Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1520713
Beyond the Wires 22 relevant indicators can be monitored, even inside animals, and gather the data into applications to generate actionable insights. Smart Farming in Action Given that farms typically exist in rural locations and can cover areas equivalent to many thousands of acres, connectivity needs to be wireless and, in many cases, must be effective over distances of up to several kilometers. Providing power to sensors and infrastructure is another concern; batteries and energy harvesting are obvious candidates, although the equipment must be designed for minimal energy demand to have a practicable operating lifetime. And then there are environmental hazards to consider—farming lifestyles are hard, so the tech can expect to live outdoors, through rain and snow, from deep sub-zero to equatorial summer temperatures, and endure exposure to all kinds of substances, including chemicals, oils, and animal waste. Wireless technology also facilitates placing sensors in locations that are difficult to monitor frequently, giving insights that would be impractical to capture using conventional techniques. Is there a more extreme example than inside an animal? ST has helped to develop swallowable sensors for cattle farming, using its STM32WL wireless system-on-chip (SoC) to collect physiological data from individual animals. Regularly monitoring signs such as water intake, body temperature, and digestive pH can show when a cow is in heat, becoming sick, or if other health issues need attention. This knowledge can help farmers reduce breeding costs by increasing the likelihood S mart farming is a data-driven concept that can potentially overcome several challenges associated with rearing livestock and growing crops. The growing world population needs to be fed, although access to land and the nutrients needed for plant and animal growth are restricted. Farming businesses everywhere are under pressure to survive financially, even in economic areas that can provide subsidies, and must do everything possible to maximize their yield. Conversely, concern about the unwanted effects of pesticides and fertilizers, as well as antibiotics to protect animal health, is driving a desire to reduce or eliminate these human-engineered aids to farming. Smart farming offers a different kind of technical assistance that is predicated on providing farmers with high-value information to help maximize yield and minimize reliance on chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Timing is everything for farmers: Spotting when conditions are right to sow seeds, when the crop is optimal for harvesting, and identifying plant or animal health problems as early as possible is key. Smart farms can provide that guidance, in real time, by capturing data that contains the raw information. IoT technologies make it possible to deploy and connect sensors anywhere Harnessing Wide Area Networks for Farming Efficiency Anicet Giaimo, LPWAN Product Marketing Manager, Wireless Microcontrollers, STMicroelectronics