Proposal: A Smaller Biotic

Proposal: A Smaller BIOTIC Environmental Data Acquisition Services (EDAS) J. Aaron Crews Thomas A. Mullen August 16, 2001 The BIOTIC method of irrigation scheduling offers a

Problems with current BIOTIC Expense – Campbell Scientific products Bulk – Almost unmanageable for one person Difficulty in weatherproofing Lots of connections – Many things can go wrong, and do go wrong 

Advantages to having a smaller BIOTIC Potentially cheaper Smaller, more manageable device Fewer connectors – less possibility for failure If something were to go wrong, we could fix it ourselves Less power consumption Easier to weatherproof More marketable, more practical for farmers Technology becomes more accessible  

What we have right now - The EDAS Irrigation Scheduling System Prototype 

Features: It can read an IRT and determine whether or not the plant is stressing It contains a clock which allows it to determine whether or not time threshold is met It can alert those using the system of an irrigation signal It can display the data to an LCD screen, as well as send the information to a computer via a serial connection It is programmable for a variety of time and temperature thresholds

Short-Term Development (1-6 months) Within this timeframe we have the ability to add many features to the device, including: Multiple IRT compatibility (up to 8+) Air temperature measurement Humidity measurement Full data logging capabilities – storing data, ability to download either manually or remotely

Modem – connect to a cell phone, or potentially integrate the phone for nightly remote dialups Programmable: call-up windows, time and temperature threshold for a variety of crops, remote setting of time Full compatibility with wireless IRT system currently under development Windows-based software to program and download the data Ability to be used as a data logger for a variety of environmental-monitoring applications Overall Short-Term Outlook In 1-6 months, thousands of dollars and tens of pounds of equipment can be replaced (including the display, CR10X, DAC, modem, and potentially the analog phone), with a simple-to-operate, small, lightweight, dependable solution 

Longer-Term Development (12-18 months) Many exciting possibilities exist on a longer term timeline, including: Integration of wireless IRT system into a one-box solution Scaling of time and temperature thresholds using budgetary constraints defined by user Fully developed GUI for software control of system Potential development of additional applications Possible Additional Applications: Automated control of home sprinkler systems Design similar to what you see today Commercial/private irrigation systems (golf courses, etc) Longer-Term Outlook In 12 to 18 months, we can produce a completely affordable, highly marketable irrigation scheduling system for farmers and others interested in applying this technology.

What We Want •

ARS to allow the implementation of a EDAS device in a proof-of-concept field demonstration in the summer of 2002 This will allow our unit to provide ARS researchers with important information pertaining to plant stress and the BIOTIC method of irrigation scheduling, while we are provided with an arena in which to test the reliability and usefulness of our product. Subsidization of development costs for the production of prototype units for this purpose. We want to maintain ownership of the device design, but we would be willing to modify the design on a per-cost basis.