Subsurface Amendment Dispensing for Targeted Depth Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack the ability to efficiently and cost-effectively inject soil amendments at targeted depths below the root zone with minimal surface disruption, failing to optimize irrigation management and enhance soil health and water retention.
Innovation Solution
A device for dispensing constituent materials by weight, volume, flow, or time interval through actuated dispenser openings connected to chambers and vessels, utilizing a gate, actuator, load cell, AI robot, PLC, encoder, limit switch, and sensor to enable precise and sequential subsurface injection of materials, including live organisms and biochar, at specific depths and intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If surface spreading and mechanical blending methods are used to apply soil amendments, then application coverage is achieved, but surface disruption increases and targeted depth injection is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the soil amendment application process into distinct depth zones using multiple independently controllable dispenser openings at different depths, allowing precise targeted injection without surface disruption while maintaining effective application coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a subsurface injection system as an intermediary method between surface application and deep soil amendment, using controlled dispensing openings at specific depths to deliver amendments directly to root zones without disrupting the soil surface
2Productivity
If traditional irrigation management is used, then water application is achieved, but water efficiency is low and environmental damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors and controllers that monitor soil moisture conditions and provide feedback to the dispensing mechanism, enabling precise control of amendment application timing and quantity to optimize irrigation efficiency and prevent environmental damage from over-irrigation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of water application by injecting amendments at specific depths and controlling dispensing rates, transforming traditional surface irrigation into a precision subsurface application system that improves water efficiency and reduces environmental harm
3Reliability
If multiple soil amendments are applied simultaneously, then soil health improvement is achieved, but dispensing control precision is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments multiple soil amendment applications into separate controlled streams through different dispenser openings, allowing each amendment to be dispensed with precise control while maintaining the overall effectiveness of combined soil health improvements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically controllable dispenser openings that can be independently activated or deactivated, allowing flexible control of multiple amendments based on real-time conditions while maintaining precise dispensing control for each material
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 targeted and efficient subsurface injection of soil amendments, improving soil health, water retention, and drought resilience while minimizing surface disruption, thereby enhancing crop yield and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
dispensing measured amendments in sequence through a sub-surface injection system
Implementation Method 2
The encoder, the limit switch, and the sensor enable sequential dispensing of one or more constituents at targeted depths
Implementation Method 3
The gate, the actuator a physical gate; and the load cell enable a sequential dispensing of one or more constituents at targeted depths
Data Source
AI summary
A device disperses a plurality of constituent materials by one or more of weight, volume, flow, time interval, and depths through one or more actuated dispenser openings connected to one or more of a plurality of chambers and a plurality of vessels. The device includes a gate (411B); an actuator a physical gate (405B); one or more load cells (605A, 605B. and 713); an artificial intelligence (AI) robot (807C); a lens (905); a computer (811C); a programmable logic controller (PLC) (805C); an encoder (1005B); a limit switch (1209B); and a sensor. The gate (411B), the actuator a physical gate (405B); and the load cell (713) enable a sequential dispensing of one or more constituents at targeted depths via the AI robot (807C), the lens (905), the computer (811C), the PLC (805C); the encoder (1005B), the limit switch (1209B), and/the sensor. The gate (411B), the actuator a physical gate (405B); and the load cell (713) are used to dispense by the load cell (605A) measuring the constituents by weight.