Systems and methods for dynamically collecting, analyzing, and regulating garden parameters

Abstract

A remote sensor platform may utilize a low-cost touch sensor coupled to capacitive plates to measure the capacitance of a soil. The sensor platform may also use other sensors to measure other garden parameters, such as soil resistance, soil pH, ambient light, soil or air temperature, and humidity. Based on measurements of a soil's resistance and capacitance, the soil moisture content may be determined.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 030,559, filed Jul. 29, 2014; 62 / 030,566, filed Jul. 29, 2014; 62 / 030,568, filed Jul. 29, 2014; and 62 / 030,573, filed Jul. 29, 2014; the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The embodiments described herein generally relate to the field of electronic information management, and more particularly to the dynamic collection, analysis, and regulation of various garden parameters.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]As of 2011, the global gardening and outdoor living industry was already worth a staggering $187 billion. In North American alone, sales of plants, seeds, and other garden paraphernalia reached nearly $58 billion. These statistics are compelling evidence of mankind's affinity toward verdant foliage and vibrant blossoms. Indeed, many millions of Am...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system and method for collecting, analyzing, and regulating various parameters in a garden. This technology helps to create a more efficient and effective gardening experience.

Problems solved by technology

But maintaining a garden has also become an increasingly difficult and unattainable endeavor in recent years.

For one, global climate changes have made it harder to create and sustain the various conditions required for different plants to survive.

Consequently, even seasoned horticulturists are struggling to create and maintain ideal plant habitats.

Furthermore, gardening is also now a much more costly pursuit.

Meanwhile, the water shortages that plague many parts of the country, such as California, are not expected to abate any time soon.

Temperamental weather and soaring water costs are just a few of the challenges that overwhelm conventional gardening methods.

Under- and overwatering, for example, are a persistent and pricey problem because most households program their sprinkler systems according to a static schedule or frequency, causing plants to be watered regardless of current moisture levels in the soil or imminent rainfall.

In addition, gardens tend to be individually unique ecosystems, although the differences are often incredibly nuanced and hardly perceptible to the average person.

Alice, for example, can fail to grow peonies in her garden even though the same type of plant thrives in her neighbor Bob's yard.

This is because conventional approaches to gardening disregard particularized and real-time data with respect to each individual garden ecosystem.

But based on these types of instructions alone, it is still virtually impossible to systematically recreate an ideal growing environment.

So more often than not, for the average person, successfully growing a plant often entails an interminable and frustrating succession of trial and error.

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