August 4 AMA session with PlanetWatch CEO

In this article you’ll find the answers that our CEO, Claudio Parrinello, gave in the AMA session on August 4.

Before answering your questions some announcements:

• We’ve been doing a lot of technical work and we’ve just completed a huge infrastructure update. A new Map and PlanetWatch Explorer have just been released! Please check them out! Soon we’ll be able to deliver additional back-end functions and you’ll be able to extract even more information;
• The new App is still being tested. The release should happen by the end of August.
• During our infrastructure update on August 4, there were issues with Type 2 air quality data. We decided that the following day all Type 2 owners would get max rewards, via a special top-up distribution in the afternoon. 

We’ve mentioned that there are two listings in the making: the first one is Bitmart for the US community. 

The second exchange that we’ve partnered with is called Emirex. It’s a good platform with very strong customers based in the Middle-East. We are trying to reach communities worldwide.

PLANETS will be listed on Bitmart and Emirex at the latest by the end of September. 

We might have a trick up our sleeve to enable global token circulation much earlier, but…I won’t tell you now because we need to validate a few points. 

Here you can find PlanetWatchers’ questions to Claudio

TYPE 1

When will the Airquinos July batch start shipping?

Shipping started today, and will be completed by the end of next week.

Do you have any news on the next batches of Airquinos to be released?

I’ll give you my goal, which is not yet a promise. 

My goal is to get at least 1000 additional devices for each type 1,3 and 4 in our system by the end of the year, both for Europe and the rest of the world. 

We’re trying to secure a large batch by the end of the year, but I cannot confirm just yet. Also, we are waiting for an update on the US certification for Airqino.

For the Type 1 sensor, which is the minimum and maximum height above the ground, where should it be installed to function properly and get maximum rewards.

The ideal height is between 3-6 meters above the ground but this is not imperative. If it’s very high up, open a ticket and please let us know, because the more information we have about the sensor deployment the better understanding we can develop from your data.

Will the Type 1 offer Ethernet or Wi-Fi as a backup in case the LTE signal is of poor quality? Looking forward to the future of PlanetWatch.

Not foreseen for Airqino, but we are also evaluating other systems.

Can I set up an Airqino in Brazil?

It isn’t possible at the moment because the sensor has not been certified. We’re working both on getting Airqino globally certified and to onboard additional Type 1 sensors, focusing on globally certified ones.

Will the Type 1 sensor require user-installed modules or must it be sent in for periodic calibration?

The answer (as well as the schedule for such operations) depends both on the deployment environment and on the type of sensor. For example Kaiterra sensors have replacement modules while Airqinos don’t. This is the reason why it’s difficult to foresee a standard schedule for sensor maintenance activities. My goal is that periodic calibration will be managed as seamlessly as possible both for Type 1 and Type 3 sensors (other types will not be re-calibrated after delivery). We’ll do our best to cover related costs, but I can’t spell out the conditions for calibration just yet.

Is there a preference for Type1 distribution? Should I set up a few devices: all in Tier 1 areas next to each other or spread them across the city?

It’s really up to you. Ultimately, we as PlanetWatch want to cover all Tier 1 pixels in the world. However, If you feel a specific neighborhood deserves special attention, then try to cover that neighborhood. If not, you can spread evenly. 

TYPE 3

Wasn’t boosting Type 3 reward until December a bad choice? Is there even a point to gather indoor air-quality data for private households? 

We support indoor air quality monitoring and we incentivize it via tokens because we genuinely believe there is a serious case for doing this and gathering data, both in terms of science and in terms of business. And the proposal for extra rewards for Type 3 stems from a data value assessment, it’s not a marketing trick to boost sales. 

I will now read a few lines from a research proposal on indoor air quality where PlanetWatch is one of the key players together with some academic institutions. 

“Air quality has a strong impact on human health. Published data have pointed to a strong correlation between the inhaled chemicals and the risk of a variety of diseases. The most common indoor pollutants have been described to negatively impact the respiratory tract, immune system, endocrine balance, metabolic disorders as well as neurological problems, and fetal development. Some of the chemicals have also proven carcinogenic effects.

The most sensitive groups seem to be pregnant and breastfeeding women, babies, and children. They spend most of their time indoors i.e. at home, at kindergartens and their metabolism may be not strong enough to adequately clear toxic substances from the organism

Most of the substances are removed from the body through urine, but in case of high and/or constant exposure as well as lower metabolism (as in mentioned vulnerable groups), they can be accumulated in the adipose tissue, transferred via the placenta to developing fetus or via milk to babies increasing also the health risk (and treatment costs) for the next generations.” 

Now, to be very transparent: our Type 3 sensors do not detect specific high-risk pollutants directly. However, their data is relevant as a first assessment of indoor air quality in households worldwide. 

I would like to buy a type 3 license but first of all I would like to know how many Kaiterra devices will be available in the near future? I have heard about 500 devices until the end of September. Will it be more? If I put US & EU together then we have >500 pieces pre ordered.

I believe I’ll be able to give an update regarding the Kaiterra stock next week. That said, there is (and will be in the foreseeable future) a degree of uncertainty in sensor delivery dates as some of the variables are related to manufacturers and global logistics so they are beyond our control. 

TYPE 4

You said it’s fine in multi-level buildings (blocks of flats, 20 flats above each other) where there could be many Atmotube devices. But how are you going to control this? How are you going to recognize if it’s cheating by 1 person or not? Thank you

We are developing a software to detect strange streams and if we detect such streams we will take a very gradual approach. We’ll start from trust, so we’ll contact you and ask you how you’re using these Atmotubes. If you have a convincing explanation for why the data from multiple devices appear very close, that’s fine. If not, we will take action. That’s because we’re in the business of making sure that the data is meaningful.

Limit for Atmotube devices is 2 per person and one of the devices must travel a lot. Can you tell us what is acceptable and what is not?

We’ll determine what is acceptable along the way. Don’t worry – if we feel there is a problem, we’ll get in touch.

What website(s) will be offering the next batch of Type 4 sensors ?

As you know we have a 200-piece batch which is being processed. That batch will be sold on both websites: planetwatch.io and planetwatch.us. As soon as the manufacturer will have their own restock you will also be able to order devices from the official Atmotube website.

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Beside gathering data, how does PlanetWatch plan to protect our planet? Locating pollution is important but will planetwatch team up with companies to help clean the air and protect the planet? Because data is just data and if you don’t use it, it’s pointless

Data is used to mitigate risks related to pollution and to help decision makers take appropriate action to protect the community.  So, if we identify a pollution spot in the city and we understand that it’s due to traffic, we will advise the local government to modify road circulation planning. The idea is that data can be used to inform, convince, and deliver actionable recommendations.

Hello Claudio, do the US stores have to pay VAT for Type 1 / 3 units since right now we only know the price with VAT included?

No. Price without VAT is 1350 euros. It will be converted to USD, plus some shipping costs.

What role will Emrit play in the Planetwatch project? Are you going to put miners out of people and get most of the rewards?

I’ve spoken about this several times. EMRIT is one of our many potential corporate partners. 

Can I buy multiple devices and licenses, tie them to a wallet and put them or deploy them to my friends’ houses? Same strategy as Helium. Thanks.

Yes, you can.

Claudio, can you please finally share the Discord link prominently for all to see?

The Discord link has been pinned on Telegram, but we’ve also just shared it on our website.

Any plans for planets staking from Algo wallet similar to Algo wallet? Thank you.

We are discussing DeFi options, but we still need to run some checks.

Can you clarify the position on using payment in PLANETS for license / sensors and whether that adjusts according to the Planet Price? What happens if the PLANETS price increases?

Prices are set in euros. So, if PLANETS prices go up and you hold PLANETS, you win as you will need fewer tokens to buy sensors and licenses. This is the way it is at the moment. Should we see good reasons to change this in the future, you’ll be notified well in advance.

As the numbers are limited for devices is it possible for the .io and .us orders volumes to be shown on each website?

We’ll do it whenever the information is 100% reliable.

As community members get involved in setting up devices at their homes in and around various towns and cities around the world, how do you see further involvement from the community as PlanetWatch evolves?

There are actions you can make in terms of connecting to your own communities if you are an influencer or network with businesses who want to participate in the sensor dispatching activities. 

I think you understand what our challenges are, in terms of communication and logistics for the sensor part: so, if you have a great idea, just write to [email protected]

With us being early adopters, do you envisage there being early adopter opportunities in the future?

The first early adopter advantage is the fact that most Tier 1 pixels worldwide are still empty.

Also, in the future we might launch initiatives where only a small group of people can be allowed to join initially. For those projects, we might invite “early adopters” first to participate and give them incentives.

Many questions about the App.

At this point, please wait for the new App and Explorer. Once it’s released, we’ll collect your feedback and see where further improvements are needed.

Another big announcement for today: you’ll be the first to find out that PlanetWatch, as a company, has just completed a $1.3 M funding round. This will enable us to quickly scale up operations and strengthen the team.

Keep watching our Planet and stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!