Automatic Soil Sampler with GPS Marking and Cup Carousel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current soil sampling methods are slow and labor-intensive, limiting the ability to accurately measure nutrient variability across farm fields, which can lead to inefficient nutrient application and increased environmental risk.
Innovation Solution
An automatic soil sampler mounted on a small utility tractor that cycles a collection knife into the soil to collect samples, marks GPS locations, and stores them in identified cups, allowing for increased sampling efficiency and accuracy without increasing labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual probing methods are used for soil sampling, then labor requirements are high and sampling speed is slow, but the equipment complexity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling device is divided into multiple independent functional modules: a probe assembly for soil penetration, a collection container for sample storage, a GPS marking system for location identification, and a control system for automation. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while working together to achieve automated high-speed sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
A control system acts as an intermediary between the operator and the sampling components, coordinating the probe insertion, sample collection, GPS marking, and container identification in an automated sequence. This intermediary enables precise timing and synchronization of multiple functions without requiring complex manual coordination.
2Measurement precision
If the number of samples collected per field is increased to accurately measure nutrient variability, then measurement precision improves, but sampling time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated sampling system operates continuously without interruption, seamlessly transitioning between probe insertion, sample collection, GPS marking, and container identification. This continuous operation eliminates idle time between samples and maintains constant productive action, enabling high-volume sampling within reduced timeframes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs multiple functions including GPS location marking, container identification tagging, and sample collection without requiring manual intervention for each step. The automated control system coordinates these self-service functions to maximize sampling throughput while maintaining measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If automated sampling equipment is used to reduce hand labor, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated sampling device integrates multiple functions into a single system: soil probing, sample collection, GPS location marking, container identification, and data recording. This multi-functionality is achieved through a unified control system that coordinates all components, making the device easier to operate despite its complexity by consolidating multiple manual tasks into one automated operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic soil sampler for taking samples of topsoil has a soil breakdown assembly that cuts a shallow furrow in the soil and moves debris to the side. Soil is collected with a sampling knife having a series of empty chambers adapted to receive samples of topsoil. A rotating discus is disposed opposite the soil sampling empty chambers for urging soil into the soil sampling empty chambers. A cup carrousel carries empty identified cups for receiving soil samples. A delivery assembly places one of the empty identified cup in a cup receiving station. A filling assembly connects the knife chambers carrying collected soil samples with the cup receiving station. The cups are filled with soil samples in a collecting station. Each filled cup has its identifier sent to memory along with the location at which the sample was taken.