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Interface Measurement Solutions Support Smart Cities

Various Interface load cell products are used in the development of smart cities. What is a smart city? A smart city is a municipality that uses data and interconnectivity to improve sustainability and quality of life.

According to the Smart City Index of 2023, London is leading the way in the development of its smart city infrastructure. Other top contenders for the lead are Zurich, Oslo, Barcelona, Taiwan, Singapore and New York. There are estimates are there are more than 140 smart cities today in various stages, and the number is growing. They are also showing tremendous potential to transform the way we live, consume, move and work. Most smart city infrastructure is in the early and mid-stages of development.

From research to engineering and building to maintenance, Interface force measurement solutions are being actively used in the design and testing of components used in smart city projects and systems. Force measurement data is valuable for assessing and improving the overall efficiency and sustainability of a city. Learn more by visiting our smart cities solutions here.

Load cells can be used to measure a variety of parameters in smart city design, development of infrastructure and resource management.

  • Interface LowProfile and Mini Load Cells are used to measure the force applied to a structure or object. This information can be used to assess the structural integrity of a building or bridge, or to optimize the design of a new product used in the smart city infrastructure.
  • Interface torque transducers provide data on the rotational equivalent of force. This information can be used to monitor the performance of heavy duty machinery and construction equipment, or to ensure that products are assembled correctly when building.
  • Specialized load cell technologies, like load pins, load shackles and tension links can be used to measure tension, lifting actions and weight, which is the force of gravity acting on an object. This information can be used to weigh products, to monitor the loading of transport vehicles, or to ensure materials or people are not overloading lifting equipment. Go to our Lifting Solutions and Weighing Solutions to learn more about the range of products available for smart city applications.
  • Interface wireless and Bluetooth solutions support the advance ICT (communications) requirements to easily capture accurate data without the cable. Our complete line of wireless telemetry systems and Bluetooth options support the advancements in digital optimization and feedback required for real-time data management.

By using sensors, data, and communications to improve human conditions of our cities, we can create more livable, sustainable, and equitable communities for the future.

SmartInfrastructure_InfographicPoster

How Load Cells and Sensor Devices are Used in Smart Cities

Load cells are versatile and essential tools for a diverse range of smart city applications. They provide accurate and reliable measurements that can be used to improve safety, resource management, and sustainability. Here are some examples of how force measurement solutions are used in smart cities.

  • Improving traffic management: Data acquired from load cells and sensors can be used to monitor the weight of vehicles on bridges and roads. This information can be used to optimize traffic flow and to prevent overloading of infrastructure. Force measurement data can also be used to monitor the movement of people and vehicles. This information can be used to identify potential hazards and to prevent accidents. Read: Interface Powers Smart Transportation Solutions
  • Smart waste management: Force measurement outputs can be used to monitor the weight of waste in bins. This information can be used to optimize waste collection routes and to reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfills. Learn more in our IoT Waste Management Container Weighing App Note
  • Structural health monitoring: The data from load cells, torque transducers and multi-axis sensors can be used to monitor the structural integrity of buildings and bridges. This information can be used to identify potential problems before they lead to failure. Check out our post Interface Solutions for Structural Testing.
  • Smart farming and agriculture: Data from force measurement solutions can be used to monitor the weight of crops and livestock. This information can be used to optimize irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting. Learn more in our post Solutions to Advance Agriculture Smart Farming and Equipment.
  • Smart transportation: Creating a system of public transportation options, electric vehicles and bicycles, along with autonomous deliveries are part of smart city development projects around the world. Interface force measurement devices are critical in the development, testing and management of smart transportation.
  • Air quality systems: Force measurement data collected in real-time can be used to monitor the emission of pollutants from vehicles and factories. This information can be used to reduce pollution and improve air quality in smart cities.
  • Resource and energy management: Measurement data is important in production and optimization of critical resources like renewable energy and water, as well as for reducing waste and improving efficiency. Force measurement data can be used to monitor the energy consumption of buildings and infrastructure. This information can be used to identify opportunities for energy savings.

Smart cities use various Interface sensors technologies and other data collection instrumentation devices to track the use of resources and transportation. Overall, force measurement solutions are a valuable tool for improving the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of smart cities. As the use of sensors and other data collection devices continues to grow, we can expect to see even more innovative applications for force measurement data in smart city applications.

Keep watch of our smart city applications, as we learn more about how our products are being used in very smart and innovative use cases.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Modernizing Infrastructure with Interface Sensor Technologies

The Rise in Digital Force Measurement Solutions

Why Civil Engineers Prefer Interface Products

Interface Powers Smart Transportation Solutions

Smart Pallet Animated Application Note

Making Products Smarter with Interface OEM Solutions

Solutions to Advance Agriculture Smart Farming and Equipment

Interface Solutions for Heavy Equipment

Vertical Farming for Sustainable Food Production on Earth and Beyond

Innovative Interface Lifting Solutions

 

Inventive Agriculture Monitoring and Weighing Solutions

Interface test and measurement products are ideal for agriculture industry use cases to improve machinery, facilitate planting and harvesting, as well as managing animals. Whether using techniques for single crop or mixed farming, up to commercial agriculture use cases, our solutions are used for sensor-based monitoring and weighing.

Interface standard and custom load cells, torque transducers, and data acquisition systems are ideal for monitoring and weighing agricultural applications. These products can be paired together to measure to ensure efficiency, sustainability, and proper production planning for crop cultivation and animal rearing. Farming and food production is basic to our global existence. How we manage our resources, accessibility and increasing production is highly dependent on invention and innovation that often requires constant monitoring and weighing.

Many of the use cases for Interface products require capabilities to regulate through harsh weather conditions such has humidity and unbearable temperatures while still maintaining a high testing and measurement performance. Here are a few example of how Interface products are used in various agriculture monitoring and weighing applications.

Farming Irrigation Monitoring and Regulation Solution

Advancements in food production has increased the use of vertical farming throughout the world. This type of farming is the production of produce in a vertical manner using smart technology. The system highlighted here is for indoor use, through a transducer monitoring system that is monitoring an irrigation system. A wireless force measurement solution is needed to monitor the water volume for healthy and safe production. For this application, Interface recommended installing four MBI Overload Protected Miniature Beam Load Cells at each corner of the produce trays to measure the water. Interface’s JB104SS 4-Channel Stainless Steel Junction Box is connected to each load cell, and to a WTS-AM-1E Wireless Strain Bridge Transmitter Module that wirelessly transmits the sum weight to the WTS-BS-1-HA Wireless Handheld Display for multiple transmitters, and the WTS-BS-6 Wireless Telemetry Dongle Base Station when connected a computer. Results can be displayed, logged, and graphed seen in real time for continuous monitoring.

Silo Weighing and Monitoring

Silos are used across the farmlands throughout the world. They help in feed and storage. Technology advances the accuracy in silo management. In this application, a customer wants weigh and monitor the content inside their silos used in crop rotation farming. Seasonality and crop type each have different silo requirements. For this solution, we recommend using Interface’s A4200 or A4600 Zinc Plated Weigh-Check Load Cells, paired with a 1280 Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller. Whether using in a small farm or large commercial use, this type of smart farming solution is able to accurately monitor the amount of content by weight, independent of the type of crop. Another silo solution can be viewed in our Silo Grain Dispensing App Note.

Smart Vertical Farm Monitoring

The use of automated machines and robotics is growing in smart agriculture. This is a strong case to use this type of sensor technology in vertical farming. As machines are used in production, safety and less contamination provide added benefits. A wireless force measurement system is ideal for monitoring the robotics that pick up and move the produce to their next destination of the packaging process. Interface recommended installing SPI Low Capacity Platform Scale Load Cells, along with WTS-AM-1E Wireless Strain Bridge Transmitter Modules, in the center of the platforms of the robotic lifting system that move around the produce. The WTS-AM-1E’s wirelessly transmit the data collected from the SPI’s to the WTS-BS-1-HA Wireless Handheld Display for multiple transmitters, and the WTS-BS-6 Wireless Telemetry Dongle Base Station for monitoring the performance live.

Livestock Weighing System

For as long as farmers have been rearing animals, the weighing of their livestock has been at the top of farm management. From the days of using simple pencil and paper used in husbandry and farm management, to sophisticated agriculture management software and equipment, the need accurately weighs their livestock is basic farm management. A successful farm will have good measurements in the management of water, shelter, storage, feed, and husbandry. The benefits of an accurate system to do so are essential, whether for small farms or large commercial farming operations. In this application, the farmer group wants to make sure their cows are at a healthy weight and want to maintain their weight. This is also valuable for help to identify optimal time for breeding based on the weight of their livestock. Read more or watch this video to learn more about this type of application.

Interface load cells and torque sensors are used to give precise data results that is reliable and quintessential for various applications in the agricultural field. If you are looking for load cells, instrumentation or need help in designing a custom solution, please contact us.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Solutions to Advance Agriculture Smart Farming and Equipment

Interface Solutions Used in Growing Agriculture Innovation

Solutions to Advance Agriculture Smart Farming and Equipment

The agriculture industry is no stranger to technology. In fact, it’s among the most advanced industries in the world. With advancements in IoT, e-agriculture and smart farming are now core operations for most large producers and crop managers, while equipment and components look for more data for work efficiencies and improving production quality.

The global agribusiness industry is estimated to be $5 trillion and growing rapidly. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) notes that agriculture innovators and product developers are contributing to improved quality of life, economic growth, employment, and environment in a big way.  In developing this technology, one of the most critical supporting tools is force measurement sensors.

From heavy machinery used in working the fields to industrial weighing applications for livestock, there is a massive market of manufacturers serving farmers and the supply chains that support agriculture. Interface sensor technologies continue to play an important role in these advancements and use cases in the agriculture industry.

Interface products are a top choice for agriculture technology manufacturers because they provide the accuracy and reliability necessary to enhancing performance and ensuring safety. We have a variety of force measurement sensors that are designed for modern agricultural testing projects and as components for OEMs. Our expert application engineers help customers with standard products as well as design customized solutions for all types of applications using our products that are used for extreme environments, UAV and drone inspections, material handling, complex agricultural machines, and extreme weather conditions, engine testing, all ensuring maximum safety and efficiency.

Interface’s wide range of load cells, torque transducers, and DAQ systems are ideal for all types of advanced and simple agricultural applications, like weigh checking, lifting equipment, electrical and motorized farm vehicles, even drones used during the production and inspection. We have outlined these examples in our case study, Interface Solutions Used in Growing Agriculture Innovation. In this profile, you can see how our sensor technologies are used to ensure efficiency, sustainability, and proper production.

Common Agriculture Use Cases for Interface Products

  • Tractor and equipment testing
  • Production lines
  • Greenhouse facility management
  • Robotics and automation tools for farming
  • Livestock weighing
  • Feed and water monitoring
  • Storage, silo dispensing and weighing
  • EV engine testing
  • Field inspection and drone sensor testing
  • Wireless equipment for field management and remote monitoring
  • Gate and fencing field security solutions

Two very popular product categories in the agriculture industry include torque sensors and wireless products. Torque sensors are used in heavy machinery like tractors, plows and other vehicles that require immense power to move equipment and crops. For torque applications in tractors and other vehicles, we have different USB options for torque transducers such as the T12, T15, and T25 Rotary Torque Transducers. These options allow for easy integration with our numerous instrumentation solutions, including both digital and analog.

Wireless solutions have increased in popularity across all industries, but especially in farming where engineers and manufacturers are running tests in the field and don’t want to run long wires that can get in the way. Interface provides a wide range of wireless solutions including our Wireless and Bluetooth® Telemetry Systems, which include sensor transmitters, receivers, and displays. These systems help our customers create a test network that is more convenient and just as accurate as its wired counterparts.  You can view multiple agriculture applications using Interface solutions online. Here are a few examples.

Interface Applications in Agriculture

Tractor PTO Torque Testing

A customer wanted to measure the torque and speed of their tractor’s PTO (power takeoff test) system, ensure the tractor’s PTO system was functioning properly, and measure the torque being delivered to an implement. Interface’s solution was to use its T27 Bearingless Hollow Flange Style Rotary Torque Transducer to measure the tractor’s torque and speed of their tractor’s PTO system. The T27 Bearingless Hollow Flange Style Rotary Torque Transducer is bolted to the tractors PTO shaft. A dynamometer is attached on the other end and the transducer can measures the tractor’s torque and speed with high accurate results. With the INF3-USB PC Interface Module the customer was able to display, graph, and log the recorded torque and speed of the tractor’s PTO system with the supplied INF3-USB software. Using this solution, the customer was able to successfully and accurately measured the torque and speed of the tractor’s PTO system. Read more about tractor PTO torque testing here.

WTS Equine Bridle Tension System

The customer needed to quantify the so-called “poll pressure.” Bits designed to give strong poll pressure using simple pulley lever principles show a much-attenuated transfer of the rein tension through the bit to the poll. The attenuation is readily understood when the equine mouth is recognized as a “floating” fulcrum degrading the otherwise required fixed pivot point of an ideal lever. Interface provided a WTS Equine Bridle Tension System, with 2 SMA Miniature S-Type Load Cells in both the line of the reins and that of the cheekpiece on one side of the horse. This system was used to study the dynamic response of the cheekpiece tension to rein tension in the ridden horse. The WTS provided the valuable data can be displayed and/or recorded in real time using a PC and/or a handheld receiver depending on the requirements and preferences of the customer. The fundamental operation of the bits could in principle be discovered on the laboratory bench. But in practice of course, the equine mouth is expected to provide the fulcrum. Within the real experimental system comprising the rider’s hands, the horse’s mouth, and the bit, the elasticity of the equine mouth provides a “floating” fulcrum and a potential source of time-lag and decoherence between the dynamic rein and cheekpiece tensions. Read Testing the Reins for more information.

Interface is a valuable partner to the agriculture industry and has developed a wide range of standard and custom solutions to meet the varying needs of manufacturers. You can read more about our products used in the agriculture industry, as well as some application examples available in our industry Agriculture Solutions Brochure.

Additional Resources

Interface Supplies Agriculture Industry with Sensor Technologies

Interface Helps to Move Agriculture Innovation Forward

Interface Solutions Used in Growing Agriculture Innovation

Tractor Linkage Draft Control

Silo Monitoring and Weighing

Chicken Weighing