Flexible Plant Sensor with Strain Detection for Water Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water conservation techniques in agriculture are inefficient due to the lack of localized monitoring of water usage by individual plants, leading to overwatering or underwatering, and the high cost and resource intensity of deploying sensors for environmental data collection.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system comprising a plant growth sensor with a strain sensor on a flexible substrate, environmental sensors for temperature and humidity, and processing electronics with a wireless communication transceiver, designed for lightweight, flexible deployment and integration with airborne vehicles for efficient distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional water sensors are placed in the soil to monitor moisture content, then water conservation can be achieved, but the sensors provide only generalized information about soil moisture rather than individual plant water usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring system by attaching individual sensors to each plant rather than using centralized soil sensors. Each sensor independently monitors its host plant's growth and environmental conditions, providing granular data about individual plant water usage and health without requiring complex deployment infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces plant-attached sensors as intermediaries between the plant and the monitoring system. These sensors directly measure plant-specific parameters (growth, local temperature, humidity) rather than inferring from general soil conditions, serving as a mediator that provides accurate individual plant data.
2Measurement precision
If more sensors are deployed per unit area to provide localized temperature and humidity information, then measurement precision is improved, but deployment becomes more time consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments environmental monitoring by placing dedicated sensors on each plant, capturing localized microclimate data (temperature, humidity) specific to each plant's immediate environment. This segmentation provides high measurement precision for localized conditions while the modular nature of individual sensor attachments simplifies deployment compared to dense fixed sensor networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the monitoring approach from measuring fixed environmental parameters at static locations to measuring plant-specific parameters (growth rate, local microclimate) that naturally provide localized information. Each sensor captures parameters relevant to its host plant's immediate environment, achieving localized precision without requiring dense spatial distribution.
3Measurement precision
If active imaging systems are used to monitor plant growth, then growth information can be obtained, but the systems become complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential growth measurement function from complex active imaging systems and implements it through simple strain sensors attached directly to the plant. Instead of using elaborate imaging infrastructure to infer growth, the system directly measures physical elongation with simple, plant-mounted sensors that provide accurate growth data without imaging complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive strain sensors that can be easily attached and replaced on individual plants. These low-cost sensors provide accurate growth measurement without the high expense and complexity of active imaging systems, accepting that sensors may be temporary or plant-specific rather than requiring durable, expensive infrastructure.
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 provides localized, cost-effective monitoring of plant growth and environmental conditions, reducing water waste and improving plant health through precise data collection and transmission, while minimizing resource consumption and sensor deployment costs.
Implementation Method 1
The plant growth sensor includes a strain sensor arranged on a first stretchable and flexible substrate
Implementation Method 2
The processing electronics include a wireless communication transceiver
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system includes a plant growth sensor, an environmental sensor device, and processing electronics. The plant growth sensor includes a strain sensor arranged on a first stretchable and flexible substrate. The environmental sensor device includes first and second environmental sensors arranged on a second stretchable and flexible substrate. The processing electronics are electrically coupled to the plant growth sensor and the environmental sensor device. The processing electronics include a wireless communication transceiver.