Farmbot has unveiled the Farmbot Camera Sensor, a next generation device which enables farmers to take images of their farm assets and view them in real-time via two-way satellite connectivity.
According to the remote monitoring solution provider, “in a first for the Australian agriculture sector, farmers will be able to physically see water infrastructure, gates, fences or other assets with a touch of a button on desktop, tablet or mobile device.”
Andrew Coppin, Farmbot Managing Director, claims: “Our customers have seen significant savings and productivity boosts through real-time alerts and trend-based analysis of water consumption for many years.”
The Farmbot managing director also claims the product “is a leap forward.” “It will revolutionise the way farmers see their property and the way they make decisions”, he says.
He further explains why the sensor is important for farmers and what makes it innovative.
“The ability to take images of troughs, dams or tanks on demand means that farmers can virtually be in multiple places at once, unlocking exponential productivity gains and boosting profitability”, he explains.
According to Farmbot, users don’t need to physically travel to sites to view assets, which saves more time. They can allot time spent on higher value and more strategic tasks.
It says the camera “is the first product in Australian agriculture to capitalise duplex satellite technology, which allows two-way communication between a sensor and a device sold at a reasonable price. Farmbot is powered by Inmarsat, “the global leader in satellite technology”, tying global technology expertise and local ingenuity.
Steven Tompkins, Director of Sector Development, Inmarsat, is pleased to support Farmbot’s Camera Sensor and Duplex Satellite Monitor Technology, which is enabled by Inmarsat’s IsatData Pro (IDP) service.
“This provides affordable two-way connectivity to farmers anywhere in Australia and beyond”, he says.
Tompkins points out “unreliable terrestrial connectivity” was previously a key barrier to the adoption of “innovative Internet of Things (IoT) technologies on Australian farms. “With these new innovations and Inmarsat’s highly reliable connectivity, Farmbot is set to revolutionise farming in Australia and beyond”, he claims.
Coppin says the Farmbot Camera Sensor was conceptualised and developed in collaboration with Australian producers.
We’re told: “Like our product developments, the Farmbot Camera sensor was driven by real customer feedback.”
He describes farmers as “practical people.”
“Our customers told us that being able to physically see troughs, dams, and tanks without travelling to them would be game-changing for them”, he says.
The product has been fully developed in Australia. The durable camera housing has weathered harsh environmental conditions, and can be mounted in multiple configurations depending on the intended application. The resolution of images can be adjusted based on the level of information the farmer needs and depending on their preference.
The camera will be released in tandem with the next generation Farmbot unit, the Farmbot Duplex Satellite Monitor. Aesthetically identical to previous units the latest devices will power the duplex satellite technology.
