Agricultural Soil Sensor Mounting Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining crop input levels in agricultural fields, such as satellite imagery and modified trucks, are either costly, limited by environmental conditions, or fail to accurately account for soil, water, and topography variability, leading to inefficient resource use and potential environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A mounting assembly for a soil electrical conductivity mapping system that can be integrated with agricultural equipment, featuring pivotable support arms, shock absorbers, and a non-conductive sled, allowing for adjustable sensor positioning and data collection during regular field operations, thereby enhancing mapping capacity and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If satellite imagery is used to determine crop input levels, then equipment cost is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability are insufficient for fields with soil, water, and topography variability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrical conductivity sensor as an intermediary device mounted on agricultural equipment to bridge the gap between satellite imagery and direct soil measurement. The sensor provides intermediate, more precise measurements of soil electrical conductivity that correlate with field variability, enabling better crop input prescriptions without requiring expensive modified trucks or extensive soil sampling programs
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the farmer's existing agricultural equipment (tractors, implements) to perform the mapping function, eliminating the need for specialized mapping trucks or external service providers. The equipment serves dual purposes: its original agricultural function plus field mapping data collection, reducing overall system cost while maintaining measurement capability
2Measurement precision
If modified trucks with specialized sensors are used for field mapping, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and operational limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the agricultural equipment universal by enabling it to perform both its original agricultural task and field mapping simultaneously. The electrical conductivity sensor, GPS receiver, and data collection system are integrated onto standard equipment that farmers already operate throughout the field, eliminating the need for separate specialized mapping vehicles and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly incorporates pivotable support arms with adjustable positioning mechanisms, allowing the sensor to dynamically adapt to different equipment configurations and field conditions. This dynamic adjustability enables precise sensor positioning without requiring complex fixed modifications to the equipment
3Measurement precision
If soil sampling is performed for each management zone, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time and resource expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous data collection as the agricultural equipment moves through the field during normal operations. The electrical conductivity sensor continuously measures soil properties along the equipment's path, building up a complete field map without interruption, whereas traditional soil sampling requires stopping to collect and process discrete samples at various locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical soil sampling process (physical collection, transport, and laboratory analysis of soil samples) with an electrical measurement system. The electrical conductivity sensor non-invasively measures soil properties in-situ, eliminating the time-consuming mechanical sampling workflow while providing continuous spatial data
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
This solution enables more efficient and cost-effective data collection across larger areas, improving crop input prescription accuracy and reducing the risk of soil disease transmission, while allowing mapping in adverse conditions, potentially increasing mapping capacity by 10,000 to 50,000 acres per year.
Implementation Method 1
One or more shock absorbers may be coupled between the support arm(s) and the main beam
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the analysis of field characteristics to help determine prescriptions for crop input levels. A non-conductive enclosure houses a mapping system. The enclosure has a rectangular base and four walls extending from the base. A removable cover is received by the four walls. A foam interior receives at least one conductivity sensor. A port receives at least one electrical connection from an agricultural equipment in order to interface with the mapping system. A mounting assembly may mount the non-conductive enclosure to the agricultural equipment.