Electrical & Power Control Interfaces

AOFS defines the electrical and power control architecture to safely operate pumps, valves, and irrigation loads under any power source. It is designed to ensure fail-safe operation, energy efficiency, and compliance with AOFS standards, independent of whether the farm uses grid, generator, or solar power.

• AOFS is power-source agnostic: it works with grid, generator, solar, or hybrid systems.
• Controllers must enforce fail-safe operation for irrigation and actuation regardless of the power source.
• Systems must support safe shutdowns in case of power anomalies or failures.
• AOFS may track energy consumption of pumps and actuators to support optional logging, reporting, and operator awareness. Recommended for off-grid or weak-grid farms, but not required for farms with stable grid power.

AOFS supports optional solar monitoring for farms that want to optimize energy usage:

• Level 1 – Minimal Monitoring (Recommended for off-grid / weak-grid farms)
  • Field Controllers may monitor battery voltage and current.
  • Supports reliable irrigation operation when solar/battery power is used.
  • Fully optional for farms with stable grid or generator power.

• Level 2 – Integrated Monitoring (Optional Advanced Module)
  • Controllers can read solar generation metrics from panels/inverters via standard protocols (e.g., Modbus, MQTT, RS485).
  • Enables dynamic irrigation scheduling based on energy availability.
  • Supports advanced PUE analytics and reporting.
  • Completely optional — AOFS compliance does not depend on it.

• AOFS controllers may measure power consumption of pumps, valves, and other actuators while running.
• Controllers may estimate battery drain or energy availability for upcoming scheduled irrigation events.
• AOFS supports event prioritization:
  • Each scheduled irrigation or actuator event can be assigned an urgency or importance level by operators.
  • If insufficient energy is available:
    • Low-priority events can be delayed or skipped.
    • High-priority events are executed as soon as sufficient energy is available.
    • Optional alerts notify operators of skipped or delayed events.
• AOFS can provide proactive scheduling guidance (optional):
  • When the operator attempts to schedule an irrigation or actuator event, the system may simulate expected energy usage and availability.
  • The controller can then warn the operator: "Based on current energy estimates, you will most likely not have enough power for this event."
  • Operators may then adjust priority, timing, or load before committing the schedule.
• AOFS can provide real-time anomaly detection (optional):
  • If an event starts drawing more power than usual, the controller can alert operators.
  • Examples include:
    • Clogged pipes increasing pump load.
    • Valves partially stuck or leaking.
    • Unexpected actuator malfunction.
  • Provides actionable insight so operators can investigate, correct issues, or adjust schedules.
• All energy measurements, prioritization decisions, anomaly alerts, and resulting operational logs may be recorded for later analysis:
  • Enables visualization of energy usage and event execution history.
  • Helps operators determine if additional batteries, solar panels, or load rescheduling are needed.

AOFS supports optional generator-based backup to supplement energy supply for irrigation and other actuator events.

• Automatic Generator Start (Optional)
  • If a compatible generator with remote start/stop interface is available, the system may automatically start it when energy is insufficient for scheduled events.
  • Remote interfaces can include: relay, Modbus, CAN, or other compatible protocols.
  • Automatic start requires safety interlocks:
    • Prevent start during maintenance.
    • Prevent overload or dry-run conditions.
  • All starts/stops are logged for audit and analysis.

• Manual Alert Generator Start (Optional)
  • If a generator exists but cannot be automatically started, AOFS can alert operators when battery or energy is insufficient.
  • Example alert: "Warning: scheduled irrigation may fail. Turn on generator now!"
  • Operators can then manually start the generator.
  • The system continues to monitor energy availability and advise operators on priority and schedule adjustments.

• Integration with Event Prioritization
  • Both automatic and manual generator options respect event urgency.
  • Low-priority irrigation can be delayed, while high-priority events trigger generator use.
  • Energy logs and operator actions are recorded to support farm management decisions and future optimization.

• Optional Analytics
  • Tracks generator runtime, energy supplied, and efficiency.
  • Helps farm managers decide if additional batteries, solar panels, or load rescheduling are needed.

• AOFS compliance does not require any specific power source, monitoring, or energy-aware operation.
• Optional monitoring modules should follow AOFS data logging and offline-first principles.
• All controllers and modules, regardless of power source, must enforce local fail-safes for pumps, valves, and critical irrigation operations.