Auto-calibrating Agricultural Sensor System for Variable Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural technologies face challenges in effectively calibrating real-time sensors for variable rate control of agrochemicals and seeds, often requiring crop reference strips, GPS data, and complex calibration processes, which are cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The system employs auto-calibration methods using statistical characteristics of real-time sampled data from various sensors, eliminating the need for crop reference strips and GPS data, and allows for variable rate control through adaptive algorithms, enabling precise application of agrochemicals and seeds without manual calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional calibration methods using crop reference strips are employed, then sensor calibration can be achieved, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming requiring additional field management
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically analyzing sensor data patterns and statistical characteristics without requiring external reference strips or manual calibration procedures. The sensor system processes its own measurements to determine calibration parameters, eliminating the need for separate calibration infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and utilizes statistical characteristics directly from the sensor data itself rather than requiring separate reference data from crop reference strips. By extracting calibration information from the sensor measurements' own distribution patterns, the system eliminates the need for external calibration references.
2Adaptability or versatility
If GPS data and reference strips are used for calibration, then variable rate control can be achieved, but the management overhead and time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration actions continuously in the background as sensor data is collected during normal operation, rather than requiring a separate preliminary calibration phase. The calibration process is embedded within the ongoing data collection and variable rate control operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process continues simultaneously with the variable rate control operation, using continuously collected sensor data to update calibration parameters. This eliminates interruptions and time loss associated with separate calibration trips through the field.
3Measurement precision
If manual calibration procedures are required, then sensor accuracy can be maintained, but the ease of operation and convenience for agricultural producers decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system automatically performs calibration using its own collected data without requiring user intervention, field trips, or manual procedures. The system serves itself by processing sensor measurements to determine and update calibration parameters autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor data and uses feedback from the measured values to automatically adjust calibration parameters. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains measurement accuracy while eliminating manual calibration steps, making the system easier to operate.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for application of an agricultural product to a field is provided. The method includes acquiring real-time sampled data using real-time agricultural sensors, auto-calibrating the real-time agricultural sensors using statistical characteristics of the real-time sampled data to determine an application rate, and applying the agricultural product to the field based on the application rate. The step of auto-calibrating can be performed in various ways depending upon the type of agricultural product, the data available from the agricultural sensors or otherwise, or otherwise.