Adaptive Irrigation Gateway Control for Precision Yard Watering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gardening and lawn care systems require significant manual interaction to monitor and manage growing conditions, despite advancements in monitoring devices, limiting efficiency and convenience.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent system that includes sensor equipment, watering equipment, and a gateway to connect in-home communication networks with a garden network, allowing adaptive coordination and remote control of yard maintenance tasks through a user-friendly interface, enabling efficient and adaptive gardening practices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If monitoring devices or sensors are employed to monitor growing conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables sensors to automatically monitor growing conditions and triggers watering equipment to self-adjust based on monitored parameters, eliminating the need for manual operation and reducing overall system complexity despite increased monitoring capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor growing conditions and automatically adjust watering equipment operations based on the monitored data, resolving the contradiction by making the complex monitoring system self-managing through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If manual interaction is required to place and operate devices, then ease of operation deteriorates, but device complexity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational convenienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows sensors to automatically monitor conditions and triggers watering equipment to self-adjust based on monitored parameters, eliminating manual operation requirements and greatly improving ease of use despite increased system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system is pre-configured with sensors and automated control logic that enables it to automatically monitor and adjust watering operations without requiring manual intervention during operation, improving operational convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive components are integrated into watering equipment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptive capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Adaptive components receive real-time feedback from sensors about growing conditions and automatically adjust watering operations accordingly, improving adaptability while the automated feedback loop eliminates the need for manual adjustment complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system integrates multiple functions including sensing, processing, and actuation into a unified automated platform that can adapt to various growing conditions, improving versatility while reducing operational complexity through integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3280250B1Watering system with adaptive components
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 HUSQVARNA AB
  • EP3280250B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3280250B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3280250B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system may include sensor equipment including one or more sensors disposed on a parcel of land, watering equipment disposed on the parcel and configured to selectively apply water to the parcel, and a gateway configured to provide for communication with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment. The gateway may interface between a first network and a second network. The first network may include at least the watering equipment and the sensor equipment. An operator may be enabled to wirelessly communicate with the gateway via the second network. At least one component of the watering equipment or the sensor equipment may be an adaptive component.