A variety of sensing and monitoring systems have been developed based on\nthe concept of open-source and on open-source hardware and software\ncomponents. Availability and relatively low cost of hardware components and\navailability and ease of use of software components allow access to sensing\nand monitoring technologies that were previously unattainable to many potential\nusers. Advances in electronic monitoring and evolving cellular communications\ntechnologies are increasingly offering more, simpler, and less\nexpensive options for remote monitoring. Due to the near-future cessation\nof 2G and 3G cellular network services, however, many existing monitoring\nsystems will need to be redesigned to operate on alternative cellular networks.\nA soil-moisture monitoring system was developed incorporating updated\nopen-source Arduino microcontrollers and the recently introduced LTE \nCat-M1 cellular network to transmit sensor measurements via the cellular\nnetwork for access on an internet website. The monitoring system costs approximately\nUS$130 to construct the electronic circuitry and less than US$1\nper month for cellular network access and data transmission. Data were\ntransmitted with a 95% success rate, and the monitoring system operated\ncontinuously throughout an entire crop growing season with no battery recharge\nor maintenance requirements. The design and operation of the monitoring\nsystem can serve as a basis for other remote monitoring systems.
Loading....