Computer Vision Irrigation Control for Precision Water Scheduling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation technologies in China face issues such as high water consumption, low automation and reliability, inadequate informatization, and low irrigation accuracy due to complex geological conditions and lack of intelligent decision-making.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation system utilizing computer vision monitoring, including collectors, analyzers, and controllers, to gather and analyze weather, soil, and plant data for precise irrigation scheduling, disease detection, and weed identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional irrigation methods are used, then irrigation coverage is achieved, but water resource utilization rate is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of irrigation needs by analyzing plant growth states, soil moisture levels, and weather forecasts before irrigation execution. This allows irrigation decisions to be made in advance based on predicted conditions rather than reactive watering, optimizing water application timing and quantity to match actual plant needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where plant images, soil moisture sensors, and weather data are constantly monitored and fed back to the control algorithm. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of irrigation parameters based on real-time plant water status and environmental conditions, preventing both over-irrigation and under-irrigation.
2Extent of automation
If manual irrigation monitoring is used, then simple operation is maintained, but automation degree and reliability are very low
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service irrigation by automatically monitoring plant conditions, analyzing data, and executing irrigation decisions without human intervention. The closed-loop control system autonomously adjusts irrigation parameters based on real-time sensor data and pre-set algorithms, freeing operators from manual monitoring while maintaining high reliability through consistent automated decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform: plant image recognition, soil moisture monitoring, weather data collection, irrigation scheduling, and equipment control. This multi-functional integration achieves high automation without proportionally increasing system complexity, as shared hardware and software modules serve multiple purposes.
3Measurement precision
If uniform irrigation is applied, then irrigation simplicity is maintained, but irrigation accuracy is low due to complex geological conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by dividing the irrigation area into zones with different water needs based on soil type, plant species, and topography. Each zone receives customized irrigation parameters (duration, frequency, amount) tailored to its specific characteristics rather than uniform treatment, achieving high precision irrigation across heterogeneous landscapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation system is segmented into multiple independently controllable zones or units, allowing differential irrigation strategies for different areas. This segmentation enables precise water application to specific problem areas while maintaining different conditions in other zones, addressing complex geological variations without requiring complete system redesign.
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation system and a method based on computer vision monitoring are provided. The system includes a collector, an analyzer, a controller, and irrigation equipment. The collector includes weather sensors for collecting weather information, monitoring sensors for collecting plant images, plant information sensors for collecting plant transpiration rates and leaf thicknesses, and soil sensors for collecting soil moisture information. The analyzer is used to analyze the plant images, the plant transpiration rates and the leaf thicknesses to obtain a plant type and a plant growth state, determine an irrigation scheme according to the weather information, the soil moisture information, the plant type, the plant growth state and a preset irrigation rule. The controller is used to regulate the irrigation equipment according to the irrigation scheme. It can improve the utilization rate of water resources and adopt an accurate and reasonable irrigation system.