AquaMon Wireless Soil Monitoring System Promises High Crop Yields with Less Water
MILPITAS, Calif., Feb. 23, 2010 — Cermetek Microelectronics presented a preview of its AquaMon wireless soil monitoring system at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, February 9th through February 11th. The preview provided a live demonstration of AquaMon capabilities including transmission of real-time sensor data.
AquaMon allows active monitoring of the soil. Knowledge of soil conditions is essential to achieve high crop yield with less water. Maintaining the optimal level of moisture in the ground permits crops to flourish. Doing so with the minimum amount of water requires real-time data on soil conditions. An AquaMon sensor node can support up to six sensors of any variety including soil moisture content, soil temperature, air temperature, humidity, pH sensors, and nitrate sensors. In addition to monitoring soil conditions, digitally controlled outputs can activate external equipment such as flow valves or nutrient injection equipment. Much as electronic fuel injection permits automobile engines to increase power while reducing fuel consumption and emissions, real-time soil monitoring allows water conservation without impacting crop yield.
The data generated by AquaMon can be viewed in two ways, locally or online. Cermetek created Remote Sensor Viewing Platform (RSVP) software to allow the irrigation decision maker to load the field data on his computer and easily view the data patterns. The data can also be uploaded onto our server and be viewed in the same format using a standard browser. Storing the data online allows the data to be viewed from anywhere with Internet access and even allows multiple authorized users to view the same data.
"Cermetek brought AquaMon to the World Ag Expo to demonstrate the capabilities of our wireless soil monitoring network," said Cermetek President and Chief Technical Officer Henry Roskos. "Cermetek has been developing communications technologies including those used in AquaMon for the last 40 years, but we needed to introduce ourselves and our capability to growers, irrigation dealers and the rest of the agricultural industry. The World Ag Expo was the right place to do that."
The World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, is the world's largest annual agricultural exhibition. Growers and vendors from around the world gather to see the latest innovations in agricultural technology.
AquaMon is expected to be available this spring. The cost of a single sensor node is expected to start at $300 plus the cost of the sensors. Cermetek is actively recruiting irrigation dealers to resell the AquaMon product line.
AquaMon product information can be reached online at the URL below: http://www.cermetek.com/Catalog/Coming-Soon/Datasheets/AquaMon flyer.pdf
Cermetek Microelectronics designs, manufactures and markets fully self-contained and FCC Part 68-approved miniature modem modules, Internet Modem Appliances, Industrial, Medical and Scientific (ISM) band wireless devices and data access arrangements for use in Internet appliance, embedded industrial, telecom, security/alarm, remote diagnostics and energy monitor and conservation applications.
For Further Information:
Mr. Steve Clary
Cermetek Microelectronics, Inc.
374 Turquoise Street.
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 942-2200 (tel)
(408) 942-1346 (fax)
Email
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