SparkFun soil moisture sensor

Granted, soil moisture sensors aren't new. What's new is being able to purchase one for $4.95, in a form that lends itself to experimentation.

a virtuous circle to advance a much-needed research agenda

In case it isn't clear, the vision, represented by this blog, for the application of (appropriate) robotics to making the best practices of horticulture scalable is, at this point, primarily a proposal for a research agenda, one that is much needed but which thus far has not attracted resources on a scale to match the task at hand.

In the absence of more enlightened distribution of what resources exist for research, I believe the most helpful turn of events would be the development of a virtuous circle that makes use of what is already available to create the beginnings of a market, which, as it demonstrates growth potential, can help drive research in the direction of this agenda.

I hope to contribute to the development of that virtuous circle, and invite all who read this to think about how they might also contribute to it.

Addendum (17July2016): If luck is the convergence of preparation and opportunity, my task in this blog is to prepare the minds of as many as possible to recognize the opportunity presented by the application of robotics to making the best practices of horticulture scalable.