GPS Tower Unit for Center Pivot Irrigation Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing center pivot irrigation systems are complex and inconvenient for remote monitoring and control, relying on angular orientation calculations and requiring on-site programming, which hinders efficient operation and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A GPS-based system that determines the position of the rotatable arm by positioning a tower unit with a GPS receiver and associating actions with coordinates, allowing remote units to initiate operations based on matching location coordinates, eliminating the need for angular orientation calculations and enabling remote monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS-based angular orientation calculation is used to control center pivot irrigation system, then the system can determine rotatable arm position, but the system complexity increases and remote monitoring capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control logic from the field and relocates it to a remote server. The GPS receiver and controller in the field only handle basic position reporting and actuation, while the complex angular orientation calculations and control decisions are performed remotely, reducing on-site complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a remote server as an intermediary between the GPS receiver and the controller. This server acts as a mediator that receives raw GPS data, performs the complex angular orientation calculations, and sends simplified control commands back to the field equipment, thereby reducing system complexity at the field level while maintaining measurement precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If on-site programming is required for center pivot irrigation system, then the system can be configured for specific operations, but operational convenience and scalability to multiple systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables configuration data to be copied and transferred between multiple systems via the remote server. Once a system is programmed at the remote location, the configuration can be replicated to other systems, eliminating the need for on-site programming for each system while maintaining full adaptability and configuration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote server provides universal control capability that can manage multiple irrigation systems simultaneously. A single remote interface can configure and control any number of systems, making the system universally applicable and eliminating the need for separate on-site programming for each individual system.
3Reliability
If multiple center pivot irrigation systems are managed with on-site control, then each system can operate independently, but the time and effort required for monitoring and control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of multiple independent irrigation systems into a single remote interface. While each system continues to operate independently in the field, their monitoring and control functions are combined and centralized at the remote server, allowing one operator to manage multiple systems simultaneously and dramatically reducing the time and effort required for monitoring and control.
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
Simplifies the operation of center pivot irrigation systems by allowing remote monitoring and control, reducing complexity and improving operational efficiency, and facilitating management of multiple systems without the need for on-site recalculations or programming.
Implementation Method 1
determining a location of the rotatable arm using a GPS receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a position of a rotatable arm of a center pivot irrigation system may comprise providing a pivot arm position sensing system including a tower unit positionable at the rotatable arm and a GPS receiver at the tower unit, and receiving, from a user over a communication network, a schedule for operating the irrigation system as the rotatable arm rotates. The schedule may include at least two instructions for taking an action by the irrigation system with each instruction including an action and a corresponding location for the action. The method may further include downloading the schedule over a communication network to storage on the position sensing system, determining a location of the tower unit as the tower unit moves about the center of rotation using the GPS receiver, and initiating an action when the location corresponds to the location in one of the instructions.