Project Summary

Sensors for autonomous, reliable field measurements of plant drought symptoms are a key missing technology for the implementation of precision irrigation systems for sustainable agricultural production under climate change. Basic research shows that early, non-invasive determination of the start of irrigation is possible by detecting ultrasonic acoustic emissions (AE) generated by the nucleation of micro-bubbles in plant tissues for water transfer under specific drought conditions. 

The aim of this proof-of-concept project is to verify the technical feasibility and assess the IP protection potential of an electronic detector of such ultrasonic emissions, based on a radically new AE sensor, design in MEMS technology. This would allow for a reduction in the dimensions, power consumption and cost of such sensor system.

Duration

The project duration if from January 13th 2025 to January 13th 2026.

Team

Asst. Prof. Dinko Oletić - Project leader, Department of Electronic Systems and Information Processing

Prof. Darko Vasić - Researcher, Department of Electronic Systems and Information Processing

Tomislav Bošnjak- Researcher, Department of Electronic Systems and Information Processing

Niko Plantak - Researcher, Department of Electronic Systems and Information Processing

Dr. sc. Davorka Moslavac Forjan - Partner, Innovation Centre Nikola Tesla (ICENT)

Acknowledgment

This research project has been supported by the European Union - NextGenerationEU under the grant NPOO.C3.2.R3-I1.05.0221. Value of the project is 64.427,22 €.

Contact

Asst. Prof. Dr. Sc. Dinko Oletić
University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing
Department of Electronic Systems and Information Processing
Unska 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
tel: + 385 1 6129 432
e-mail: dinko (dot) oletic (at) fer (dot) hr