Water Buddi: AI-Powered Irrigation Platform

The Problem with Traditional Irrigation

Timer-based irrigation systems run on fixed schedules regardless of what is actually happening in the soil or sky. The result:

• Watering right after rainfall, no awareness that the ground is already saturated
• Under-watering during heat stress, no response to temperature spikes or dry spells
• Over-watering continuously, soil conditions never measured, water never optimized
• Labor-intensive management, skilled staff spend hours making manual adjustments that are always reactive, never predictive

For commercial operators, this is not just an inconvenience, it is a constant drain on utility costs and staff time. Typical water waste from schedule-based irrigation: 20–40% above what the landscape actually needs.

How Water Buddi Works

Water Buddi replaces scheduling with continuous, multi-variable analysis:

1. The soil moisture and temperature sensor measures actual ground conditions at the root zone in real time, not estimates, not averages, not guesses. Soil temperature is critical for detecting freezing conditions and for accurate evapotranspiration calculations. Multiple devices are deployed to provide coverage for the application, with sensor placement and depth determined by the crop type and zone layout.
2. Environmental sensors onboard each device capture air temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure trends at the site.
3. Nightly weather analysis fetches the next day's forecast each night, precipitation probability, temperature, wind, and solar radiation, and calculates evapotranspiration to set the next day's irrigation thresholds before dawn.
4. The TI cloud AI fuses all of this together and makes every watering decision automatically, the way a skilled agronomist would, but 24/7 and at commercial scale.

The outcome: irrigation happens only when conditions actually require it. Every decision is predictive, not reactive.

AI Capabilities

Predictive, not reactive. Each night the AI fetches the next day's forecast and adjusts thresholds accordingly. Irrigation is withheld when rain is forecast for the following day, and thresholds are lowered ahead of predicted heat events, preventing stress before it starts, not after.

Multi-variable optimization. Soil moisture, air temperature and humidity, barometric pressure trends, historical watering patterns, and GPS zone profiles are all analyzed together, not one factor at a time.

Continuously self-adjusting. As soil and weather patterns are observed over time, the platform's decisions become more precise. It learns what optimal looks like for each zone, so accuracy improves every season.

Platform Capabilities

Hardware System

Every Water Buddi unit is the same hardware. There is one device, it automatically operates in the role that best fits its environment. No separate "Hub unit" or "Node unit" exists; the role is determined at startup and can be changed at any time in the app.

Device Roles

Role negotiation is automatic. At startup, the device tries WiFi first, it is faster and supports over-the-air firmware updates. If no WiFi network is found, the device switches to LoRa and connects to any Hub within range (Node role). The customer only needs to manually configure Hub Mode on devices that have good WiFi signal and will serve as gateways.

Hardware Features (all roles)

• RS-485 Modbus soil moisture and temperature probe
• Onboard air temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure sensor
• Optional GPS for precise zone mapping
• Integrated LoRa 915MHz long-range radio
• Internal battery backup for continuous operation during outages
• Onboard OLED display and control buttons
• Weatherproof enclosure

Connectivity

WiFi (primary)

WiFi is always tried first because it is faster and supports full firmware update capability. Typical range: under 100 ft (30 m) from a router or access point, though this varies by environment and obstacles.

LoRa / Node (automatic fallback)

If the device cannot find a WiFi network at startup, it automatically switches to LoRa and searches for a Hub in range. When found, it connects as a Node, all soil data and watering commands flow through the Hub to the cloud. Typical LoRa range: ½–1 mile (0.8–1.6 km) in open terrain. Dense vegetation, buildings, and terrain will reduce range for both WiFi and LoRa.

Hub (customer-configured)

Hub Mode is manually enabled in the device settings for one or more devices that have reliable WiFi access. A Hub connects to the cloud over WiFi and relays data to and from all Node devices in LoRa range. One Hub supports up to 32 Node devices. Larger properties can deploy multiple Hubs to extend coverage.

Power Outage Resilience

Internal battery keeps each device communicating and sending alerts for up to 24 hours after external power is lost. Standard 24 VAC solenoids close automatically when AC power is lost. Latching solenoids hold their last state, if open when power fails, manual valve closure is required until power is restored.

Use Cases

Water Buddi is built for commercial applications where water waste, labor costs, and property quality all matter:

• Property Management, Centrally manage irrigation across multiple properties; eliminate per-site manual adjustments; reduce water utility costs at scale
• Commercial Agriculture, Precision irrigation for row crops, orchards, and vineyards; maximize yield while minimizing water and labor costs across large acreage
• Landscape Contractors, Offer smart irrigation as a managed service; monitor all client properties from one dashboard; document water savings for clients
• HOA & Common Areas, Consistent, automated care of community green spaces without manual scheduling or dedicated irrigation staff
• Golf & Sports Facilities, Zone-specific precision for greens, fairways, and fields; maintain playing conditions while meeting water conservation mandates
• Municipalities & Government, Reduce operational costs and meet sustainability targets across parks, medians, and public green infrastructure

Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it work with my existing irrigation system? Yes. Water Buddi connects to standard solenoid valves (24VAC hold or 12VDC latching) and works alongside your existing infrastructure. A compatible solenoid and power transformer are required and sold separately.

Do I need to configure watering schedules? No. That is the point. Water Buddi replaces scheduling entirely. You set it up, connect it to your WiFi, and the AI handles every watering decision from that point forward.

What if my WiFi doesn't reach the sensor locations? Water Buddi handles this automatically. If a device cannot find WiFi at startup, it switches to LoRa and connects to any Hub in range, up to ½–1 mile in open terrain. You just need to configure Hub Mode on one or more devices that do have good WiFi signal. Those Hub devices relay data between the cloud and all LoRa-connected Nodes. No wiring runs required.

Do I need different hardware for Hub and Node devices? No. Every Water Buddi unit is identical hardware. The role, WiFi, Hub, or Node, is determined automatically based on what the device finds at startup, or manually via the Hub Mode setting. You do not need to buy separate "Hub" or "Node" units.

Can I update firmware on devices using LoRa? No. Firmware updates require a direct WiFi connection. To update a Node device in the field, temporarily bring it within WiFi range, apply the update, then return it to its location.

What happens during a power outage? Internal battery keeps each device online and sending alerts for up to 24 hours after power loss. Standard 24 VAC solenoids close automatically when AC power is lost. Latching solenoids hold their last state and require manual closure if open during an outage.

Can one subscription cover multiple properties? Yes. One TI subscription covers all your devices across any number of locations. You manage everything from a single app.

Do I need a subscription to add my device? No, linking your device to your account is free and is part of the account setup process. Once linked, the device appears in the app. A subscription is required to view device details, access live sensor data, change configuration settings, and receive alerts. Adding the device is free; managing and monitoring it requires a plan.

Ready to Get Started?

Visit telemetryinsights.com/shop for current hardware pricing and subscription plans, or contact us to request a demo or get a professional installation quote.

Need Help?

• In the app, from the hamburger menu select Management, then tap + in the Support card to start a new support session
• Web chat, available at telemetryinsights.com
• Email, support@telemetryinsights.com, My Buddi or a support specialist will respond