Telit Wireless Solutions has announced the successful completion of its first “smart farm” system in South Korea. The technology allows farmers to monitor and control cold climate greenhouses remotely via their smart phone. The benefits include significantly reduced use of labor, water and energy and reduction in crop losses.
Following an initial pilot program, the company’s remote M2M wireless control system is now operating in several working oriental melon farms and will be installed and connected to more than 1,000 oriental melon greenhouses this year.
Telit initiated the smart farm project in partnership with Disys, a South Korean designer of mobile applications and the company underwent a one-year development phase with SK Telecom. SK Telecom expects strong demand for this service and is planning to create a separate communication payment system to provide subsidies and lessen installation cost burdens to farmers.
With the smart farm system, oriental melon farmers are able to maintain consistent crop temperatures by remotely covering or uncovering their crops inside large, clear vinyl greenhouses at night or during any cold weather. Previously, South Korean farmers were required to manually cover crops that are easily damaged during extreme cold.
Additional smart farm features are planned, including temperature and humidity sensors that can enhance the growth and health of crops while reducing the amount of water and energy required. Surveillance cameras will also be installed to prevent the theft of crops and provide a visual check of the greenhouses for farmers.
Dominikus Hierl, CMO at Telit, said, “We’re very proud to be an integral part of this innovative smart farm system. The system could enhance sustainable agriculture around the globe, reducing energy and water usage as well as labor costs while increasing crop yield and quality.”
Plans are in the works to provide smart farm systems for other greenhouse crops in South Korea, including watermelons, strawberries and tomatoes.
Many farmers drive more than an hour to reach their vinyl greenhouses in the growing region every day. It’s not an easy job, because it requires close attention seven days a week, especially in the winter. When the temperature drops, the plants can freeze. Once the smart farm system is installed, farmers can check the weather and their crops from the comfort of their homes.
The system can be used for various other farm applications as well, such as a security and tracking system for livestock barns in case of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks. Hierl says that Telit is currently assessing the global market potential for this system.”
Want to learn more about M2M technologies? Then be sure to check out the M2M Evolution Conference, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012, happening NOW in Miami, FL. The M2M Evolution Conference is for industry professionals interested in capitalizing on a rapidly growing segment of the telecom industry. The M2M Evolution Conference embraces the any-to-any strategy of the Internet today. Co-sponsored by TMC Partner Crossfire Media, it showcases the solutions, and examines the data strategies and technological requirements that enterprises and carriers need to capitalize on a market segment that is estimated to grow to $300 Billion in the year ahead. For more information on registering for the M2M Evolution Conference click here.
Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO. Follow us on Twitter.
Bob Emmerson is TMC's European Editor. To stay abreast of the latest news affecting the European market, check out Bob's columnist page.Edited by
Rich Steeves
