Wireless Soil Sensor for Precision Agricultural Irrigation
Miniature, low-cost, solar-powered wireless soil sensor using Bluetooth for precision irrigation. Enables distributed moisture monitoring to conserve water in agricultural applications.
Overview
This solution is a miniature, low-cost, wireless soil sensor designed to enable precision agricultural irrigation and water conservation. The sensor harvests solar energy to power a Bluetooth communication module, transmitting soil moisture data wirelessly to irrigation equipment such as a watering boom. By enabling distributed, real-time soil monitoring, the technology supports smarter irrigation decisions that reduce water waste and improve crop management.
Technical specifications
Key components and operation:
- An ST Microelectronics SPV1050 power-management integrated circuit (PMIC) harvests energy from a miniature solar panel to charge a small battery
- A Silicon Labs BGM220P Bluetooth module collects soil moisture data and transmits it wirelessly
- The Bluetooth module automatically transitions between sleep and active states to conserve energy
- Continuous Bluetooth operation has been demonstrated over a 7-day period using only solar power
- The module has successfully communicated with a smartphone for data retrieval
- Future integration onto a custom printed circuit board (PCB) measuring 20 mm x 20 mm x 5 mm, hermetically sealed for deployment in soil
Targeted validation metrics:
- Sensing accuracy in soil deployment
- Communications range
- Solar power harvesting performance
- Long-term operational longevity
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. The core architecture has been validated through a 7-day continuous solar-powered Bluetooth operation test, with successful smartphone communication and automatic sleep/active state transitions confirmed. Proposed next-stage work will integrate the electronics onto a custom PCB with hermetic sealing for in-soil deployment, with a planned one-year validation timeline. Collaborations are already in place with a local farm, a soil sensor company, and a government water conservation agency to support field testing and commercialization pathways.
About Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a large private research university in Provo, Utah, with an undergraduate-focused profile and selective graduate programs. Corporate partners engage through sponsored research, student capstone design programs, and internship pipelines that deliver hands-on solutions and hiring pathways. Proximity to the Wasatch Front’s growing technology corridor enables close collaboration, on-site visits, and year‑round recruiting, while campus prototyping shops and test laboratories support rapid iteration. Research is supported by competitive federal funding, including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. A dedicated technology transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup formation, and standard agreements streamline industry collaboration.
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