Irrigation Hub Broadcast Scheduling for Low-Power Valve Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current irrigation systems face challenges in optimizing water application timing and amount without waste, particularly in larger systems where multiple controllers need centralized management, and there is a need for efficient power management to ensure continuous operation of electronic controllers.
Innovation Solution
A wireless network system comprising a network hub and remote terminal units for irrigation control or sensing, using a computer processor and memory to transmit wireless broadcasts with encoded parameters, allowing for efficient communication and state management of irrigation devices, including valves and sensors, to ensure precise control and minimize power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized system addresses multiple controllers in larger irrigation systems, then system control capability is improved, but communication time and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control system into distributed mesh network nodes where each controller can independently communicate with others. This segmentation allows parallel communication paths, reducing latency while maintaining comprehensive system control capability across multiple irrigation controllers.
2Measurement precision
If electronic controllers are used for irrigation control, then control precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic wake-up cycles where electronic controllers enter low-power sleep mode between operational periods. Controllers wake periodically to check for messages, perform control functions, and then return to sleep, maintaining precise control capability while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh network enables controllers to relay messages for other nodes, allowing sleeping controllers to remain inactive while still participating in network communication through neighboring active nodes. This self-service approach maintains system functionality while minimizing power consumption of individual controllers.
3Ease of operation
If battery power is used in remote terminal units, then installation flexibility is improved, but operational duration decreases due to power constraints
Solution Approach 1:
Remote terminal units utilize periodic wake-up cycles, sleeping for extended periods and activating only to receive commands or transmit status information. This periodic operation extends battery life from months to years while maintaining installation flexibility, as units can be deployed in locations without power access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network hub monitors battery status and operational patterns of remote terminal units, dynamically adjusting communication schedules and wake-up frequencies to optimize battery consumption while ensuring reliable operation throughout the battery's lifespan.
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation system includes a network hub and a plurality of remote terminal units configured for wireless communication with the network hub. The remote terminal units are connected to a device for irrigation control or sensing, such as a valve for a sprinkler. The network hub is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to the remote terminal units, in which the wireless broadcast includes a plurality of individual packets transmitted in succession, each of the plurality of individual packets including a network identifier associated with the network hub, a time remaining in a broadcast period of time, and an assignment map indicative of an assigned state for each of the plurality of remote terminal units.