Artificial roots for soil nutrient uptake monitoring
AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College
InventorSameer Sonkusale
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Abstract
A biomimetic plant for implantation into soil includes an ion-sensitive electrode, a biomimetic root, and readout-and-communication circuitry. The biomimetic root uses energy in its environment to cause water to flow continuously past the ion-sensitive electrode. The readout-and-communication circuitry transmits data that results from measurement by the ion-sensitive electrode to a central base station.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising a soil-monitoring platform for providing continuous measurements of substances in soil, wherein said soil-monitoring platform comprises a biomimetic plant for implantation into said soil, wherein said biomimetic plant comprises an ion-sensitive electrode, a biomimetic root, a biomimetic leaf, and readout-and-communication circuitry, wherein said biomimetic root uses energy in an environment thereof to cause water to flow continuously past said ion-sensitive electrode and wherein said communication circuitry transmits data that results from measurement by said ion-sensitive electrode to a central base station.
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A method comprising receiving a signal from a biomimetic plant, wherein said signal comprises information concerning flow of water along an artificial root of said biomimetic plant, said signal being derived from an ion-sensitive electrode on said biomimetic plant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.