Wireless surveillance system launched
An innovative monitoring system based on wireless measurement buoys that provide an overview of the environmental conditions within and around a farm site has been launched this week.
The ‘Guardian’ system is being offered by Rantex Marine, whose CEO Nils Kåre Hovden, explains how users benefit from the simplicity of setting up the devices, minimal maintenance and long battery life of the new system, which stores measurements directly in the "cloud".
The Trondheim-based company was established in 2015 and achieved good results last year, with offerings including systems for oxygenation and tarpaulins. But Hovden told kyst.no that they are currently concentrating on the new system.
“Everything is installed in a buoy, which is wireless and easy to put into the sea. Once it gets into the water it will relay a number of environmental conditions, such as oxygen, temperature, salinity and currents, as well as the exact location of the buoys. All this can be viewed on an accompanying website, he explains.
Customer trials
The product is currently being tested by two Norwegian salmon producers.
“They've been at sea for a few months and we are very satisfied with both the stability and accuracy. The combination of low power and high quality batteries means that one charge per year seems to be sufficient,” elaborates Hovden.
“For a producer it is important that it is easy to use, requires minimal maintenance and that data is readily available,” stresses Hovden.
The system was developed by the Brasov-based company MeOx, in close collaboration with the industry.
“Guardian is a combination of the best of a number of worlds, maintenance-free sensors, a GSM transmitter that speaks directly to the cloud through newly developed software, and the same type of battery used in Tesla vehicles,” says Hovden.
The sensors are of the low-maintenance optical type, and all data they collect are available in digital interfaces via the network.
“Simplicity and control have been the target. It is a powerful independent information-giver and we hope it will be well received by the aquaculture industry,” says Hovden.
Rantex Marine is a result of cooperation between Rantex Flaarønning and Oxyvision. The company has four employees and is located in Kjøpmannsgaten in Trondheim.
