Traditionally, gardening is a healthy dose of intuition combined with a dash of luck. Edyn wants to add a bit of data analytics to the mix and the company has turned to Kickstarter to raise $100,000 needed to make the product a reality.
The company launched at Disrupt DF 2013. Originally called Soil IQ, CEO Jason Aramburu told the Disrupt judges and attendees that his company is focused on food production for the 100 million households in the U.S. At that time, the working prototype was simply a large box stuck on a metal rod. Now, nearly two years later, with a bit of help from noted designer Yves Behar, the product has evolved into the sleek design shown here.
The mission is still the same and the device has lived up to its promise. Edyn monitors and tracks environmental conditions, giving plants the best opportunity to survive and thrive.
The device tracks light, humidity, temperature, soil nutrition and moisture. This data is then cross-referenced with plant, soil science and weather databases to recommend which plants will thrive in the given soil. It also continually monitors conditions and will notify the gardener when levels change. The team has also built an automatic watering device that when connected to a hose, will engage the precise amount of water the plants require.
A smartphone app controls the devices. The Edyn Garden Sensor and Edyn Water Valve are both solar-powered and of course water-resistant.
The company is looking to raise $100,000 in pledges and pre-orders through Kickstarter. Pledge $79 to get a Garden Sensor or $129 to be a beta tester. $159 will net you a Sensor and Water Valve.
The Edyn joins a growing number of companies looking to move the garden into the Internet of Things territory. Parrot, the company behind the AR Drone, recently launched the Flower Power, which performs similar tasks to the Edyn. Click And Grow also has a line of smart growing pots where growing everything from herbs to strawberries is essentially automated. But whatever device is used, more people are increasing the efficiency of growing their own food, which is good for all of us.
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