Thirsty for Change: DENSO Sensor Aids Agriculture
As global climates change and populations grow, demand increases for dependable freshwater access and food production. However, these are no simple tasks. They are increasingly challenging issues that leave the agriculture industry thirsty for new and innovative ways to farm more sustainably.
To help society take on this challenge, as well as build on our expertise in the design and production of automotive sensors, DENSO has been working on an irrigation sensor that has the potential to nurture the agriculture landscape.
DENSO’s irrigation sensor technology detects the state of the soil, including percentage of water, soil tension (how thirsty the crop is), electrical conductivity (salt levels), and soil temperature. While several irrigation sensor technologies are currently in the market, DENSO’s unique sensor integrates four sensing capabilities into one product. Competitors, at most, integrate only three features into one sensor unit.
Specifically, DENSO is also the first company to integrate the percentage of water (also called Volume Water Content) and soil tension (also called Water Potential); this integration will help farmers better identify their soil type, allowing for more targeted irrigation and helping reduce the need for additional soil testing and calibration. Most sensors in the market only offer one of these features, requiring more effort for farmers to understand their soil.
Integrated into a smart irrigation system/interface, the sensor data can then be shared with farmers to make irrigation adjustments as needed. This allows farmers to make more informed decisions – resulting in less water and energy and reduced labor costs - all while improving overall crop yield.
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Engineers from the Green Technology Group in Southfield, Mich. wear blue to show commitment and spread the word as part of Smart Irrigation Month.
From Left to Right: Mark Williams, Ian Dettloff, Brett Thomas, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Diane Tebbie, Steven Muir, John Bartlett, Patrick Wagner, Ed Szczepanski, Jeff Meng, Scott Prusik, Joseph Rosato, Kyle Renno, Andrew Duda, and Michael Ozika.
Enhancing the Design for North America
Design for the irrigation sensor technology is led by DENSO Japan, and start of production for Japanese customers kicks off in 2026. Engineers from our North America Green Technology Group with experience in mechatronics and automotive sensor design are using their knowledge and expertise to enhance the design, test the technology, and secure business in the North America region.
“The U.S. is one of the top agriculture producing countries in the world, so there is great opportunity for DENSO in North America to make a positive impact and contribute to society,” said Patrick Wagner, lead NA application engineer on the irrigation sensor technology. “This technology aligns closely with DENSO’s Two Great Causes of Green and Peace of Mind by providing a more environmentally friendly approach to farming, and can alleviate stress farmers face with costs and crop yield.”
Getting Our Hands Dirty
To advance the technology development, the DENSO North America team is working with irrigation system suppliers to understand market needs and run various tests.
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DENSO's North America Headquarters in Southfield, Mich., is now home to three garden beds where the Green Technology Group will grow beans and test their smart irrigation sensor.
In addition, we’re testing right in our backyard, at DENSO’s North American Headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. Growing beans in three garden beds right on campus, we’ll put our sensors to the test.
Watch Us Grow
DENSO continues to grow its contribution to the agriculture industry. In addition to the irrigation sensor development, in 2020, DENSO acquired Certhon Group and established DENSO AgriTech Solutions, a sales company to provide horticultural solution services.
In North America, we also have a New Business Development department focused on exploring opportunities for DENSO to apply our expertise in non-automotive areas, such as agriculture and retail space.
DENSO’s mission is to contribute to a better world through our innovative technologies and expertise. By supporting agriculture from beginning to end, we aim to eliminate waste and achieve sustainable growth. From creating stable farming conditions to providing heavy-duty customers with efficient products for crop harvesting, and manufacturing high-quality OE products for food transportation – we're creating a sustainable food value chain from farm to fork.