Integrated High-Low Frequency Soil and Plant Analysis for Accurate Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural soil and plant analysis systems face challenges with measurement accuracy issues, particularly in precision farming, due to inaccuracies in soil sensors and remote satellite sensing.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system with both high and low frequency soil and plant analysis sensors, where high frequency measurements are quickly taken at lower accuracy to be corrected by less frequent, higher accuracy low frequency measurements, using a combination of sensors mounted on agricultural implements and vehicles, and integrated data processing to create spatial maps of soil and plant properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high frequency soil sensors are used for quick measurements, then measurement speed and resolution are improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines high frequency sensors (for speed and resolution) with low frequency sensors (for accuracy) into a single integrated system. The high frequency sensor captures rapid changes in soil properties, while the low frequency sensor provides accurate baseline measurements, and their data are fused to achieve both speed and precision simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts measurement strategies by using high frequency measurements during periods of rapid change and low frequency measurements during stable conditions. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between measurement speed and accuracy based on actual field conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If low frequency soil sensors are used for accurate measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but measurement speed and resolution deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges low frequency accurate sensors with high frequency rapid sensors, allowing the low frequency sensor to provide periodic calibration and correction data that enhance the accuracy of high frequency measurements without limiting the overall measurement speed of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If remote satellite sensing is used for soil analysis, then coverage area is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates remote satellite sensing data with ground-based sensor measurements. The satellite data provide broad spatial coverage and contextual information, while ground-based sensors provide accurate localized measurements, and their combination creates a comprehensive system that achieves both wide coverage and high precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4139674B1High and low frequency soil and plant analysis systems with integrated measurements

Publication Date: 2025.07.09 PRECISION PLANTING LLC

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AI summary

A soil or plant analysis apparatus to perform low and high frequency measurements is described herein. In one embodiment, the soil analysis apparatus comprises a first sub-system to perform low frequency soil measurements and a second sub-system to perform high frequency soil measurements. The high frequency measurements of the second sub-system are at least 1.25 times the low frequency measurements of the first sub-system.