Myriota links with solar pump manufacture for IoT connectivity

IoT satellite connectivity company Myriota has linked with solar powered pump manufacturer Grundfos to launch a range of satellite-connected, solar-powered water pumps for livestock farming.

In what the companies call a ‘works anywhere you can see the sky’ solution, they plan to enable easy remote monitoring of water pumps and tanks, significantly decreasing the time, fuel and labour necessary to regularly and manually check each water point on a rural property.

Adelaide-based Myriota will provide its direct to satellite communications systems to pair with Grundfos pumps, which are assembled in the South Australian capital.

Myriota CEO Ben Cade said: “New space IoT communications are unlocking previously impossible or impractical use cases at a dramatically lower-cost running with near-zero maintenance thanks to low-power consumption.

“Having the opportunity to partner with world leaders in their industries such as Grundfos, and develop new solutions hand-in-hand with them is a validation of the value we bring to deliver tangibly better outcomes for our ecosystem, through simple, affordable access to data, anywhere.”

With each animal needing on average 50 litres of drinking water per day, and more during summer, pumping and tank systems will use satellite-connected sensors attached to Grundfos’ solar-powered water pumps and any existing tank, creating a 24/7 monitoring system.

The Grundfos Solar Connect mobile app will track water levels in storage tanks, delivering real-time, useful data on water pumps’ status, and alerting users when supply is low or maintenance is required.

With 12 updates daily on only two AA batteries the sensors’ life expectancy is two years.

Myriota operates a network of 20 small-satellites orbiting the earth about 15 times a day, giving the most remote water pumps simple, reliable and affordable connectivity and monitoring.

The pastoral industry generates $4.7 billion annually from livestock production in the Great Artesian Basin, with over 14 million beef cattle and 11 million sheeps and lambs.

This week, both Grundfos and Myriota are present at the Irrigation Australia conference in Adelaide.

Picture: Myriota