The use of the Internet of Things as a way to monitor and control systems on the farm is in its infancy. Companies see the value of the tool, and leveraging the technology is top priority for many. Toro is entering the space with its Tempus Automation system for agricultural irrigation.

The key to these systems is connectivity, but often that means solar power or electrical connections in challenging locations. And while a solar-powered gateway from field sensors makes sense, powering the other controllers, monitors and sensors can be challenging.

Ralf San Jose, director of marketing, Toro, explains that the system works to make maintaining irrigation systems effortless. "We know that as growers you have enough to worry about, and that irrigation automation should be robust, reliable, easy to use and cost-effective," he says.

The product, named as the top new product at the 2021 Irrigation Show, brings together 4G, Wi-Fi/LoRa and Bluetooth connectivity into a single product.

It starts with the base station, which can be a cellular unit that's solar-powered, or a Wi-Fi system that can also be solar-powered. But the solar power stops there. Every other module on the system uses LoRa — short for long-range, wide area network — to connect to the base and runs on batteries. "The modules have a range up to 1 mile using LoRa," San Jose told Farm Progress. "And each is powered by a 9-volt battery."

The simplicity was on display at the recent Irrigation Show, where San Jose shows how each system simply ties into the pumps and valves of an irrigation system. It can be used to retrofit an existing system to bring the higher level of control.

He shares the example of a control module for a valve. To tie a valve into the Tempus system, the installer need only connect to the two-wire control, and zip-tie the controller to the pipe. With its low power consumption, the batteries can last through a traditional season. "No need to set up a solar power panel to power the controllers or monitors on the system," he adds.

The base matters

During a demonstration of the system, San Jose shows how he can control an irrigation setup in New Hampshire from the show floor in San Diego. Remote connectivity has long been part of the irrigation industry, but this app-based approach linking to base stations makes management simple from the smartphone.

The key is the interlinking of IoT technology with compact, battery-powered controllers and monitors using a base station that can communicate the way a grower needs. While a smartphone is a great tool, the online platform can be accessed through computer and tablet as well. The platform does allow the user to have instant access to every controller, valve and sensor — allowing scheduling, monitoring and control.

The controllers are also potted, meaning that their innards are sealed from bugs and weather. Insects and weather cause their fair share of damage to irrigation controllers.

San Jose explains that the base station can control valves within a bubble up to a mile away. Adding more base stations can help expand that range, and for each base station installed, a new bubble is created. To learn more visit toro.com/tempus-ag.