Agri IoT Device - The Client's Agricultural Innovation Success

Agri IoT Device - The Client's Agricultural Innovation Success

Project Summary

To address the client’s needs, we developed the Agri IoT Device, a compact system to measure critical soil and water parameters and transmit data to a hybrid mobile app via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The client required a secure, reliable, and user-friendly solution to replace manual processes with real-time insights for farmers. Powered by the STM32H7 MCU and SiLabs Bluetooth SoC, we built a robust system with secure data transmission and over-the-air firmware updates. This past project demonstrates our expertise in delivering business-driven IoT solutions for precision agriculture, enhanced by strong collaboration with the client’s IT team.

Solution We Delivered to the Client

We collaborated with the client and their internal IT team to design and implement the Agri IoT Device through comprehensive consulting, development, and integration services. Here’s what we built for the client:

  • System Architecture
    We designed a compact, low-power architecture to collect soil and water data, process it via the STM32H7 MCU, and transmit it to the client’s mobile app using BLE, ensuring compatibility with their existing IT infrastructure.
  • Driver Development
    We developed optimized drivers for UART and I2C interfaces, enabling seamless communication between the STM32H7 MCU, SiLabs Bluetooth SoC, and sensors.
  • Custom BLE Protocol
    We implemented a tailored communication protocol for secure, reliable data exchange between the Agri IoT Device and the client’s mobile app.
  • Firmware Update Over the Air (FOTA)
    We enabled remote firmware updates, allowing the client to maintain and enhance device functionality without physical access.
  • Custom Bootloader
    We developed a bootloader for the STM32H7 MCU, ensuring secure and efficient firmware updates.
  • Hardware Security
    We integrated symmetric authentication using a Secure Element IC to protect the client’s data and prevent unauthorized access.
  • Hybrid Mobile App
    We built a cross-platform mobile app (using Flutter) for iOS and Android, enabling farmers to access real-time soil and water data and receive actionable recommendations.

Technology Stack

  • Hardware: STM32H7 MCU, SiLabs Bluetooth SoC, Secure Element IC, environmental sensors (soil moisture, pH, temperature, water quality).
  • Software Tools: STM32Cube IDE, Simplicity Studio, Flutter.
  • Communication Protocols: UART, I2C, BLE
  • Frontend: Hybrid mobile app (Flutter for iOS and Android).

Outcome and Business Impact for the Client

  • Increased Efficiency: The client reduced manual soil and water testing efforts by 70%, enabling farmers to focus on core farming activities.
  • Cost Reduction: Automated data collection and remote monitoring cut operational costs for the client and their customers by minimizing labor and equipment needs.
  • Improved Crop Yields: Real-time insights enabled the client’s farmers to optimize irrigation and fertilization, increasing crop yields by up to 20%.
  • Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: The client’s farmers benefited from an easy-to-use mobile app, improving adoption and satisfaction rates.
  • Future-Ready Solution: The client’s system was designed for scalability, supporting their vision for expanding precision agriculture services.

Features the Client Benefited From

  • Real-Time Monitoring
    The client’s system provided instant soil and water parameter data (moisture, pH, temperature, water quality) to farmers via the mobile app.
  • Secure Data Transmission
    BLE and Secure Element IC ensured the client’s data remained protected during transmission and storage.
  • Remote Updates
    FOTA and a custom bootloader allowed the client to update device firmware seamlessly, ensuring long-term reliability.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The client’s farmers accessed data through an intuitive mobile app built with Flutter, reducing training needs and improving usability.
  • Scalable Design
    The client’s solution was built to support additional sensors and future agricultural IoT integrations.

How We Engaged with the Client

    We partnered with the client and their internal IT team through a consulting, development, and integration model, enhanced by team augmentation:

    • Consulting: We collaborated with the client and their IT team to define business and technical requirements, design the system architecture, and select a tech stack aligned with their existing infrastructure and agricultural goals.
    • Development: Our team worked alongside the client’s IT team to build custom drivers, the BLE protocol, FOTA functionality, a custom bootloader, hardware security features, and the hybrid mobile app using Flutter.
    • Integration: We seamlessly integrated hardware, firmware, and the mobile app, conducting joint testing with the client’s IT team to ensure reliability in diverse agricultural environments and compatibility with their systems.
    • Team Augmentation: We embedded our experts within the client’s IT team, fostering close collaboration, accelerating development, providing real-time support, and transferring knowledge to ensure the client could maintain and scale the system independently.

    This collaborative approach, with active involvement from the client’s IT team, ensured we delivered a solution that met their business needs while integrating seamlessly with their existing workflows.

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    Conclusion

      The Agri IoT Device revolutionized how the client empowered farmers to manage soil and water resources, delivering a secure, efficient, and scalable IoT solution with mobile app integration. Our close collaboration with the client’s internal IT team ensured a tailored solution that aligned with their infrastructure and goals. Building on this past achievement, we’re ready to partner with the client and their IT team again to drive their next agricultural innovation!

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