall at a weather station
- Water flow rate
- Diesel engine RPM
- Fuel level
- Fuel tamper (meaning a rapid drop in fuel level)
- Diesel pump battery voltage
- Pump or monitoring node performance parameters
- Moisture probe levels
- Water meter levels
- Wind speed
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Pump shutdown fault
- Moisture or water level probe fault
- Maintenance alert
Actions than can be taken based on an event trigger (at this time)
- Turn off a pump
- Send an alert message to the operator