Scopedesign.nl - Soilcare Scanner

REVOLUTIONIZING
THE WAY WE KEEP OUR
AGRICULTURE HEALTHY.

summary of Soilcares

The Soilcares Foundation, affiliated with Wageningen University, asked Scope Design to take the lead in the development of a soil scanner. With this, farmers can quickly gain insight into the soil condition and then adjust the planting and fertilisation accordingly. Scope Design developed both the complex technology in the scanner and the robust, dust and watertight housing. It generated enthusiasm from the client and users and a Reddot Best of the Best for the technology and design.

design letter

Scope Design took the lead in the soil scanner development. With this soil scanner, farmers can quickly gain insights into the soil conditions and then adjust planting and fertilisation accordingly. One of the challenges in this assignment was the heat generation in a closed housing of the scanner, which is also used in extremely hot conditions in developing countries .

the approach of the project

Scope provided project management for the Soilcares Foundation as well as central project communication between international component suppliers, electronics developers, detail engineers and the design team. In the development of the Soilscanner, an electronic product, the completely dust and waterproof (IP65) housing was a first important specification, as the scanner is used on land in hot, dusty conditions, in wet rice fields or a muddy environment.

Making a dust-proof product is also important for obtaining correct results of measurements. Disruptions to the analyses due to the measurement of dust particles must be prevented.

At the start of the project, a precondition was therefore chosen in the design that was used. By designing with circular seals, the dependence on clamping or closing force decreases and there is more control over good dust and water tightness. In this way we limit the risks in the engineering and we achieve reliable functionality.

In the final version of the soil scanner, sensors protrude from the bottom of the scanner to measure soil moisture and temperature. The design has been updated for this with an equal watertightness and an electrical insulation for the moisture measurement.

ingenious heat management

The complete closed housing of the scanner contains a light source, which briefly produces extreme heat during a soil analysis. When the scanner is used in countries where the outside temperature increase considerably, this is an additional challenge with regard to heat regulation. That is why the eight components that make up the light source consists of one aluminum housing, which extends up to and including the handle. The total surface forms a "breathing surface" for the necessary heat emission. The wooden handle in the handle prevents gripping the scanner from becoming uncomfortable. At the same time, the use of metal in the housing reinforces the robust appearance of this product; A good example of ours integrated approach for design and function.

New cost-efficient light source

In addition, we have designed a completely new and very cost-efficient light source , which together with the optical mechanical sensor forms the heart of the scanner . Using different types of infrared lamps, Scope has designed three or four versions of a new light source and made functional prototypes of these. The prototypes were tested by the scientists within the project team (affiliated with Wageningen University) to determine the correct design of the light source. The result was technically so innovative that Soilcares was able to patent it.

During the development has always been looking for ways to make the use of the scanner as simple as possible, so that the analysis can be carried out easily. To certain functions the app to move one button on the scanner was enough, that makes the scanner "Easy to Use."

First Test series in Kenya

During the development of the scanner, Scope made two functional test series to be able to test the operation and use of the scanner on location in Kenya. The first functional model incorporated an existing sensor and light source. With this, the entire system and the context of the scanner were tested in Kenya, such as sending information, the calculation modules, the app, etc.

The second working test model was based on Arduino and contained the new light source designed by Scope and much cheaper to manufacture. This model mainly served to test the thermal management, the required robustness and other design assumptions, such as the construction with the metal housing and the charging . In the end product, the electronics are final and optimisations were performed on the calculation modules, the embedded software and the app.

Extensive testing in Kenya (and later also in other parts of the world) yielded valuable feedback and interesting points for improvement, such as the ergonomic improvement of the handle angle. An intuitively fitting grip for scanning soil turned out to be different on site than was designed in the model at the time.

THE DESIGN RESULT

Testing the functional models on location with future end users ensured that a very well- fitting end product could be delivered. A complex challenge given the many new components and functionalities and the very challenging conditions in which the scanner is used.

It generated enthusiasm from the client and users and a Reddot Best of the Best for the technology and design.

REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY WE KEEP OUR AGRICULTURE HEALTHY.