Publication:
- Connected World Magazine
While it may not be one of the most commonly cited markets for M2M (machine-to-machine), agriculture is a major category for the technology. Most often solutions revolve around crop monitoring, and the results can mean a world of difference for farmers who depend on a healthy crop each season.
One crop in need of monitoring is grapes, which can be particularly sensitive to temperature. MicroStrain, www.microstrain.com, is a sensor company that has developed a solution designed to help keep grapes out of the danger zone, temperature-wise. Shelburne Vineyard in Vermont has been using MicroStrain’s system, with notable results.
The vineyard implemented a solution including a distributed network of low-power wireless nodes, along with a cloud-based data service called SensorCloud. The sensor nodes monitor temperatures in the fields in realtime and transmit the data to SensorCloud using cellular technology. The data is then available to the vineyard staff remotely, and alerts can be created so personnel are notified when certain conditions are met.
