This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at 'Innoriego' o cuando la tecnología ofrece riego automatizado, a través del móvil

The PUST project achieves the first national prize in the entrepreneur University EOI

'innoriego' or when technology offers automated irrigation, via mobile phone

Anna León04/12/2009

December 4, 2009

What do automated irrigation and a mobile phone have in common? The synergy between the two comes from the project 'innoriego', winner of the first national prize in the entrepreneur University EOI. In the opinion of the President of Microingenia and student of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Jaime Fernández-Caro, the system could be extended to any installation of irrigation (agriculture, sports parks and gardens) existing.

'innoriego' could be applied to any installation of irrigation (agriculture, sports, or parks and gardens), existing. Photo: Anthony Thomas.

"After conducting a market survey, we see a need for social and environmental, with respect to such products." First of all required products increasingly more intelligent, capable of controlling more parameters, remote controlled and that consume as little as possible. "Secondly, there is a clear need for good governance of the water, products sustainable and not harmful to the environment and that they work with renewable energies". Thus arose the project 'innoriego', the first national prize in the contest entrepreneur University, organized by the school of business of the Ministry of industry, tourism and trade EOI. in renewable energy. In the words of the President of Microingenia and student of the PUST, Jaime Fernández-Caro, this system was created to "establish a new strategic unit within the company".

Irrigation automata controlled by mobile phone

In short, Fernández-Caro recounts the process of design of the prototype of the 'Innoriego': "We created a strategic business unit social, environmental and economically profitable for the design, manufacture and marketing of automata for irrigation using the energy of the flow of water to operate". "Will be installed small hydro for fuel - continues - electronic systems that control the hydraulic installation." "In addition, the entire system will be monitored through a mobile phone operating system Google Android".

With regard to the implementation of the 'Innoriego' in farms and agricultural crops, Fernández-Caro ensures that tries to solve problems and current issues. Still, he insists that he is not a single solution, but the possibility of treating each installation of irrigation with a custom system. That is, 'tailor-made'. "With regard to the installation, we use wireless control systems with which it is not necessary to wire long tracts of land: the system will not seize up to a break in the cable and the investment in the installation will be less", he argues. The President of Microingenia also refers to the energy factor: "to use the own flow of water to generate electricity, we independizamos of the grid." "We do not employ disposable batteries and propose an alternative to solar for such facilities."

"To use the own flow of water to generate electricity, we we independizamos of the grid." "We do not employ disposable batteries and propose an alternative to solar energy for these facilities"

HTC Magic with Google Android running the software for management of golf courses through the 'innoriego' system.

With regard to the management of the system 'innoriego', this is controlled from a mobile phone, which will give the user freedom to manage your installation from anywhere. However, according to Fernández-Caro, there are other reasons to install this technology: "It is estimated a cost savings of 30% compared to a conventional installation." "This is due to the costs of installation, maintenance, energy consumption and water, as is implemented networks of sensors which will provide information to detect leaks, as well as the different environmental variables and which shall indicate, where necessary or not irrigate".

"The cost savings is 30% for a conventional installation." "Leaks will be detected with the networks of sensors, as well as environmental and variables of the ground to know when necessary or not watering"

A project on road to commercialization

The contest entrepreneur University EOI has served as 'shuttle' system 'innoriego' that emerged with the "clear intention be marketed". "From the broadcast media award, we have to learn about the company and the project." As a result, we have gathered with the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) to establish a framework for collaboration. "Currently, are awaiting to meet with the regional government to obtain the necessary funding that allows us to carry it out", recognizes Fernández Caro. Reality the manufacture and production of these devices, its scope of application would be as broad as existing irrigation facilities. "We went to irrigation agriculture, sports, parks and gardens".

Central device of the project 'innoriego', responsible for controlling the installation.

Student of the PUST to founder of Microingenia

As a society, the Microingenia company was formed six months ago, as he tells Fernández-Caro. "Before that, he worked as a freelance." We started as a consultancy and electronic engineering, and not took us to be aware that the first step should be to determine the various strategic units within the company. "Thus was born the project 'innoriego' and the other three 'legs' of the firm". Make the leap of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena student entrepreneur, has represented a work and personal turnaround not without difficulties for their President. "Like many others, have been that jumped into the void before obtaining any type of financing: without a defined scheme, with limited own resources, but with a force and a desire to do things that might otherwise had not occurred". A process that still has its compensations: "It is gratifying to learn every day new things, watch as 'creature' grows slowly and feel that your work is valued by people and companies outside you." "Now I know better job than my own, though they occur to me hundreds of things to improve".

Part of the team of Microingenia with its President, Jaime Fernández-Caro, in the center of the image.

Development of Microingenia Electronics electronic modules.

Microingenia and its next challenges for 2010

"In Microingenia we believe in innovation as the force of progress who need an SME to live in the market, so from time to time we have meetings to generate ideas"., qualifies the President of the company. Under this philosophy, and with the arrival of the year 2010, the Microingenia company proposes a number of objectives. "The next challenge is to obtain the necessary funding to develop a commercial prototype of the 'Innoriego', consolidate our day by day through the development of products with Microingenia engineering and the sale of new products of Microingenia Electronics and Innovivienda"", and continue to invest in r & d to generate knowledge and then transform it into innovations".
In addition to the project 'innoriego', the Microingenia company has three divisions: Microingenia engineering, such as consulting and electronic engineering for businesses, universities, technology centres and centres of research, Microingenia Electronics, which includes design, manufacture and marketing of electronic modules of development for universities and training centres andFinally, Innovivienda which includes the creation, production and marketing of digital meters of water and electricity for homes and buildings.