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US 11,632,918 B2Granted
System and method for detecting ponding in irrigated fields
AssigneeLindsay Corporation
InventorsKurtis Arlan Charling, Michael George Ricketts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ponding monitoring and detection system monitors, detects, and predicts ponding in an irrigated field in essentially real-time. The ponding monitoring and detection system also monitors and records locations of detected and predicted ponding.
Claims22
A mobile irrigation system for irrigating a field, the mobile irrigation system comprising:
- a plurality of spaced-apart and interconnected mobile towers;
- a fluid distribution conduit supported by the mobile towers and connected to a source of fluids;
- a plurality of fluid emitters connected to the fluid distribution conduit for applying fluids to the field as the mobile towers move over the field;
- a control system for controlling a speed and direction of the mobile towers and application of the fluids by the fluid emitters;
- and
- a ponding monitoring and detection system comprising:
- a distance measuring sensor located on the mobile irrigation system and configured to:
- sense a distance between the distance measuring sensor and a target being at least one of the field and water accumulated on the field, and
- generate distance data corresponding to the distance;
- and
- a processing system in communication with the distance measuring sensor and operable to—
- receive the distance data from the distance measuring sensor;
- compare the distance data to a threshold distance level such that standing water on the field is detected if the distance is less than a threshold distance represented by the threshold distance level;
- generate a corrective action signal if standing water on the field is detected;
- and
- transmit the corrective action signal to the control system or to a remote computing device.
13 more elements
A mobile irrigation system comprising:
- a plurality of spaced-apart and interconnected mobile towers;
- a fluid distribution conduit supported by the mobile towers and connected to a source of fluids;
- a plurality of fluid emitters connected to the fluid distribution conduit for applying fluids to a field underneath the agricultural irrigation system;
- a control system for controlling at least some of the electrical and/or mechanical components to control a speed and direction of the mobile towers and application of the fluids by the fluid emitters;
- and
- a ponding monitoring and detection system comprising:
- a distance measuring sensor located on the mobile irrigation system and configured to:
- sense a distance between the distance measuring sensor and a target being at least one of the field and water accumulated on the field, and
- generate distance data corresponding to the distance;
- a location sensor for sensing locations of the mobile irrigation system and for generating corresponding location data as the distance measuring sensor senses the distance;
- and
- a processing system located remotely from the mobile irrigation system and operable to—
- receive the distance data from the distance measuring sensor;
- receive the location data from the location sensor;
- compare the distance data to a threshold distance level such that standing water on the field is detected if the distance is less than a threshold distance represented by the threshold distance level;
- store the distance data and the location data for a plurality of locations of the mobile irrigation system as the mobile irrigation system moves;
- generate a corrective action signal if standing water on the field is detected;
- and
- transmit the corrective action signal to the control system or to a remote computing device.
16 more elements
A mobile irrigation system comprising:
- a plurality of spaced-apart and interconnected mobile towers;
- a fluid distribution conduit supported by the mobile towers and connected to a source of fluids;
- a plurality of fluid emitters connected to the fluid distribution conduit for applying fluids to a field underneath the agricultural irrigation system;
- a control system for controlling at least some of the electrical and/or mechanical components to control a speed and direction of the mobile towers and application of the fluids by the fluid emitters;
- and
- a ponding monitoring and detection system comprising:
- a distance measuring sensor located on the mobile irrigation system, the distance measuring sensor being selected from the group consisting of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor and a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) sensor, the distance measuring sensor being configured to:
- sense a distance between the distance measuring sensor and a target being at least one of the field and water accumulated on the field, and
- generate distance data corresponding to the distance;
- a location sensor for sensing locations of the mobile irrigation system and for generating corresponding location data as the distance measuring sensor senses the distance;
- and
- a processing system located remotely from the mobile irrigation system and operable to—
- receive the distance data from the distance measuring sensor;
- receive the location data from the location sensor;
- compare the distance data to a threshold distance level such that standing water on the field is detected if the distance is less than a threshold distance represented by the threshold distance level, the threshold distance level having a value dependent on the location data;
- store the distance data and the location data for a plurality of locations of the mobile irrigation system as the mobile irrigation system moves;
- generate a corrective action signal if standing water on the field is detected;
- transmit the corrective action signal to the control system or to a remote computing device;
- approximate an area of standing water on the field based on the distance data from the distance measuring sensor and the location data from the location sensor;
- and
- determine a depth of the standing water on the field based on the distance data from the distance measuring sensor.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.