Millimeter-accurate, real-time measurement and monitoring in “harsh” environments thanks to RADAR solutions
The value of the Agriculture 4.0 market is growing in Italy, reaching a value of €450 million (+22% compared to the previous year – data from the Smart Agrifood Observatory of the School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano).
This growth is “linked” to the application of new technologies to the agri-food supply chain, especially IoT (up 30%), thanks to the increasing use of sensors and remote measurement and monitoring systems.
In agriculture, it is now essential to obtain useful, objective, “real-time” information in order to increase the efficiency and optimization of the “system,” reducing the risks linked to adverse events or structural malfunctions.
In the agritech market, new needs are therefore emerging for accurate volume measurements in complex environments, located in remote or hard-to-reach places and perhaps exposed to bad weather or atmospheric disturbances (e.g. dust, wind, rain, humidity, extreme temperatures, darkness…) that call for accurate monitoring.
Concrete examples include measuring the volumes of channels, rivers, water basins, wells and complex water systems (involving the risk of drought or flooding, such as the “water bombs” of recent months), as well as stocked raw materials and bulk goods and their level (e.g. silos, tanks).
RADAR solutions: precise measurement of volumes and distances even in difficult environments
RADAR solutions (RAdio Detection And Ranging) fully meet this need, guaranteeing accurate measurement in difficult environments thanks to the TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) principle, which provides accurate, precise, real-time “remote” measurement.
In short, the radar module sends microwave pulses from above toward the reference target. The surface of the product reflects them back to the sensor. Based on the microwave signals received, the distance from the product surface is determined and the level, volume, and even the flow rate of liquids are calculated. By using multiple sensors, fast measurements can be carried out even with height differences or complex structures over large areas.
iSYS-6003: RADAR for distance detection with millimeter precision and for level measurement
CONSYSTEM, a long-standing distributor of electronic components, offers the market an innovative solution developed specifically for the accurate measurement of volumes and flows: the iSYS-6003 Radar.
The radar, manufactured by Innosent, a leading German company in the sector, is a continuous-wave FMCW (Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave) RADAR that enables extremely accurate measurement (+/- 2mm between 0.1 and 20 m).
The system includes signal processing and provides a digital output of the distance to the object.
It operates in the 61 GHz broadband and features compact dimensions (50mm x 50 mm x 40 mm) and a minimal current consumption of < 400mA, making it a solution that can be easily applied in different environments.
This RADAR solution can be set to two different modes (single target or multi-target).
As an interface, the module has a Molex FPC 503480-2000 FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) 20-pin FPC connector output.
The three programmable output pins offer a wide range of individual configurations, such as target filters, range filters, and more.
To speed up and simplify the application and its integration within an already existing system, the interface board (client board) can be set up with a USB / RS-485 interface (a demonstration kit is also available for rapid prototyping).
When used in remote, hard-to-reach areas, for correct data transmission it is recommended to use the PARANI-UD100 USB adapter (with a transmission distance of up to 1000m), available through fast sampling from Elettroshop .