Weather-Adaptive Irrigation Scheduling for Divided Farm Fields
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic irrigation systems face the risk of unsuitable soil moisture content for plants due to weather changes when applied to outdoor farm fields.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation system that determines the irrigation schedule based on environmental values and weather forecasts to maintain suitable soil moisture levels, using a control device and monitoring units to adjust water supply in divided areas of the farm field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic irrigation system is applied to outdoor farm fields, then irrigation automation is achieved, but soil moisture content becomes unsuitable for plants due to weather changes
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation schedule is dynamically adjusted based on real-time environmental values (temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation) and weather forecast data. The control device continuously updates the irrigation schedule to adapt to changing weather conditions, transforming a static automated system into a dynamic one that responds to environmental variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring environmental values from sensors and weather forecast information. The control device uses this feedback to determine appropriate irrigation amounts and timing, creating a closed-loop control system that adjusts irrigation based on actual and predicted weather conditions.
2Device complexity
If irrigation schedule is fixed, then system simplicity is maintained, but soil moisture content becomes unsuitable due to weather changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by incorporating weather forecast data in advance to proactively adjust the irrigation schedule. Instead of merely reacting to current conditions, the system anticipates future weather changes and pre-adjusts irrigation timing and amounts, allowing for more reliable soil moisture management.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation schedule parameters (irrigiation timing, duration, amount) are changed based on environmental values and weather forecasts. The control device modifies these parameters dynamically to match changing weather conditions, enabling the system to maintain suitable soil moisture content without requiring complete system redesign.
3Reliability
If irrigation amount is increased to compensate for weather changes, then soil moisture adequacy is improved, but water waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system precisely adjusts irrigation parameters (amount, timing, duration) based on actual environmental measurements and weather forecasts. By changing these parameters dynamically rather than using fixed or increased amounts, the system maintains adequate soil moisture while minimizing water waste through optimized irrigation dosing.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism allows the system to determine the exact irrigation amount needed based on environmental conditions and weather predictions. This prevents both under-irrigation and over-irrigation by using real-time data to calculate precise water requirements, thereby avoiding water waste while ensuring soil moisture adequacy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control device controls a water supply device that supplies irrigation water to an open farm field in which a plant grows. The control device includes a storage unit, a calculation unit, and an output unit. The storage unit stores an environment value of each of a plurality of divided areas obtained by dividing the farm field and weather forecast of the farm field. The calculation unit calculates, based on an environment value and the weather forecast, an irrigation schedule in which supply time and amount of the irrigation water individually supplied to each of the plurality of divided areas during the irrigation period are determined. The output unit outputs to the water supply device, a control signal to control supply and no supply of the irrigation water to each of the plurality of divided areas based on the irrigation schedule.