Autonomous Soil Moisture Control for Uniform Construction Site Compaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water trucks lack the ability to achieve uniform and accurate soil moisture levels across construction sites, leading to inconsistent soil compaction and increased dust generation, which depends heavily on the operator's skill and experience.
Innovation Solution
A soil moisture control system installed on water trucks that includes a module to analyze data from various information modules, calculate the necessary water application rate and volume, and guide the truck to achieve uniform moisture levels, either autonomously or with user instruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a water truck manually sprays soil to achieve suitable moisture, then the operator can adjust water application based on experience, but the uniformity and accuracy of moisture distribution across the construction site deteriorates due to reliance on operator skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of water spraying with an automated electronic control system. The system uses moisture sensors to detect soil moisture levels and automatically controls water dispensing through a computer system, eliminating reliance on operator skill and experience while achieving consistent moisture uniformity across the construction site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where moisture sensors continuously monitor soil moisture levels and transmit this data to a computer system. The computer system processes this feedback information and automatically adjusts water dispensing rates to maintain optimal moisture levels, ensuring uniform moisture distribution without operator intervention.
2Strength
If a roller truck compacts soil repeatedly to achieve firmness, then soil compaction is improved, but dust is ejected into the air causing nuisance to surrounding people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by moisturizing the soil before compaction operations begin. The system detects dry soil conditions and automatically dispenses water to achieve optimal moisture levels prior to rolling, preventing dust generation during subsequent compaction while ensuring adequate soil firmness.
3Productivity
If existing water trucks are used to moisten soil, then water can be dispensed across the construction site, but the ability to achieve uniform and correct moisture levels deteriorates due to lack of automation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual water truck operation with an automated electronic control system that uses moisture sensors and computer processing to precisely control water dispensing. This substitution enables both high productivity through continuous operation and high precision through automated moisture level management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting soil moisture needs through sensors and independently controlling water dispensing without human intervention. The computer system processes sensor data and autonomously adjusts water application rates to achieve uniform moisture distribution across the construction site.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures highly uniform and accurate soil moisture distribution, improving soil compaction and reducing dust emission, thereby enhancing construction efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
measuring, by the soil moisture control system, a current soil moisture level of a location within the open construction site with a moisture sensor
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Embodiments describe a method for moisturizing soil at an open construction site. The method includes determining a target soil moisture level (1002) for the soil at the open construction site; measuring a current soil moisture level of a location within the open construction site with a moisture sensor while the moisture control system is moving along a predetermined path across the site (1006); storing the current soil moisture level of the location in memory; determining a target volume of water for achieving the target soil moisture level at the location based on the current soil moisture level at the location (1008); calculating a target application rate to achieve the target soil moisture level at the location based on the target volume of water (1010); and applying the target volume of water at the target application rate to the location when the system is positioned to dispense water at the location of the site (1012).