Abstract
A variety of sensing and monitoring systems have been developed based on the concept of open-source and on open-source hardware and software components. Availability and relatively low cost of hardware components and availability and ease of use of software components allow access to sensing and monitoring technologies that were previously unattainable to many potential users. Advances in electronic monitoring and evolving cellular communications technologies are increasingly offering more, simpler, and less expensive options for remote monitoring. Due to the near-future cessation of 2G and 3G cellular network services, however, many existing monitoring systems will need to be redesigned to operate on alternative cellular networks. A soil-moisture monitoring system was developed incorporating updated open-source Arduino microcontrollers and the recently introduced LTE Cat-M1 cellular network to transmit sensor measurements via the cellular network for access on an internet website. The monitoring system costs approximately US$130 to construct the electronic circuitry and less than US$1 per month for cellular network access and data transmission. Data were transmitted with a 95% success rate, and the monitoring system operated continuously throughout an entire crop growing season with no battery recharge or maintenance requirements. The design and operation of the monitoring system can serve as a basis for other remote monitoring systems.
Highlights
A variety of sensing and monitoring systems have been developed based on the concept of open-source and on open-source hardware and software components
Data were transmitted with a 95% success rate, and the monitoring system operated continuously throughout an entire crop growing season with no battery recharge or maintenance requirements
The sensor wires were attached to the monitoring system circuit board via the spring terminal blocks, the battery was connected to the circuit, and the completed monitoring circuitry was placed inside the weatherproof enclosure
Summary
A variety of sensing and monitoring systems have been developed based on the concept of open-source and on open-source hardware and software components. The Arduino hardware consists of a microcontrollerbased development board designed to allow convenient access to the microcontroller’s various features, including input/output pins, analog-to-digital converters, analog and digital communications protocols, timers, and non-volatile memory. The LTE Cat-M1 network is designed to support lowdata-rate, low-power IoT applications and offer widespread support and communications for distributed monitoring and control systems. While projects such as those cited above have brought remote monitoring to agricultural endeavors, the technologies and components involved are evolving, requiring updated designs and instrumentation. The objective of the work described here was to develop a remote sensing and monitoring system incorporating updated open-source components and evolving cellular communications for use in agricultural applications
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