FarmVibes.AI toolkit has been made available on GitHub to assist developers and researchers in building tech solutions for modern farming. FarmVibes is a project by Microsoft with the goal to encourage researchers, practitioners, and data scientists to build sustainable tools for agriculture and determine the right practices, predict desirable weather, and analyze soil conditions.
The framework of FarmVibes.AI is a Kubernetes-based computing cluster used for workflow execution. A REST API for invoking workflows and monitoring results; an orchestration module for managing workflow execution; workers for processing data segments through the workflow; and a cache for storing reusable intermediate results are encapsulated in the cluster.
The project includes 4 algorithms that help create tools for data-driven and sustainable farming.
The Async Fusion algorithm is used to combine data collected from Iot sensors, drones, and satellites and create farm images that can be used to understand field conditions and adopt farm practices accordingly.
Microsoft’s SpaceEye, the second algorithm of FarmVibes.AI, replaces the imagery with readings from satellite-based radar equipment, which can operate in cloudy weather.
DeepMC uses weather station forecasts and data from online-connected agricultural sensors to determine the best time for farm operations. It predicts weather conditions by analyzing weather forecast and wind speed and combining it with the data collected by IoT sensors that alert farmers to take preventative measures for any potential natural disasters.
The fourth algorithm of FarmVibes.AI assists farmers in adopting sustainability by calculating the effect of various agricultural methods on the amount of carbon stored in farm soil. It also helps farmers analyze the most effective methods for increased yield.
Microsoft is planning to release other components of Farmvibes on GitHub soon to enhance sustainable and high-yielding agriculture practices. The other three components of project FarmVibes are-
- FarmVibes.Connect – to capture data
- FarmVibes.Edge – to process data at the edge
- FarmVibes.Bot – to connect with farmers for queries and insights
FarmVibes project assists farmers leverage technologies like artificial intelligence, and digital twins in plantations. With the help of data-driven methodologies supported by FarmVibes, farmers can produce quality crops, with a high production rate and lower chemical usage.
FarmVibes.Connect focuses on leveraging unused TV channels for broadband connectivity and LoRa for IoT communications across the field.
A key challenge for data-driven agriculture is the limited connectivity to the cloud. To address this, FarmVibes.Edge brings computing resources to the edge to manage the massive data generated through drones and IoT devices without sending it to the cloud. The Edge framework collects data from IoT devices and drones and performs computer vision techniques to produce insights.
FarmVibes.Bot allows farmers to communicate by using using a phone through USSD or SMS or a Smartphone through social communication platforms like WhatsApp. It helps farmers to communicate insights and feedback.
By utilizing FarmVibes.Bot, organizations can disseminate information, collect field data, and connect users to services.
Microsoft wants to encourage researchers, practitioners, and data scientists to contribute to data-driven and sustainable agriculture practices and help farmers produce nutritious food, increase production and utilize technology to adopt sustainability.
