ComBox
Farm Security is a worry. No doubt about it.
Rural communities are subject to many of the
same types of crime that occur in the cities but they also have to contend
with crime peculiar to country areas such as stock, chemical, fuel,
machinery and equipment theft as well as vandalism, trespass and arson.
Various solutions have been suggested to curb the
growing theft rate such as a national livestock ID scheme and a specialised
police stock squad. They would help for sure but what about technology?
Could it be used to help 'keep an eye on the place'? After all, nobody has eyes in the back
of their head.
Monitoring the Farm
There are already products on the market that could be used to monitor several aspects
of your farm such as video cams and sensors. The trouble is unless you are a software engineer
these gadgets 'stand alone' and don't 'talk to each other'.
Through its rural-oriented arm Innovative Farming,
software engineering company Object Oriented has been working on this
very problem. Our best and brightest people (who design and build complex
software systems for the likes of Qantas, Telstra and Vodafone), have
spent the last year developing a solution to the problem of how to monitor
the many aspects of the farm, and in particular, solve the problem of
farm security.
The proposed solution is called ComBox.
What is ComBox?
ComBox is a collection of hardware and software
that can be configured in many different ways to monitor gates, sheds
and houses.
Most of the components use solar power so extensive 'wiring' of the property is not necessary.
The system is designed in such a way that it is easy to add and remove the components.
Information from the components is transmitted by radio modem to a 'black box' located at the house.
This box can be located anywhere in the house. It allows users to see monitored points through an
'electronic window' and buzzes when alarms go off.
If you are away from your property switch the control box to 'remote'. If there
is an alarm a message will be sent to a nominated person. Users can access and control the ComBox
via the internet.
What does ComBox monitor and control?
ComBox is still under development so the full
range of functions is yet to be decided. However at this stage the development
plan includes:
Property Security
Detect unauthorised entry through motion sensors strategcially placed
about your house and sheds. If you are at home an alarm is triggered
inside the home. If you are away, ComBox notifies you via an e-mail
and/or a mobile phone message. Video cameras can capture evidence of
intruders.
Water Levels
Remotely monitor the water levels and flow in your dams, tanks and troughs. Pumps can be
switched on and off to ensure water is kept at optimum levels.
Stock Movements and Conditions
Ensure your stock are healthy and protected against cattle duffing.
RFID tag readers at water troughs will read the tags on your stock and
let you know how long and where your stock are and the frequency with
which they are drinking.
Electric Fences
Ensure you know which electric fences are energised. Electric fence monitors allow you to
monitor the fence charged through the 'electronic window'.
Weather Conditions
Guarantee you know the weather conditions without leaving your home or while you are away. The
weather stations record barometric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, wind chill
and rainfall.
Commercialising a Good Idea
To iron out the bugs a prototype ComBox was installed
at a cattle property at Mulloon on the Southern Tablelands in December
2000 (more about the
prototype). Five months later a demonstration prototype was displayed
at the Tocal Farm Field Days to get feedback from potential users of
the solution.
Armed with this feedback the development team has reworked the ComBox Concept and
are focused on solving the problems of farm security.
Are we barking up the right tree?
If you have feedback on the ComBox product concept
please contact Innovative Farming. Phone 02 9459 3300 or send an e-mail
to feedback@innovativefarming.com