Handheld Penetrometer for Soil Compaction Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current farming practices often result in over-tilling due to uniform tilling across fields with varying soil density, leading to negative environmental effects such as erosion, pollution, and nutrient leaching.

Innovation Solution

A handheld penetrometer system combined with a mobile computing application that allows for real-time soil compaction mapping and tracking, enabling farmers to accurately assess soil density at multiple points and depths within a field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If uniform tilling is applied across the entire field, then the tilling process is simple and quick to implement, but it causes over-tilling in areas with already adequate soil aeration, leading to erosion, pollution, and nutrient leaching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of tilling implementationVSAvoidenvironmental damage from over-tilling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform field-wide tilling to location-specific tilling decisions. Soil probes measure compaction at multiple discrete locations throughout the field, and each location receives tilling treatment only if its measured compaction exceeds predetermined thresholds. This ensures that tilling is applied locally only where needed rather than uniformly across the entire field, preventing over-tilling in well-aerated areas while adequately treating compacted zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using soil probes to continuously measure soil compaction levels and using these measurements to dynamically adjust tilling decisions. The system collects real-time data on soil density at various locations, compares measurements against predetermined thresholds, and automatically generates location-specific tilling prescriptions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the tilling process to respond to actual soil conditions rather than applying uniform treatment, thereby eliminating over-tilling while maintaining necessary soil aeration where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If soil probes are used to measure compaction at multiple locations, then accurate soil density data can be obtained, but the complexity of the measurement and data collection process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil density measurement accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of probe system and data collection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by designing a system where the soil probes automatically perform measurements and the mobile device automatically processes and stores the data. The probes independently measure soil compaction at each location and transmit results to the mobile device without requiring manual intervention for data transcription or processing. The system self-manages the entire measurement and data collection workflow, reducing the operational complexity despite the sophisticated measurement capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple functions into an integrated system combining soil probes, wireless communication modules, and mobile computing devices. Rather than treating measurement, data transmission, and data processing as separate operations requiring separate equipment and procedures, the system combines these functions into a unified workflow where the probe directly communicates with the mobile device, which automatically stores and analyzes the data. This merging reduces operational complexity by eliminating manual data transfer steps while maintaining high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 allows for precise identification of soil compaction variations, reducing the need for uniform tilling and thereby minimizing environmental damage while optimizing crop yield.

Implementation Method 1

The pressure gauge has a pressure sensor system chosen from either a fluid pressure dial or a load cell force measurement system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensor detection:

Implementation Method 2

The load cell has the top portion of the downwardly extending central support pole that converts pressure applied by the downwardly extending central support pole to the load cell into electrical current that correlates to a pressure level

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLoad cell force measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS12216096B1Systems and methods for plotting soil profile density with handheld penetrometers

Publication Date: 2025.02.04 TERRAFORM TILLAGE LLC

AI summary

A penetrometer system having a handheld, manually implemented penetrometer that includes a downwardly extending central support pole having a top portion, a bottom, and a ground engaging end opposite the top portion at an end distal from the top portion and a top end opposite the ground engaging end; an outwardly extending right side handle engaged with the top portion; an outwardly extending left side handle engaged with the top portion; a pressure gauge having a perimeter defining a gauge perimeter shape wherein the pressure gauge has a pressure sensor system; and a mounting system for the removable attachment of a mobile computing device such that the mobile computing device is in line or at least substantially in line with the downwardly extending central support pole and a display screen of the mobile computing device is viewable while the penetrometer is in use by the user.