Gnome Helps Gardeners and Farmers Save Water, Power and Time
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) November 08, 2016 -- Today Hugreen launched an Indiegogo campaign for its flagship product, Gnome. This solar and radio frequency powered smart irrigation system remotely controls and monitors gardens and farms. Four starter kits are available, beginning at $120.
The Gnome system is comprised of a network of sensors and water valves, connected to one central hub:
- The hub is the control center for Gnome’s sensors and valves. It can link up to 30 nodes (sensors and valves) that are within a 1km radius range, and connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi. - Its primary function is to send data to the user and relay commands to the nodes.
- The sensors monitor fertilizer level, sunlight exposure, soil temperature, and ambient temperature via four stainless steel probes.
- The valves control water flow of the sprinkler system remotely, which can handle water pressure up to 115 psi.
Gnome is the only IoT sensor that can measure fertilizer level and soil moisture concurrently. Gnome uses industrial level Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) technology to measure the presence of fertilizer and uses that data to get an unbiased soil moisture level, which is typically only found in more expensive non-smart sensors.
Hugreen founder Clement Lee is a solar researcher and engineer who led major projects for an international solar tech corporation. “I quit my job and started building rooftop gardens in Hong Kong, but wasn’t pleased with the tech solutions available to monitor and adjust irrigation as there was a lot of unnecessary waste,” he said. “So I decided to combine my background in engineering and passion for sustainable farming to create solar-powered technology that makes is possible for everyone to grow.”
Gnome’s app helps gardeners manage their plants remotely. Live updates are provided for each sensor, and users are alerted if the soil becomes too dry, or the water too warm. Users are then able to control the water system or automate timers for the valves based on soil moisture level, ultimately saving them time, money and labor.
The app also teaches gardeners how to grow new plants. “The Gnome app has a comprehensive plant database that can teach you how to optimize growing at your location,” Lee said. “Based on plant type, seasonality and location, Gnome can tell you what parameters would be best for this plant and ways you can achieve them.”
Gnome’s campaign runs from November 8 to December 16, 2016. For a full rundown on their pledges, visit the Indiegogo page.
About Hugreen
Hugreen is an agriculture technology startup building high tech precision agriculture IoT solutions for smallholder farmers. Smallholder farmers account for 80% of the food the world consumes each year, yet many are stuck in the old ways of farming, despite changing weather pattern and demographics that threaten our food security. Many smallholder farmers also lack resources and knowledge to use existing precision agriculture tools they desperately need to become profitable. The company’s mission is help farmers deploy simple IoT based irrigation systems to gain better yield per acre while reducing labor and water usage.
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