Plant stem-attached eis sensor for measuring crop biometric information and smart agricultural management system including the same

Abstract

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an EIS sensor for measuring crop bioinformation attached to a plant stem may include: a conductive polymer gel interface electrode attached to a plant stem to collect electrochemical signals and physically fixing the sensor to the plant stem; an EIS measuring unit that measures water and nutrients and electrical conductivity (EC) inside the plant by analyzing impedance changes collected through the conductive polymer gel interface electrode; and a data processing unit that processes the measured data.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem and a smart agriculture management system including the same. Background Technology

[0002] The content described in this section merely provides background information regarding the present embodiment and does not constitute prior art.

[0003] A smart farm is an agricultural system that utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) to efficiently manage crops or livestock. It is characterized by the combination of technologies such as sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data to create an optimal environment, while maximizing productivity and minimizing the use of labor and resources.

[0004] Unlike conventional agriculture, smart farms can monitor and control the environment in real time through automated systems. By analyzing factors such as temperature, humidity, soil conditions, and sunlight, they maintain optimal growth conditions, thereby ensuring consistent crop quality and increasing yields. Furthermore, in livestock farming, they contribute to the early prevention of diseases by checking health status in real time.

[0005] Smart farms also play a crucial role in addressing labor shortages. Through automation systems and remote control technologies, the workforce required for agriculture can be minimized, making them particularly effective in regions facing labor shortages due to an aging population. The ability to remotely manage the farm environment using smartphones or computers significantly enhances the convenience of farming.

[0006] Smart farms also have a positive impact in terms of environmental protection. Through precision agriculture, the use of fertilizers and pesticides can be reduced, and water can be managed efficiently, thereby minimizing environmental pollution. Furthermore, by applying energy-saving technologies to reduce carbon emissions, they contribute to the realization of sustainable agriculture.

[0007] From an economic perspective, the introduction of smart farms helps increase the profitability of farms. Management efficiency is enhanced by increasing productivity and reducing unnecessary costs through data-driven agriculture. Furthermore, market competitiveness is strengthened by the ability to stably supply agricultural products of consistent quality.

[0008] Smart farms are expected to advance further in the future, and the integration of artificial intelligence and robotics will enable more precise and automated agriculture. As they evolve into various forms such as urban farming, vertical farms, and smart greenhouses, they are anticipated to play a crucial role in addressing issues like climate change and food shortages. Prior art literature

[0009] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0100541 (August 29, 2019) The problem to be solved

[0010] The objective of the present invention is to provide a plant stem-attached EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information used to maintain an optimal growth environment by monitoring the plant's water and nutrient status and electrical conductivity (EC) in real time, and a smart agriculture management system including the same.

[0011] Other unspecified objects of the present invention may be further considered to the extent that they can be easily inferred from the following detailed description and effects. means of solving the problem

[0012] A sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose may include: a conductive polymer gel interface electrode attached to a plant stem to collect electrochemical signals and physically fixing the sensor to the plant stem; an EIS measuring unit that measures water and nutrients and electrical conductivity (EC) inside the plant by analyzing impedance changes collected through the conductive polymer gel interface electrode; and a data processing unit that processes the measured data.

[0013] The conductive polymer gel interface electrode is attached to two or three parts of a plant stem and measures impedance changes or potential differences in real time through a 2-electrode sensing mechanism and a 3-electrode sensing mechanism, respectively. The 2-electrode sensing mechanism measures impedance changes by applying an alternating current between two electrodes, and the 3-electrode sensing mechanism analyzes electrochemical characteristics by measuring the potential difference between a reference electrode, a working electrode, and an auxiliary electrode.

[0014] Herein, it is characterized by further including a wireless communication unit that transmits measured data to a server or user terminal via Bluetooth, LoRa, or NB-IoT.

[0015] A smart farm system according to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose comprises: an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem; a server that stores and analyzes data transmitted from the sensor to construct a growth state model and transmits the analysis results to a user terminal; and a user terminal that monitors real-time data received from the sensor and controls water and nutrient management and growth environment settings based on the collected data. The EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem may include: a conductive polymer gel interface electrode attached to a plant stem to collect electrochemical signals and physically fixing the sensor to the plant stem; an EIS measurement unit that analyzes impedance changes collected through the conductive polymer gel interface electrode to measure water and nutrient content and electrical conductivity (EC) inside the plant; and a data processing unit that processes the measured data. Effects of the invention

[0016] As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, by applying an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem and a smart agriculture management system including the same, the nutrient and water status and electrical conductivity (EC) of the plant can be monitored in real time to maintain an optimal growth environment, and through automated data analysis, the use of nutrient solution can be optimized and resource waste reduced, thereby improving the productivity and quality of the crop.

[0017] Even if an effect is not explicitly mentioned herein, the effects and potential effects described in the following specification expected by the technical features of the present invention are treated as described in the specification of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a smart agriculture management system including an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of an EIS sensor attachment and a measurement method for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The advantages and features of the present invention, and the methods for achieving them, will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in this specification (including technical and scientific terms) may be used in a meaning that is commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. Furthermore, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly and specifically defined otherwise.

[0020] The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as “have,” “may have,” “include,” or “may include” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Terms including ordinal numbers, such as “second,” “first,” etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms.

[0021] The above terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the second component may be named the first component, and similarly, the first component may be named the second component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0022] In this specification, identification symbols (e.g., a, b, c, etc.) for each step are used for convenience of explanation and do not indicate the order of the steps; the steps may occur differently from the specified order unless the context clearly indicates a specific order. That is, the steps may occur in the same order as specified, may be performed substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in the reverse order.

[0023] Additionally, the term “part” as used in this specification may refer to software or hardware components such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or ASICs, and the “part” performs certain roles. However, the “part” is not limited to software or hardware. The “part” may be configured to reside in an addressable storage medium or configured to run one or more processors. Thus, as an example, the “part” may include components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, as well as processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data structures, and variables. The functions provided within the components and “parts” may be combined into a smaller number of components and “parts” or further separated into additional components and “parts.”

[0024] Various embodiments of the present invention, including an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem and a smart agriculture management system including the same, will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a smart agriculture management system including an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, the smart agriculture management system (10) may include an EIS sensor (100) for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem, a user terminal (300), and a server (400).

[0027] The plant stem-attached EIS sensor (100) for measuring crop bio-information can be attached to a plant (20), and more preferably, can be attached to the stem of the plant (20).

[0028] The plant (20) is a target crop to which physiological information is measured by attaching an EIS sensor (100) for measuring crop biological information attached to the plant stem. It can be applied to various crops that have a distinct stem structure and are less susceptible to damage when the sensor is attached. Since the sensor is directly attached to the stem of the plant to monitor the water and nutrient status and electrical conductivity (EC) in real time, it can be effectively applied to fruit and vegetable crops such as strawberries, watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, as well as fruit trees such as grapes and apples. In addition, it can be utilized in cereal crops such as rice, wheat, and corn.

[0029] The EIS sensor (100) for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem is described in more detail through FIG. 2.

[0030] The user terminal (300) receives real-time biological data transmitted wirelessly from a plant stem-attached EIS sensor and can visualize it for display to the user. Through the user terminal (300), the user can check the crop's water and nutrient status and electrical conductivity (EC) changes in real time, and can directly control the nutrient supply amount, irrigation cycle, and greenhouse environment settings within the smart farm system, or execute automated commands. In addition, the user can receive warning notifications and immediate feedback regarding signs of abnormal growth, which can be utilized for crop management.

[0031] The server (400) can perform a central processing function of storing, integrating, and analyzing bio-information data collected from multiple plant stem-attached EIS sensors (100) for measuring crop bio-information. Based on the collected data, the server (400) can evaluate the growth status of crops and accumulate data in a database (DB) to analyze long-term growth patterns and environmental change trends. The analyzed results can automatically suggest optimal nutrient and water management and growth environment settings through an algorithm, or perform an automated agricultural management process by linking with a smart farm control system. Additionally, the server (400) transmits analysis results and control commands to a user terminal (300) to enable real-time crop growth management of the entire system.

[0032] The plant stem-attached EIS sensor (100) for measuring crop bio-information, the user terminal (300), and the server (400) can perform wireless communication through the communication network (200).

[0033] The communication network (200) is a network infrastructure that supports wireless data transmission between an EIS sensor (100) for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem, a user terminal (300), and a server (400), and performs the function of transmitting bio-information data collected from the sensor to the server and the user terminal in real time. Various wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, LoRa, and NB-IoT can be applied to the communication network (200) for low power and long-distance communication.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, the plant stem-attached EIS sensor (100) for measuring crop bio-information may include a conductive polymer gel interface electrode (110), an EIS measuring unit (120), a data processing unit (130), a wireless communication unit (140), and a power supply unit (150).

[0036] A conductive polymer gel interface electrode (110) is attached to a plant stem to collect electrochemical signals, and can physically fix a plant stem-attached crop bio-information measurement EIS sensor (100) to the plant stem.

[0037] The EIS measuring unit (120) can measure the water and nutrients and electrical conductivity (EC) inside the plant by analyzing the impedance change collected through the conductive polymer gel interface electrode (110).

[0038] The data processing unit (130) can process the measured data.

[0039] The wireless communication unit (140) can transmit the measured data to a server or user terminal via Bluetooth, LoRa or NB-IoT.

[0040] The power supply unit (150) can supply power to the plant stem-attached crop bio-information measurement EIS sensor (100) and various electronic or electrical components of the plant stem-attached crop bio-information measurement EIS sensor (100).

[0041] Among the various components exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, some components may be omitted or other components may be additionally included.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of an EIS sensor attachment and a measurement method for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] A plant stem-attachable EIS sensor for crop physiology monitoring is disclosed through this specification.

[0044] This paper describes a stem-attached wearable electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) sensor utilizing a highly adhesive conductive polymer gel as an interfacial electrode. The EIS sensor is a technology that monitors the physiological state (changes in water and nutrients and electrical conductivity, EC) inside a plant stem in real time by analyzing electrochemical reactions.

[0045] Sensor technology capable of real-time monitoring of soil nutrients, moisture, and electrical conductivity (EC) is essential for maximizing agricultural productivity and optimizing crop growth. Existing methods for measuring nutrients, moisture, and EC are based on periodic sampling, making continuous monitoring difficult and limiting the acquisition of real-time data. This invention involves the development of a prototype and wireless modularization of an attachable nutrient, moisture, and EC sensor. The sensor is designed to be directly attached to the soil surface or the root zone of crops, allowing for precise analysis of crop nutrient status and growth environments by measuring soil moisture content and ion concentration in real time.

[0046] This enables immediate response in the field and maximizes connectivity with smart farming systems. Furthermore, the wireless modularization of the sensors allows for real-time data transmission, making long-term observation and the creation of optimal growth environments possible.

[0047] (Introduction of 2-electrode sensing mechanism and 3-electrode sensing mechanism) By attaching EIS sensor electrodes to two parts of a plant stem, changes in impedance between the two electrodes can be measured in real time by the 2-electrode sensing mechanism. The impedance changes measured here appear as changes in resistance and capacitance depending on changes in nutrients and water inside the stem, and by analyzing the signal using this, changes in nutrients and water can be received as electrical signal values.

[0048] In addition, by attaching electrodes to three parts of the stem and utilizing a 3-electrode sensing mechanism, the potential difference between two electrodes relative to a reference electrode can be measured. Since the potential difference generated inside the plant varies depending on the ion concentration of the nutrient solution, measuring the potential difference using this sensor allows for real-time monitoring of the EC inside the stem.

[0049] (Analysis of Sensor Suitability for Plants) For plant-attached sensors, it is essential to minimize physical and physiological impacts on plants after attachment, ensure reliable data measurement over long periods, and maintain stable performance even under environmental changes. To achieve this, biocompatibility, operational stability, and data reliability must be evaluated and analyzed after sensor attachment.

[0050] (Connection of Attached Sensors and Sensor Nodes) Attached water, nutrient, and EC sensors are designed to precisely analyze the crop growth environment by utilizing network-based wireless communication technology, rather than operating independently. To achieve this, the sensors are wirelessly modularized to maximize the efficiency of data collection and transmission, and to enable real-time integration with a smart agriculture platform.

[0051] The main focus of this research is to minimize the energy consumption of sensors by utilizing low-power wireless communication technology. To this end, various communication technologies such as Bluetooth, LoRa, and NB-IoT are compared and analyzed, and an optimal data transmission method is developed. In addition, the collected data is linked with a cloud-based data analysis system to comprehensively evaluate the growth status of crops, and integration with an automated agricultural management system is explored.

[0052] Finally, research is conducted on the structural stability of the sensor and the optimization of the sensor interface to enhance sensor durability and ensure data reliability in the face of environmental changes. Through this research, the attachable water and nutrient (nutrient) and EC sensors are expected to precisely measure the water and nutrient status of crops and ion concentrations in the soil in real time, thereby contributing to the creation of an optimal agricultural environment.

[0053] Applications of Multi-Signal Biosensors for Wearables Applicable to Plants

[0054] By utilizing the multi-complex signal biosensor developed in this study, environmental management and nutrient solution control in smart greenhouse cultivation are optimized, and the current water and nutrient management system is improved to reduce excessive nutrient solution usage and consequently increase farm profitability.

[0055] By utilizing multiple complex signals simultaneously rather than a single signal, it precisely monitors and optimizes crop development stages in real time, contributing to the improvement of product quality for final shipment.

[0056] Efficiency enhancement of active greenhouse control systems through the application of environmental and nutrient solution control modules based on bio-information and rhizosphere environmental information

[0057] Support for farm decision-making through the utilization of an automatic control system integrating sensor and control units

[0058] Multi-channel sensor and wireless communication system integration

[0059] By developing a wireless communication module to efficiently transmit sensor signals to the control unit, it is possible to complete an integrated system.

[0060] Sectional control of the smart greenhouse is possible using a multi-channel integrated module program.

[0061] Securing an automation system through the development of a greenhouse control system program

[0062] Development and application of biological / growth status data collection and analysis models

[0063] - Application of a complex control system through the establishment of a biological / growth information data DB and the embedding of analysis models within the server

[0064] - Expanding the scope of application of complex control-based cultivation solutions to other crops based on the analysis models for the two target crops (strawberry and watermelon) of this study

[0065] This technology can be applied to various smart agriculture equipment and services. Key products include plant-attached bio-information sensors, automatic nutrient and water supply systems, and sensor network systems for greenhouses and smart farms, enabling real-time monitoring and management of crop growth conditions. Furthermore, in the field of smart gardening products, it is applied to home plant management sensors and monitoring systems for urban agriculture and vertical farms, allowing for the optimization of plant growth environments in homes or urban settings. Additionally, it can be utilized in smart agriculture data analysis platforms and smart farm remote monitoring services to collect and analyze agricultural data and contribute to the remote management of farm conditions.

[0066] This technology holds diverse potential applications beyond the agricultural sector. It can be utilized as a smart sensor for responding to climate change, and also applied as a plant health-based air and soil pollution monitoring sensor. Furthermore, it can contribute to analyzing plant responses to environmental changes through plant stress-based climate change monitoring services, or be applied to urban green space management services to monitor the health status of plants within cities. These applications suggest the potential to expand the scope of the technology's utilization beyond agriculture to include environmental monitoring and urban management.

[0067] The global market size for smart agriculture is expected to grow from the current 14 trillion won to 22.7 trillion won by 2030. In the domestic market, it is estimated to increase from 2.2 trillion won to 31 trillion won by 2030. Smart farms, which integrate ICT technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT)—leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution—with robotics and other scientific technologies into the agricultural sector, are being expanded and adopted as one of the solutions to address rural and agricultural issues and to respond to changes in the agricultural environment caused by climate change.

[0068] Although it is described that all components constituting the embodiments of the present invention described above are combined or operate in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such embodiments. That is, within the scope of the purpose of the present invention, all such components may be selectively combined in one or more ways to operate. Furthermore, while all such components may each be implemented as a single independent piece of hardware, they may also be implemented as a computer program having a program module that performs some or all of the combined functions in one or more pieces of hardware by selectively combining some or all of the components. Additionally, such a computer program may be stored on a computer-readable media such as a USB memory, CD disk, or flash memory, and read and executed by a computer to implement the embodiments of the present invention. Magnetic recording media, optical recording media, etc., may be included as recording media for the computer program.

[0069] The foregoing description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications, changes, and substitutions within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are intended to explain, not limit, the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by such embodiments and accompanying drawings. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0070] 10: Smart Farm System 100: Plant Stem-Attached EIS Sensor for Crop Bio-information Measurement 110: Conductive polymer gel interfacial electrode 120: EIS Measurement Unit 130: Data processing unit 140: Wireless Communications Unit 150: Power supply

Claims

Claim 1 An EIS sensor for measuring plant stem-attached crop bioinformation, comprising: a conductive polymer gel interface electrode attached to a plant stem to collect electrochemical signals and physically fixing the sensor to the plant stem; an EIS measuring unit that analyzes impedance changes collected through the conductive polymer gel interface electrode to measure water and nutrients and electrical conductivity (EC) inside the plant; and a data processing unit that processes the measured data. Claim 2 An EIS sensor for measuring crop bioinformation attached to a plant stem according to claim 1, wherein the conductive polymer gel interface electrode is attached to two or three parts of a plant stem and measures impedance change or potential difference in real time through a 2-electrode sensing mechanism and a 3-electrode sensing mechanism, respectively, wherein the 2-electrode sensing mechanism measures impedance change by applying an alternating current between two electrodes, and the 3-electrode sensing mechanism analyzes electrochemical characteristics by measuring the potential difference between a reference electrode, a working electrode, and an auxiliary electrode. Claim 3 An EIS sensor for measuring crop bio-information attached to a plant stem, characterized by further including a wireless communication unit that transmits measured data to a server or user terminal via Bluetooth, LoRa, or NB-IoT in claim 1. Claim 4 A smart farm system comprises: an EIS sensor for measuring crop biological information attached to a plant stem; a server that stores and analyzes data transmitted from the sensor to build a growth state model and transmits the analysis results to a user terminal; and a user terminal that monitors real-time data received from the sensor and controls water and nutrients management and growth environment settings based on the collected data; wherein the EIS sensor for measuring crop biological information attached to a plant stem comprises: a conductive polymer gel interface electrode attached to the plant stem to collect electrochemical signals and physically fixing the sensor to the plant stem; an EIS measurement unit that analyzes impedance changes collected through the conductive polymer gel interface electrode to measure water and nutrients and electrical conductivity (EC) inside the plant; and a data processing unit that processes the measured data.

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