Irrigation Controller Coordination for Shared Valve State Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation systems face challenges in efficiently coordinating and controlling multiple controllers across a geographic area, leading to inconsistencies in irrigation scheduling and resource management, particularly with shared control elements like master valves and sensors.
Innovation Solution
A central irrigation controller communicates assumptions about control element states to satellite controllers, allowing for identification of corrections and updates, ensuring consistent implementation of irrigation scheduling instructions through a network of shared control elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple irrigation controllers are used to control irrigation over a geographic area, then the coverage area and irrigation capability are improved, but inconsistencies in irrigation scheduling and coordination between controllers occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the irrigation control function into multiple independent controllers (master and satellite controllers), each managing specific geographic zones. This segmentation allows expanded coverage while maintaining individual controller autonomy for local decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where satellite controllers send status information about shared control elements back to the master controller, which then coordinates adjustments to maintain consistent irrigation scheduling across all zones.
2Adaptability or versatility
If shared control elements like master valves and sensors are used across multiple controllers, then resource efficiency is improved, but coordination complexity and state management difficulties increase
Solution Approach 1:
Control elements such as master valves and sensors are designed to serve multiple controllers simultaneously. A single master valve can control water flow for multiple satellite controllers, and sensors can provide data to multiple controllers, reducing the total number of components needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The master controller acts as an intermediary between satellite controllers and shared control elements. It receives requests from satellite controllers, coordinates access to shared resources, manages state information, and ensures proper sequencing to avoid conflicts.
3Reliability
If real-time communication between controllers is implemented, then irrigation scheduling consistency is improved, but communication overhead and system response time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Controllers communicate at periodic intervals rather than continuously. The master controller periodically requests status information from satellite controllers and distributes updated scheduling instructions, reducing communication overhead while maintaining synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exchanges assumption broadcasts that predict future states of control elements before actual changes occur. This allows controllers to prepare for upcoming irrigation events in advance, reducing last-minute communication needs and improving response efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide systems and methods of controlling irrigation, comprising: communicating an assumption broadcast from a first irrigation controller to each of a plurality of other irrigation controllers defining assumed states of control elements, wherein the control elements are shared with one or more of the first irrigation controller and the other irrigation controllers; determining whether a reply is received from one or more of the other irrigation controllers in reply to the assumption broadcast; identifying, from the reply, a correction to a state corresponding to a first control element; updating state information corresponding to the first control element in response to the identifying the correction; and communicating a subsequent notification from the first irrigation controller to each of the plurality of other irrigation controllers of the irrigation system, where the subsequent notification comprises the updated state information corresponding to the first control element.