Wireless Soil Probes for Golf Course Irrigation Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil condition monitoring systems for landscapes like golf courses face challenges in moving soil condition probes without damaging the golf course, as they require digging up buried communication and power wires, which is inefficient and disruptive.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of wireless soil condition detection probes with long-range wireless communication modules, allowing them to transmit and receive data without the need for buried wires, and using local weather stations to supplement weather reports, enabling precise installation and data transmission without physical connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless soil condition detection probes are used, then installation and maintenance ground disturbance is minimized, but device complexity increases due to wireless communication modules and batteries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation and maintenance ground disturbanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based communication and power transmission system with a wireless electromagnetic field-based system. The soil condition probes use wireless transceivers to communicate with the central monitoring station and battery power sources eliminate the need for buried power wires, thereby minimizing ground disturbance during installation and maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless communication modules and batteries as intermediary components within the probes. These intermediaries enable the probes to function independently without direct physical connections to the central monitoring station, allowing for flexible deployment and easy repositioning without disturbing the ground infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If probes can be moved to different locations, then adaptability improves, but ground disturbance increases due to digging up buried wires

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprobe relocatabilityVSAvoidground disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the mechanical wire-based connection system that required digging up buried cables for probe relocation. By substituting this with wireless communication and battery power, the system enables probes to be freely moved to different locations on the golf course without causing ground disturbance or damaging infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the static, fixed installation model (where probes were permanently buried with wires) into a dynamic, relocatable model. The wireless-powered probes can be easily repositioned to different locations as needed, providing adaptability to changing monitoring requirements without the constraint of buried wire infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If local weather stations are used to supplement weather reports, then data accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweather data accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces local weather stations as intermediary devices that collect and transmit weather data directly to the central monitoring station. These stations serve as mediators between the environment and the monitoring system, providing localized, accurate weather information that supplements third-party reports and improves overall data accuracy for irrigation and fertilization management decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240168001A1Method and system for optimization irrigation and feritilizer application based on plant stress

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 GRAVITY TECH LLC D B A GROUNDWORX

AI summary

Multiple subterranean probes at an area of land detect soil conditions and wirelessly transmit soil condition information to a service provider's backend server or to a technician's hand-held wireless device. The server provides multiple user interface screens of a customer application that display soil condition information and irrigation system status. Local micro weather stations may determine and wirelessly transmit weather condition information to the server. An energy emission detecting appliance may be used to acquire information usable to determine fluorescence of grass. The determined fluorescence may be used to train a learning model. The learning trained model may use historical soil condition and fluorescence information to determine a stress level corresponding to the grass. The stress level may be used to modify an irrigation or fertilization schedule.