Biodegradable Sensor Element for Drone-Based Agricultural Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale agricultural operations face challenges in efficiently collecting and optimizing water and chemical usage due to the labor-intensive process of maintaining numerous battery-powered field observation devices, which require frequent battery replacements and manual data retrieval across extensive farmland.
Innovation Solution
A sensor element and packaged body system that uses biodegradable, shape-changing sensors scattered on the ground surface, combined with a drone for autonomous data collection via electromagnetic waves, allowing for efficient environment information gathering without the need for frequent device maintenance or manual data retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If battery-powered field observation devices are installed across extensive farmland, then environment information can be collected, but significant time and labor are required for battery replacement and data retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source and data storage functions from the field observation devices. Sensors are scattered across the field without batteries, and data is collected wirelessly by a drone that passes overhead, eliminating the need for manual battery replacement and data retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor elements automatically measure environment information and store data in their memory units without requiring external power sources or manual intervention. The system serves itself by having sensors continuously monitor and store data, which is then collected passively when the drone flies overhead.
2Area of stationary object
If numerous field observation devices are distributed across large areas, then comprehensive environment data is obtained, but the scale of maintenance work exceeds the capacity of available workers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the maintenance-intensive components (batteries and manual data retrieval systems) from the distributed sensor network. By scattering simple, passive sensor elements that require no human intervention for power or data collection, the system maintains wide area coverage while eliminating maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual battery installation and data collection with an aerial drone that wirelessly retrieves data from scattered sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for workers to physically access each device across extensive farmland.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If battery-powered sensors are used for long-term monitoring, then continuous data collection is achieved, but frequent battery replacement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery component entirely from the sensor system. Sensors are designed to operate without active power sources during the monitoring period, eliminating the need for battery replacement while maintaining continuous monitoring capability through passive energy harvesting or ultra-low-power operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable or biodegradable sensor elements that are scattered across the field for a single monitoring campaign. These sensors perform their function for the required duration and then degrade naturally, eliminating the need for battery replacement or device retrieval while providing sufficient monitoring coverage.
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
Enables rapid and effortless collection of environment information such as water content, temperature, and pH across large areas, reducing labor and environmental impact while optimizing resource usage.
Implementation Method 1
the shape of which changes in accordance with a change in at least one of water content, a temperature, pH, or the like of the surrounding environment
Implementation Method 2
a drone which transmits an electromagnetic wave with a specific wavelength to a ground surface, on which the sensor element is scattered, and receives an electromagnetic wave from the sensor element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A sensor element is used to collect environment information on a surface of the earth or a surface layer of the earth by being scattered in a target region where the environment information is collected. At least one of reflection properties, transmission properties, absorption properties, or luminescence properties with respective to an electromagnetic wave with a specific wavelength, or light emitting properties changes in accordance with an environment.