Revolving Arm Probe Assembly for Automated Soil Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turf maintenance equipment, such as soil moisture sensors and penetrometers, require manual insertion and extraction of probes, making it laborious and time-consuming to measure soil parameters over large areas, as operators need to repeatedly stop and start vehicles or walk to collect data.
Innovation Solution
A mobile turf instrument apparatus with a revolving arm that cyclically moves a probe assembly into and out of the ground, equipped with a soil moisture sensor and load cell, allowing for automatic and efficient data collection while the apparatus is driven over the turf, reducing operator effort and increasing productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual insertion and extraction of probes is used, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The probe assembly is mounted on a revolving arm that dynamically moves the probe into and out of the ground during vehicle operation. The arm rotates to position the probe vertically downward, allowing automatic insertion without stopping the vehicle, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while dramatically improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The revolving arm mechanism automatically performs the insertion and extraction functions that previously required manual operator intervention. The system serves itself by using the vehicle's motion and the arm's rotation to complete the measurement cycle without human effort, resolving the contradiction between precision and productivity
2Measurement precision
If the vehicle stops at each measurement location, then accurate probe insertion is achieved, but measurement time and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The revolving arm provides dynamic positioning capability that allows the probe to be inserted vertically into the ground while the vehicle is in motion. The arm's rotation compensates for the vehicle's forward movement, maintaining proper probe orientation and insertion accuracy without requiring the vehicle to stop at each measurement point
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement process becomes continuous as the vehicle moves along the turf area. The revolving arm continuously cycles the probe through insertion, measurement, and extraction phases while the vehicle travels, eliminating the intermittent stopping that previously broke the measurement continuity and consumed time
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple measurement parameters are collected simultaneously, then comprehensive turf health assessment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The revolving arm mechanism serves as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple different probe assemblies for measuring various parameters including soil moisture, soil compaction, and other turf health indicators. This multi-functional design allows comprehensive assessment without proportionally increasing complexity, as the arm structure and control system remain the same across different measurement types
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
Enables efficient and automated measurement of soil moisture and compaction across large areas without the need for manual insertion and extraction, significantly reducing the time and labor required for data collection while allowing for simultaneous measurement of other turf parameters like health using additional instruments.
Implementation Method 1
many known soil moisture sensors determine the moisture content of the soil using Timed Domain Reflectometry (TDR). A TDR sensor involves sticking a probe assembly comprising various probes into the ground. When the probes are pulsed with electrical energy while they are inserted into the ground, a reading can be taken from which the moisture content of the soil can be derived.
Implementation Method 2
The penetrometer includes a load cell that measures the resistance the probe assembly encounters when entering the ground. This resistance is a measure of how compacted the soil is at the spot where the probe assembly has been inserted into the ground.
Implementation Method 3
The light generated is reflected off of the grass surface of the turf and is measured by a photodiode. Red light is absorbed by plant chlorophyll as an energy source during photosynthesis. Therefore, healthy turf absorbs more red light and reflects larger amounts of NIR than turf that is unhealthy.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile turf instrument apparatus has a wheeled frame that may be propelled over the ground by a motive device, such as by a separate vehicle or by its own engine and drive train. A driven arm is carried on the frame and revolves in circles to periodically insert the probe(s) of a probe assembly into the ground during motion of the frame. The drive to the arm is momentarily disengaged when the probe(s) of the probe assembly are inserted into the ground. The probe assembly comprises two parts that rock relative to one another. Two soil measurement devices are connected to the probe assembly. A soil moisture sensor is coupled to the probe assembly for measuring soil moisture when the probe(s) are inserted into the ground. A load cell is responsive to the amount of rocking of the two parts of the probe assembly to measure soil compaction.