Mobile Irrigation Auto-Reverse Control With Position Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile irrigation systems lack effective monitoring feedback, making it difficult to ensure successful auto-reversals without costly smart machine upgrades, which increases operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A control system for mobile irrigation systems that directs drive motors to reverse only at designated auto-reverse positions and communicates with remote users in case of faults or failed auto-reversals, ensuring proper initiation and completion of auto-reversals without requiring complex smart machine configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile irrigation systems use simple switches and discrete status wires with limited information transfer, then the system maintains low complexity and low cost, but monitoring feedback is insufficient making it difficult to ensure successful auto-reversals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control system monitors the position switch signal, determines if an obstacle is present by checking if the trigger signal persists after a predetermined time period, and provides feedback control by maintaining the reversed position. The system continuously monitors whether the mobile irrigation system has successfully reversed by checking if the position switch signal terminates, ensuring reliable auto-reverse completion without requiring smart machine upgrades.
2Reliability
If mobile irrigation systems are converted into smart machines with monitoring feedback, then auto-reverse completion can be ensured, but the operation complexity increases greatly making it overwhelming for farmers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing only the specific feedback control functions needed for auto-reverse operations rather than converting the entire system to a smart machine. The control system selectively monitors position switch signals and implements obstacle detection only when triggered, providing sufficient reliability for auto-reversals without the overwhelming complexity of full smart machine conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs self-service by automatically determining obstacles through timing analysis of position switch signals and autonomously maintaining reversed positions without farmer intervention. The system self-monitors its own operation status and self-corrects by keeping the mobile irrigation system in the reversed position until the trigger signal terminates, eliminating the need for complex smart machine interfaces.
3Reliability
If the control system monitors position switch signals and determines obstacles by timing analysis, then false initiation of auto-reversals is prevented, but the response time may be delayed due to predetermined time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring the position switch signal and preparing to detect obstacles before they cause damage. When the trigger signal is first detected, the system immediately initiates the timing analysis process, and upon confirming obstacle presence through the predetermined time period, quickly commands the drive motor to reverse. This preliminary monitoring and rapid response minimizes the effective delay while ensuring false triggers are prevented.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile irrigation system including a number of spans, a number of mobile irrigation towers supporting the spans, and a control system. The control system includes a position switch configured to be triggered and transmit a trigger signal and a controller configured to receive the trigger signal from the position switch. Upon receiving the trigger signal, the controller is configured to determine whether a current position of the mobile irrigation system equates to an auto-reverse position. If the current position equates to the auto-reverse position, the controller is configured to transmit a reverse direction signal to a drive motor of one of the mobile irrigation towers to reverse direction so that the drive motor reverses direction.