Smart solar-powered field node

The problem

Remote fields lack electricity and good network coverage, so the farmer only discovers a problem when visiting the field, often too late. Commercial solutions rely on the cellular network, so they fail in exactly the places that need them most.

How it works

1. ActivationThe node wakes from deep sleep at set intervals.
2. MeasurementMeasuring soil moisture at three depths, plus air temperature, humidity, and light.
3. ImagingTaking a compressed photo of the plants every few hours.
4. SendingData is sent over LoRa to the station, then the node goes back to sleep.

Project features

• LoRa reaches several kilometers with no cellular network or subscription.
• Fully solar-powered, with a battery that covers nights and cloudy weather.
• The periodic plant photo reveals color changes and wilting.
• Deep sleep between readings is what lets the node run on a small solar panel.

Expected challenges

These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.

• The energy budget is the core of the whole project — every milliamp counts.
• LoRa range drops a lot because of terrain and trees, not distance alone.
• Sending images over LoRa is slow, so it needs heavy compression and splitting the data.
• The enclosure must withstand sun, dust, and water for months.

The consultation gives you a solution for each one.