Develop whole of farm integrated sensor monitor
| Project start date: | 05 March 2018 |
| Project end date: | 27 February 2020 |
| Publication date: | 11 May 2021 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | National |
|
Download Report
(1 MB)
|
|
Summary
Farmbot identified a lack of easy to use, affordable water and other infrastructure monitoring systems available to producers.
In this project, Farmbot identified and undertook R&D on a range of prototypes with associated testbeds with the aim of creating innovative solutions for water flow monitoring, water quality monitoring, electric fence monitoring and the optimisation of satellite data transmission.
Objectives
The farmbot water level monitor has proven very popular with producers due to its low upfront cost, simplicity and ease of use with access to the system from anywhere.
This project aimed to develop the following with the same positive attributes:
- water flow monitor
- electric fence monitor
- water quality monitor.
Key findings
The project resulted in the creation of cost effective and easy to use Water Flow, Water Quality and Electric Fence monitor solutions. These will now be made available to the livestock and other industries and will provide significant savings, improve certainty in optimum development and welfare of their stock and ultimately improve a farms productivity and retrun on investment (ROI).
Benefits to industry
The creation of cost effective and easy to use water flow, water quality and electric fence monitoring solutions that will be made available to the livestock industry.
These solutions can provide significant savings, improve certainty and optimum development and welfare of their stock and ultimately improve a farms productivity and ROI.
MLA action
Outcomes of the project have demonstrated that the feasibility of sensors to support the deployment of Digital AG IoT systems and also inform future strategic pathways for Digital Ag projects.
Future research
- Water meter cost is a significant component of the solution and Farmbot plans to investigate non-invasive ultrasonic flow monitoring in a separate R&D project.
- Modern ultrasonic tech is very effective and low cost, and has potential applications for a range of areas including liquid depth/level metering.
- Farmbot also plans to investigate the use of optics for detection of other forms of algae.
More information
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | Farmbot Australia Pty Ltd |
