Farm Angel is a Wi-Fi-enabled GPS tracking device that attaches to a quad bike and continually sends data to a secure server using Vodafone's mobile network.
Farm Angel is a Wi-Fi-enabled GPS tracking device that attaches to a quad bike and continually sends data to a secure server using Vodafone's mobile network.
Experts expect New Zealand farmers to be among the first wave of businesses to benefit from the internet-of-things.
It's the name phone companies and gadget makers have given to the business of adding sensors to every day items and then connecting them to networks. Eventually it will cover everything fromcows to milking machines, irrigation equipment and watching farm gates.
Vodafone enterprise director Ken Tunnicliffe says: "We probably lead the world in using the internet-of-things and machine-to-machine communications in agricultural businesses. I've got a dedicated team of people working in this area and they talk all the time to Vodafone's global team. We're helping our local partners sell their technology to other Vodafone branches overseas."
One place internet-of-things technology is showing up is on all-terrain quad bikes. Farm Angel, from Blackhawk Tracking Systems, is a Wi-Fi-enabled GPS tracking device that attaches to a quad bike and continually sends data to a secure server using Vodafone's mobile network. If the device goes beyond the coverage area a secondary back-up satellite communications system kicks in.
Blackhawk chief executive Andrew Radcliffe says Farm Angel helps farmers meet health and safety requirements. "Quad bikes are the modern farmer's workhorse. They can go almost anywhere, but they can be dangerous. More farm workers are killed or injured by quad bikes than anything else," he says.
Farm Angel went on sale last month following trials.
Using Farm Angel to monitor a quad bike rider does two things to improve safety. First, because riders know they are being watched they are forced to ride more carefully. The software can send alerts if it detects dangerous behaviour so the farmer can give the rider a dressing down or as Radcliffe puts it "remedial training."
Secondly, if something should go wrong, such as the bike rolls, Farm Angel automatically makes an emergency call. Its location information means rescuers can quickly find the rider.
Radcliffe took the first batch of 400 Farm Angel devices to Fieldays and sold them all. He says about 70 per cent went to rural corporates and 30 per cent direct to farmers." There's interest from Canada and United States to use Farm Angel with snowmobiles.
