January 2024: Progress Updates

Nov 2023 - Jan 2024 activities

During November and December 2023, we renewed contact with wine grape researchers in the Pacific Northwest and confirmed the interest in using RF to characterize plant health and crop yields. We considered applying to a funding opportunity with the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research to support a bona fide research project this year, but decided to scale back our ambitions and focus instead on collecting data to support future funding applications.

We acquired our first batch of antennas and are in the process of setting them up in the lab. The initial concept is an over-the-row antenna array, which allows the system to be driven through a vineyard attached to a tractor or UTV. Here is an early sketch:

 

Antenna array with 3 transmitters and 3 receivers that can be moved over the top of a row of grapevines.

For now, we will be testing with two antennas in the lab and build from there. We plan to begin taking measurements in February 2024, using different materials and transmitting in the three ISM radio bands: 900, 2,400 and 5,000 MHz. For each of these materials, we will also record characteristics such as weight/mass, surface area/envelope, and other descriptors. Some of the materials we have on hand include:

• Threaded steel rods, various sizes

• Delrin (plastic) rods, various sizes

• Containers of water (1 liter, etc.)

• Foliage

We are working to start weekly measurements in Oregon vineyards beginning in April 2024. For our next update, we are working to show the fully-built system and report our initial readings. Thanks for reading!