In the IMPRESS project partners will realize two (synergistic) products:
1) the FI-sense platform, an open sensor platform that can be used by any sensor producer to receive and transmit data of wireless sensors in greenhouses to FIspace. The platform uses frequencies and protocols that are suitable for greenhouse conditions.
2) The AquaTagRemote soil moisture sensor. The low cost wireless soil moisture sensor will make it possible to control the irrigation based on the real soil moisture conditions. Up till now this was not possible because soil moisture sensors are too expensive and too unpractical. The AquaTagRemote will use the FI-Sense platform to deliver its data to FIspace.
Partner ItoM will develop the hardware, partner info.nl will take care of the software and implementation of FI-ware apps, STS will develop the AquaTagRemote sensor together with ItoM, and takes care of the overall project management.
Wageningen-UR Greenhouse Horticulture is involved (but not a partner) for the development of advice modules for translating the AquaTag remote moisture sensor data (in combination with data of other sensors) into irrigation guidelines and other greenhouse management tasks.
Advantage of the FI-sense system is that it will allow farmers to combine many sensor data in smart DSS (decision support systems) in one place (FIspace) at relatively low costs.
The revenues for the partners are the sales of the hardware, and an annual subscription per sensor paid by the farmers. The system will initially be marketed in the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and Mexico, and later worldwide. The modules will be sold through distributors who will also explain the system to the end-users.
Additional finance will be raised through crowdfunding (www.fundaplant.nl) and by investments of the partners. After the IMPRESS project is finished it will be possible to raise additional finance from investors.
Project partners:
SensorTagSolutions
Semiconductor Ideas to the Market (ItoM)