The Current State of Sensor Development
With the growth of the IoT and Cloud Analytics there has been an explosion in efforts to develop sensors with biological applications. This has come from established companies, multiple start-ups, and as the output of academic research. The path to market success for many developers in this space, however, has proven to be Hobbesian—nasty, brutish, and short.
We see that as both unfortunate and unnecessary. Many of the ideas are good, the technologies sound, and the needs and markets apparent. We believe that what is missing in many cases is a systematic process that aids in the progress from idea to prototype to commercialization. AgSensor Solutions provides that systematic process and the concrete, practical assistance that is needed to reach success.
Effective Sensor Development Is Complex and Multi-Dimensional
One of the challenges that sensor developers face is what we call the “Porridge Problem.” If your sensor attempts to do too little, it lacks value for users and is not worth the investment either in dollars or in the change in process it likely requires.If your sensor attempts to do too much, it ends up being too expensive, too difficult to operate, or too cumbersome to incorporate in the current scheme of operation. So, just as you don’t want porridge that is too cold or too hot, you don’t want a sensor that doesn’t hit the sweet spot of cost and value. You want a sensor that is just right.Properly solving the Porridge Problem demands an integrated understanding of technology, markets, productization, and use- case needs. The AgSensor Solutions approach combines the experience, tools, and knowledge needed for the “just right” recipe.
The Roadblocks
Sensor Developers Face
We have identified at least 14 challenges that sensor developers can expect to meet as they attempt to enter the ag space. Each of these has a significant potential downside impact.
Challenge
- 1. Inexperience with overall product development process and resources required
- Limited access to multi-disciplined design engineering resources
- Heavy reliance on off-the-shelf instrumentation such as potentiostats
- Poor data collection and visualization tools
- Lack means to validate field measures early in the development process
- Unable to define and construct an effective proof of concept
- Lack means to validate field measures early in the development process
- Unable to define and construct an effective proof of concept
- Limited access to pre-existing IP that can be used short or long-term, especially IoT IP
- How to effectively communicate why their technology matters
- The need to create a technology landscape and roadmap
- Inadequate understanding of industry regulatory environment and its impact on the technology
- Understanding of agricultural supply chain
- Understanding how ag field conditions and interface requirements impact development
- Ability to recognize and account for complementary/ supplementary sensor uses
- Determining where sensor application can add value and who is able and willing to pay for that added value
Downside Impact
- Product never gets to market or misses critical window of opportunity
- Increased product development cost and the need to program manage the work packages
- Complicated to use, can result in inconsistent data, costly, limits field testing
- Stretches time to develop and test algorithms, impedes demonstration of efficacy
- Real-world effects could significantly affect performance, feasibility, and expectations
- Precious funds can be misspent with the proof of concept not actually proving what is critical to proving value
- Real-world effects could significantly affect performance, feasibility, and expectations
- Increased development cost from “reinventing the wheel”
- Potential Investors and potential users do not get clear picture of potential benefits and marketability
- If you don’t know where you are going any map will get you there
- Failure to take into account early in productization process or see as stumbling blocks that don’t actually exist
- Sensor attributes not designed to meet needs of where, when, and how it can or will be used
- Unaccounted for factors include weather, connectivity, canopy, dust, changes in terrain, and natural object differentiation
- Product design, user interface, and messaging suited for market opportunities that are easily capturable with potentially only minor adjustments
- Product features and benefits misaligned with paying customers needs or wants
Don’t let these roadblocks derail your development. Understanding the terrain of sensor development and having the ability to plot a roadmap to success are at the core what working with AgSensor Solutions offers