Irrigation Controller ET Adjustment and Soil Moisture Shutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional irrigation controllers are difficult for users to set up and adjust, leading to inefficient water use and potential damage to turf and landscaping, as they require horticultural knowledge and frequent maintenance, and existing ET-based systems are complex and intimidating for non-professionals.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation system with environmental and soil moisture sensors that automatically modify watering schedules based on evapotranspiration data, using a user-friendly interface and pre-programmed constants to simplify setup and adjustment, allowing for wireless communication and reduced maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional irrigation controllers are set up to provide maximum irrigation for the hottest and driest season, then plant health is maintained during peak conditions, but large amounts of water are wasted during cooler or wetter periods
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation controller dynamically adjusts watering schedules based on real-time environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation) and soil moisture sensor feedback, transitioning from static maximum irrigation settings to adaptive scheduling that matches actual plant needs throughout the year
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates soil moisture sensors that provide continuous feedback to the controller, enabling closed-loop control where irrigation decisions are automatically modified based on actual soil moisture levels, preventing both water waste and plant stress
2Loss of energy
If ET-based irrigation controllers automatically adjust watering schedules based on weather conditions, then water conservation is achieved, but the system becomes complex and intimidating for non-professional users
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic ET calculations and scheduling adjustments without requiring user input of horticultural parameters, using pre-programmed defaults and automated weather data collection to eliminate the need for professional knowledge while maintaining advanced water conservation capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that automatically processes complex ET calculations and translates weather data into user-friendly scheduling decisions, shielding non-technical users from the complexity while delivering optimized irrigation schedules
3Loss of energy
If users manually adjust seasonal watering schedules, then some water conservation is achieved, but users often forget to re-set the adjustment feature, resulting in considerable water waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs seasonal adjustments based on real-time environmental monitoring and soil moisture feedback, eliminating the need for users to remember or manually reset seasonal settings while maintaining continuous water conservation optimization
4Device complexity
If conventional irrigation controllers require manual entry of watering schedules, then the system is simple in structure, but the system is difficult to set up and adjust for non-professional users
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically collects weather data, calculates ET values, and generates optimized watering schedules without requiring users to manually enter horticultural parameters or understand irrigation science, maintaining structural simplicity while dramatically improving ease of setup and operation
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation system includes at least one environmental sensor, such as a solar radiation sensor that is installed on an irrigation site, and a soil moisture sensor that is also installed on the irrigation site. Programming allows an estimated ET value to be calculated based at least in part on the output signal of the environmental sensor. A pre-programmed watering schedule is automatically modified based on the estimated ET value to thereby conserve water while maintaining the health of plants on the irrigation site. The system automatically inhibits irrigation when an output signal of the soil moisture sensor indicates an amount of moisture in the soil is above a predetermined threshold.