Monitoring and Control Systems for the Agricultural Industry

摘要

A mesh-based wireless network 10 of sensor/actuator devices I, D, T for an agricultural production area involves battery-powered sensors and actuators deployed under or within the foliage for broadcast communication with at least one repeater R according to broadcast time slots. The repeaters R are mounted above the vegetation canopy so as to be powered by solar panels. The repeaters R form a mesh network for routing data and commands to and from the sensors and actuators and at least one gateway GW. The gateway communicates over a cellular network with a remote agricultural management server 14 and database 16.

主权项

1. A wireless mesh network for an area having a present or anticipated vegetation canopy, said network comprising:
a plurality of battery-powered sensor or actuation modules arrayed at spaced locations within said area; said modules being installed under said vegetation canopy; said modules being configured for broadcast communication with at least one of a plurality of repeaters deployed at spaced locations within said area; said broadcast communication being according to broadcast time slots assigned to each of said modules; each of said repeaters being mounted above said vegetation canopy and being powered by a solar panel mounted with said repeater; said repeaters acting as routers within a mesh network for conveying data and commands to and from said modules and at least one gateway; said gateway being mounted above said vegetation canopy and being powered by a solar panel mounted with said gateway; said gateway maintaining at least periodic communication with a remote management server via a cellular telephone network.