Integrated Irrigation Sensor Suite for Real-Time Crop Input Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern irrigation systems face challenges in accurately and efficiently monitoring soil water content and crop conditions across large fields, with existing methods being time-consuming and lacking in real-time data integration for decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A system integrating real-time data from an array of sensors mounted on mechanized irrigation machines, including spectrometers, radiometers, and sensors for temperature, rainfall, humidity, and barometric pressure, which send data to a central control for analytics to determine crop health, water use, and stress, generating irrigation and crop management recommendations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual methods or multiple soil water content sensors are used to monitor soil water levels, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (soil water content, temperature, humidity, wind speed, precipitation) into a single integrated sensor unit mounted on the irrigation machine. This merging approach maintains measurement precision while eliminating the need for multiple separate sensors and manual monitoring, thereby reducing time loss and operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service monitoring by automatically collecting and transmitting field data through sensors mounted on the irrigation machine itself. The machine performs its own monitoring function while irrigating, eliminating the need for separate manual monitoring activities and reducing time loss without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple independent sensors are installed in the field to monitor various parameters, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of information increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensing functions (optical sensors for crop health, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, wind speed sensors, precipitation sensors) into a single consolidated sensor unit mounted on the irrigation machine. This approach maintains comprehensive monitoring capability and measurement precision while significantly reducing system complexity compared to distributed independent sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor unit serves multiple monitoring functions simultaneously - crop health assessment, environmental condition monitoring, and irrigation management - all from a single device location. This multi-functionality maintains comprehensive data collection capability while reducing the number of separate devices needed, thereby lowering system complexity.
3Productivity
If real-time data collection from multiple sensors is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and use of energy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates data collection, processing, and transmission functions into an integrated system mounted on the irrigation machine. This merging approach enables real-time productivity improvements through immediate irrigation decisions while managing system complexity through unified architecture rather than multiple independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation machine performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment by collecting real-time data from integrated sensors and automatically adjusting irrigation operations. This self-service capability improves productivity through immediate responsiveness while keeping the system relatively simple by eliminating the need for separate complex data integration infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides reliable, real-time data for dynamic management of irrigation and crop inputs, enabling precise application of water and other resources, reducing waste and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a spectrometer
Implementation Method 2
a radiometer and sensors to measure temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, barometric pressure, solar radiation
Implementation Method 3
sensors to measure temperature
Implementation Method 4
sensors to measure temperature, rainfall, relative humidity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a system for combining the use of near real-time and/or real-time data acquired from an array of single purpose or integrated sensors mounted on a mechanized irrigation machine. According to a preferred embodiment, the integrated sensor of the present invention preferably provides for the collection of a variety data. According to a further preferred embodiment, the integrated sensor suite of the present invention may preferably include internally mounted sensors within a common housing which preferably includes a spectrometer, a radiometer and sensors to measure temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and barometric pressure. According to a further preferred embodiment, the number of integrated sensors mounted on a mechanized irrigation machine may preferably be determined based on a detected number of management zones and/or a detected location.