2026 is shaping up to be a year rich in new hardware developments for Sentek, mainly related to data transmission methods. In other words, the data measured by probes, such as Sentek Drill & Drop probes, is uploaded to the cloud through Data Transmission Units (DTUs), and Bilby Underground is one of them (see photo).
The main innovation of this system is the possibility of underground installation. This means that, above ground, only the vegetation remains visible. There is no longer any need for mounting poles to support the device, nor the related risks of damage caused by passing machinery, theft or, in other cases, vandalism. Both the probe and the transmission system are out of sight.
More specifically, the Sentek Drill & Drop probe is connected, via an underground cable, to this transmission system called Bilby. If underground installation is not possible, the system can still be installed on a pole (its weight is 850 g, including the battery). What is particularly interesting, however, is Bilby’s transmission capability. When buried 30 cm below ground, in a small hole approximately 20 cm wide, it can communicate with a LoRa gateway up to 150 m away, as tested under dense vegetation conditions. From there, data can be uploaded to the cloud via Wi-Fi, Ethernet or cellular connection.
What are the possible applications? In addition to agricultural use, such as in vineyards and intensive orchards, where obstacles for tractors and related operations can be avoided, it is also worth mentioning public areas, parks and sports fields. In these contexts, the out-of-sight concept is particularly relevant, as aesthetic benefits and the lower risk of vandalism or theft should also be considered.
Finally, another important aspect is the battery life, estimated at more than eight years, which reduces maintenance requirements and therefore the need for on-site visits. The absence of a solar panel and of a traditional transmission system can also be an advantage where tall and dense crops, or heavily shaded areas, could otherwise represent a limiting factor. In addition, the system is highly scalable: hundreds of Bilby units can be connected to a single gateway. This makes it possible to create distributed monitoring networks, with numerous monitoring points across an area but a much smaller number of connection points to the cloud.
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