1. An advanced soil compaction tool (100) for land degradation recovery, the tool (100) comprising: a penetration assembly (102) adapted to insert a probe into soil using a motorized actuator operating at a constant penetration rate to obtain depth-resolved penetration resistance data; a force sensor (104) operatively coupled with the penetration assembly (102) and adapted to measure resistance encountered during insertion to generate a continuous penetration resistance profile; a bulk-density unit (106) adapted to measure in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores; a moisture sensor (108) adapted to detect soil moisture content for correction of compaction measurements; an electronics unit (110) adapted to acquire and condition sensor signals comprising penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data; and a processing unit (114) communicatively coupled with the penetration assembly (102), the force sensor (104), the bulk-density unit (106), the moisture sensor (108), and the electronics unit (110), characterized in that the processing unit (114) is configured to: receive conditioned sensor signals comprising the penetration resistance, the bulk density, and the moisture data from the electronics unit (110); process the received sensor signals to compute a soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth; apply moisture compensation and soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters; associate computed soil parameters with geographical coordinates to generate geo-referenced compaction data; and generate actionable land restoration recommendations including tillage intensity and optimal subsoiling depth based on analyzed soil compaction characteristics.

2. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the penetration assembly (102) comprises an abrasion-resistant probe tip adapted to withstand corrosive and compacted soil conditions.

3. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a geo-spatial mapping unit (112) adapted to acquire geographical coordinates corresponding to measured soil parameters.

4. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to identify compaction layers and determine depth of hardpan formation based on processed sensor signals.

5. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to generate two-dimensional and three-dimensional compaction maps for field-scale visualization.

6. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to correlate soil strength and bulk density data with predefined agronomic thresholds to generate restoration recommendations.

7. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronics unit (110) is configured to store time-series data for longitudinal monitoring of soil compaction.

8. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the geo-spatial mapping unit (112) comprises a global navigation satellite system for real-time field mapping.

9. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to integrate penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data to generate a unified soil compaction index.

10. A method (300) for analyzing soil compaction for land degradation recovery, the method (300) is characterized by steps of: inserting, by a penetration assembly (102), a probe into soil using a motorized actuator operating at a constant penetration rate to obtain depth-resolved penetration resistance data; measuring, by a force sensor (104) operatively coupled with the penetration assembly (102), resistance encountered during insertion to generate a continuous penetration resistance profile; measuring, by a bulk-density unit (106), in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores; detecting, by a moisture sensor (108), soil moisture content for correction of compaction measurements; acquiring and conditioning, by an electronics unit (110), sensor signals comprising penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data; acquiring, by a geo-spatial mapping unit (112), geographical coordinates corresponding to measured soil parameters; receiving the sensor signals from the penetration assembly (102), the force sensor (104), the bulk-density unit (106), the moisture sensor (108), and the electronics unit (110); processing the received sensor signals to compute a soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth; applying moisture compensation and soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters; associating computed soil parameters with geographical coordinates to generate geo-referenced compaction data; and generating actionable land restoration recommendations including tillage intensity and optimal subsoiling depth based on analyzed soil compaction characteristics. Date: May 13, 2026 Place: Noida Nainsi Rastogi Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372) Agent for the Applicant

Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to soil science and agricultural engineering and particularly to a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery and method of operation thereof.
Description of Related Art
[002] Soil compaction represents a significant factor that reduces soil productivity and contributes to land degradation across agricultural and ecological systems. Excessive soil density restricts water infiltration, limits air exchange, and impedes root penetration, that leads to poor crop yield and degraded soil health. Variability in compaction across different depths and locations within a field creates additional complexity, since farmers and land managers lack precise insight into subsurface conditions. Absence of accurate and timely assessment often results in delayed corrective measures and inefficient land restoration practices.
[003] Conventional approaches rely on manual penetrometers, bulk density sampling methods, and digital handheld devices that record penetration resistance. Some systems incorporate electronic data logging and positioning capabilities, while tractor-mounted equipment provides broader field coverage and generates compaction maps. Certain advanced solutions integrate force sensors with agricultural implements to estimate soil resistance during field traversal. These techniques aim to provide measurable indicators of soil condition and support decision-making for soil management.
[004] However, existing solutions suffer from multiple limitations that restrict their effectiveness. Manual tools produce discrete and fragmented measurements rather than continuous profiles, that results in incomplete representation of field variability. Many methods require significant labor and time, that reduces scalability for large areas. Depth-specific resolution remains limited in portable devices, while larger automated systems introduce cost and operational constraints. Furthermore, current techniques often fail to measure multiple soil parameters simultaneously, and they lack capability for consistent long-term in-situ assessment, that reduces accuracy and reliability of compaction analysis.
[005] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery and method of operation thereof that can administer the aforementioned limitations in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery. The tool comprising penetration assembly adapted to insert a probe into soil using a motorized actuator operating at a constant penetration rate to obtain depth-resolved penetration resistance data. The tool further comprising a force sensor operatively coupled with the penetration assembly and adapted to measure resistance encountered during insertion to generate a continuous penetration resistance profile. The tool further comprising a bulk-density unit adapted to measure in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores. The tool further comprising a moisture sensor adapted to detect soil moisture content for correction of compaction measurements. The tool further comprising an electronics unit adapted to acquire and condition sensor signals comprising penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data. The tool further comprising a processing unit communicatively coupled with the penetration assembly, the force sensor, the bulk-density unit, the moisture sensor, the electronics unit, and the geo-spatial mapping unit. The processing unit is configured to receive the sensor signals from the electronics unit, process the received sensor signals to compute a soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth, apply moisture compensation and soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters, associate computed soil parameters with geographical coordinates to generate geo-referenced compaction data, and generate actionable land restoration recommendations including tillage intensity and optimal subsoiling depth based on analyzed soil compaction characteristics.
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention further provide a method for analyzing soil compaction for land degradation recovery. The method comprising steps of: inserting, by a penetration assembly, a probe into soil using a motorized actuator operating at a constant penetration rate to obtain depth-resolved penetration resistance data; measuring, by a force sensor operatively coupled with the penetration assembly, resistance encountered during insertion to generate a continuous penetration resistance profile; measuring, by a bulk-density unit, in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores; detecting, by a moisture sensor, soil moisture content for correction of compaction measurements; acquiring and conditioning, by an electronics unit, sensor signals comprising penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data; acquiring, by a geo-spatial mapping unit, geographical coordinates corresponding to measured soil parameters; receiving the sensor signals from the penetration assembly, the force sensor, the bulk-density unit, the moisture sensor, and the electronics unit; processing the received sensor signals to compute a soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth; applying moisture compensation and soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters; associating computed soil parameters with geographical coordinates to generate geo-referenced compaction data; and generating actionable land restoration recommendations including tillage intensity and optimal subsoiling depth based on analyzed soil compaction characteristics.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery that improves accuracy of soil compaction assessment through multi-parameter measurement of penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture content in a unified manner.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery that provides continuous depth-wise profiling of subsurface soil conditions, that enables precise identification of compaction layers and hardpan zones.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery that reduces labor requirement and operational time through automated data acquisition and analysis, thereby enabling large-scale field assessment.
[0012] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery that enhances spatial understanding of soil variability through geo-referenced mapping of soil parameters across agricultural land.
[0013] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery that enables reliable decision support for land restoration and soil management by providing consistent, repeatable, and real-time diagnostic information.
[0014] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0015] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a processing unit of the soil compaction tool for land degradation recovery, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for analyzing soil compaction for land degradation recovery, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0022] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0023] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a soil compaction tool 100 for land degradation recovery, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the tool 100 may be configured as a robust, field-deployable, and adaptive soil assessment system that enables accurate measurement of soil physical properties, dynamic processing of multi-parameter data, and generation of geo-referenced outputs suitable for visualization, monitoring, and land restoration decision support. The tool 100 may provide improved accuracy, spatial awareness, and analytical capability for soil compaction assessment. The tool 100 may be adapted to output geo-referenced compaction data and analytical insights without delay, enabling immediate interpretation and field-level decision support.
[0025] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the tool 100 may incorporate non-limiting hardware components to enhance the processing speed and efficiency such as the tool 100 may comprise a penetration assembly 102, a force sensor 104, a bulk-density unit 106, a moisture sensor 108, an electronics unit 110, a geo-spatial mapping unit 112, and a processing unit 114. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hardware components of the tool 100 may be integrated with computer-executable instructions for overcoming the challenges and the limitations of the existing tools.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the penetration assembly 102 may be adapted to insert a probe into soil using a motorized actuator operating at a constant penetration rate. The penetration assembly 102 may be adapted to obtain depth-resolved penetration data corresponding to varying soil layers. The penetration assembly 102 may comprise an abrasion-resistant probe tip suitable for operation in compacted and corrosive soil environments. The motorized actuator may comprise a torque-controlled and speed-controlled mechanism to ensure uniform penetration across different soil textures.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the motorized actuator of the penetration assembly 102 may be adapted to automate probe insertion independent of operator influence. The controlled penetration mechanism may be adapted to maintain uniform insertion rate across varying soil conditions. The automated operation may be adapted to eliminate variability associated with manual penetration methods and may be adapted to improve repeatability and consistency of measurements. The tool 100 may be adapted to perform measurements across large field areas with reduced manual effort and increased operational efficiency.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the penetration assembly 102 may be adapted to generate a continuous depth-wise profile of penetration resistance along an entire insertion path of the probe. The motorized actuator of the penetration assembly 102 may be adapted to operate at a uniform penetration rate such that resistance measurements may be captured at fine depth intervals without interruption. The continuous depth-wise profiling may be adapted to enable accurate identification of compaction gradients, transition zones, and layered soil structures across the depth domain.
[0029] The penetration assembly 102 may be, but not limited to, a motorized probe insertion system, a linear actuator-based penetration device, a hydraulic penetration mechanism, an electromechanical drive system, a screw-driven actuator system, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the penetration assembly 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the force sensor 104 may be operatively coupled with the penetration assembly 102 and may be adapted to measure resistance encountered during insertion to generate a continuous penetration resistance profile to multiple depths within the soil. The measured resistance may correspond to penetration resistance values indicative of soil strength.
[0031] The force sensor 104 may be adapted to produce a continuous stream of resistance data corresponding to incremental depth positions, and the electronics unit 110 may be adapted to synchronize depth and resistance measurements to construct a continuous compaction profile. The processing unit 114 may be configured to process the continuous dataset to eliminate discontinuities associated with discrete sampling methods.
[0032] The force sensor 104 may be, but not limited to, a load cell, a strain gauge-based sensor, a piezoelectric force sensor, a pressure transducer, a resistive force sensor, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the force sensor 104, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the bulk-density unit 106 may be adapted to measure in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores. The bulk-density unit 106 may operate based on non-destructive sensing techniques. In an embodiment of the present invention, the bulk-density unit 106 may be adapted to measure soil bulk density without extraction of soil samples or physical disturbance of soil structure. The bulk-density unit 106 may be adapted to perform in-situ density estimation using sensing techniques that preserve integrity of soil layers. The non-destructive measurement approach may be adapted to enable repeated measurements at identical locations without altering soil characteristics, thereby supporting longitudinal monitoring and accurate comparison of temporal datasets.
[0034] The bulk-density unit 106 may be, but not limited to, a non-destructive density measurement device, a nuclear density gauge, an electromagnetic sensing unit, a capacitive density sensor, a gamma-ray attenuation-based system, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the bulk-density unit 106, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the moisture sensor 108 may be adapted to detect soil moisture content for correction of compaction measurements. The moisture sensor 108 may provide moisture-dependent parameters required for accurate interpretation of soil strength. The moisture sensor 108 may be, but not limited to, a time-domain reflectometry sensor, a capacitive moisture sensor, a frequency domain sensor, a resistive moisture sensor, a neutron moisture sensor, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the moisture sensor 108, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the electronics unit 110 may be adapted to acquire and condition sensor signals received from the force sensor 104, the bulk-density unit 106, and the moisture sensor 108. The electronics unit 110 may be configured to perform signal conditioning operations including, but not limited to, penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data amplification, filtering, normalization, analog-to-digital conversion, and so forth. The electronics unit 110 may further comprise data storage capability configured to store time-series data to enable longitudinal monitoring of soil compaction characteristics.
[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the electronics unit 110 may be adapted to continuously record sensor signals received from the force sensor 104, the bulk-density unit 106, and the moisture sensor 108 over multiple operational cycles. The electronics unit 110 may be adapted to maintain chronological datasets corresponding to repeated measurements conducted over predefined temporal intervals. The stored datasets may be structured as time-series data representing variation in the penetration resistance, the bulk density, and the moisture content across depth and time.
[0038] The processing unit 114 may be configured to retrieve the time-series data from the electronics unit 110 and may be further adapted to analyze temporal variation in soil compaction characteristics. The processing unit 114 may be configured to identify progressive changes in soil strength, compaction recovery patterns, and degradation trends across successive measurement cycles. The processing unit 114 may be further adapted to generate temporal compaction profiles and predictive indicators based on historical datasets.
[0039] The electronics unit 110 may be, but not limited to, a microcontroller-based system, a microprocessor-based system, an embedded control unit, a signal conditioning circuit assembly, an analog-to-digital conversion system, a data acquisition system, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the electronics unit 110, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0040] The tool 100 may be adapted to support periodic monitoring of the same geographical location using the geo-spatial mapping unit 112, such that repeated measurements may be spatially aligned and temporally compared. The processing unit 114 may be configured to correlate historical and current datasets to determine effectiveness of land restoration practices. The processing unit 114 may be configured to refine subsequent recommendations.
[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, the geo-spatial mapping unit 112 may be adapted to acquire geographical coordinates corresponding to measured soil parameters. The geo-spatial mapping unit 112 may enable correlation of depth-based soil data with spatial location within the field.
[0042] The geo-spatial mapping unit 112 may be, but not limited to, a global navigation satellite system receiver, a global positioning system unit, a real-time kinematic positioning system, a differential positioning system, a satellite-based navigation system, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the geo-spatial mapping unit 112, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, the measured and conditioned sensor signals may be transmitted to the processing unit 114 operatively coupled with the penetration assembly 102, the force sensor 104, the bulk-density unit 106, the moisture sensor 108, the electronics unit 110, and the geo-spatial mapping unit 112. The processing unit 114 may be configured to receive sensor signals comprising penetration resistance, bulk density, moisture data, and so forth. The processing unit 114 may process the received sensor signals to compute soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth.
[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 114 may be configured to perform multi-parameter sensor fusion by integrating the penetration resistance data from the force sensor 104, the bulk density data from the bulk-density unit 106, and the moisture data from the moisture sensor 108. The processing unit 114 may be configured to align the received datasets based on depth and measurement timing to generate correlated multi-parameter data.
[0045] The processing unit 114 may be configured to compute derived soil parameters based on combined influence of mechanical resistance, density distribution, and moisture variation. The fusion process may be adapted to reduce measurement uncertainty and may be adapted to improve reliability of computed soil strength values across varying soil textures and environmental conditions. The integrated dataset may be adapted to provide a unified representation of soil compaction characteristics across depth and spatial location.
[0046] The processing unit 114 may apply moisture compensation and soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters. The processing unit 114 may be further configured to associate computed soil parameters with geographical coordinates obtained from the geo-spatial mapping unit 112 to generate geo-referenced compaction data. The processing unit 114 may generate two-dimensional and three-dimensional compaction maps for field-scale visualization. The processing unit 114 may integrate the penetration resistance, the bulk density, and the moisture data to generate a unified soil compaction index.
[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 114 may be configured to correlate processed soil parameters with predefined agronomic thresholds to generate actionable land restoration recommendations. The recommendations may include, but not limited to, tillage intensity, optimal subsoiling depth, and other soil remediation measures. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of recommendation outputs generated based on analyzed soil data, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0048] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 114 may be configured to relay the generated actionable land restoration recommendations to an electronic device (not shown). The electronic device may be a utilitarian device such as, but not limited to, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a cloud database, a mainframe, a server, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the electronic device, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0049] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 114 may be configured to generate recommendations based on rule-based evaluation of processed soil parameters against predefined agronomic thresholds. The processing unit 114 may be configured to map computed soil strength values and bulk density distribution to corresponding remediation actions stored within a decision framework.
[0050] The processing unit 114 may be configured to determine tillage intensity, optimal subsoiling depth, and soil treatment strategies based on severity and depth of compaction. The recommendation engine may be adapted to refine outputs based on temporal trends derived from time-series data and spatial variability obtained from the geo-spatial mapping unit 112. The generated recommendations may be adapted to support precision land management and may be adapted to improve efficiency of soil restoration practices.
[0051] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 114 may be configured to perform real-time processing of sensor signals received from the electronics unit 110. The processing unit 114 may be configured to execute computational operations concurrently with probe insertion such that computed parameters including soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth may be generated during measurement.
[0052] The processing unit 114 may be further adapted to dynamically update computed parameters as new sensor data becomes available. The geo-spatial mapping unit 112 may be adapted to provide continuous coordinate updates, and the processing unit 114 may be configured to associate processed data with spatial information in real-time.
[0053] In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 114 may be configured to identify hardpan layers based on abrupt variation in penetration resistance and corresponding bulk density distribution across depth. The processing unit 114 may be configured to determine precise depth of hardpan formation by analyzing gradients in soil strength profile.
[0054] The processing unit 114 may be configured to classify detected layers into compacted zones, semi-compacted zones, and non-compacted zones based on predefined threshold values. The identified hardpan depth may be adapted to serve as a primary parameter for determining subsoiling requirements and land restoration strategies.
[0055] The processing unit 114 may be, but not limited to, a microprocessor-based computing system, a digital signal processing unit, an embedded computing platform, a field-programmable gate array-based system, an application-specific integrated circuit, a cloud-integrated processing system, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit 114, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The processing unit 114 may be further explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates components of the processing unit 114 of the tool 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The processing unit 114 may comprise a sensor fusion module 200, a soil profile analysis module 202, a calibration module 204, and a geo-spatial analytics module 206.
[0057] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor fusion module 200 may be configured to receive sensor signals from the electronics unit 110. The sensor signals may represent parameters including the penetration resistance, the bulk density, the soil moisture content, and so forth. The sensor fusion module 200 may be further configured to integrate the received sensor signals to generate correlated multi-parameter data indicative of soil compaction characteristics. The sensor fusion module 200 may be configured to compute derived parameters including cone index and soil strength profile based on the integrated sensor signals. Further, the sensor fusion module 200 may be configured to transmit the integrated data to the soil profile analysis module 202.
[0058] In an embodiment of the present invention, the soil profile analysis module 202 may be configured to receive the integrated data from the sensor fusion module 200. The soil profile analysis module 202 may be further configured to analyze the received data to determine variation in soil properties across different depths. The soil profile analysis module 202 may be configured to identify compaction layers, transition zones, and depth of hardpan formation based on penetration resistance trends and bulk density distribution. Further, the soil profile analysis module 202 may be configured to classify soil strata into predefined compaction categories. The soil profile analysis module 202 may be configured to transmit analyzed data to the calibration module 204.
[0059] In an embodiment of the present invention, the calibration module 204 may be configured to receive the analyzed data from the soil profile analysis module 202. The calibration module 204 may be configured to apply correction to the analyzed data based on soil moisture content and soil texture characteristics. The calibration module 204 may be further configured to adjust computed parameters to reduce variability caused by environmental conditions and soil heterogeneity. The calibration module 204 may be configured to standardize the corrected data to ensure consistency and accuracy across different soil types and field conditions. The calibration module 204 may be configured to transmit calibrated data to the geo-spatial analytics module 206.
[0060] In an embodiment of the present invention, the geo-spatial analytics module 206 may be configured to receive the calibrated data from the calibration module 204. The geo-spatial analytics module 206 may be further configured to associate the calibrated soil parameters with geographical coordinates received from the geo-spatial mapping unit 112. The geo-spatial analytics module 206 may be configured to generate geo-referenced compaction data and create two-dimensional and three-dimensional compaction maps for field-scale visualization. Further, the geo-spatial analytics module 206 may be configured to evaluate soil compaction characteristics with respect to predefined agronomic thresholds to enable generation of land restoration insights including tillage intensity and optimal subsoiling depth.
[0061] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for analyzing soil compaction for land degradation recovery, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] At step 302, the tool 100 may insert, by the penetration assembly 102, the probe into soil using the motorized actuator operating at the constant penetration rate to obtain the depth-resolved penetration resistance data.
[0063] At step 304, the tool 100 may measure, by the force sensor 104 operatively coupled with the penetration assembly 102, resistance encountered during insertion to generate the continuous penetration resistance profile.
[0064] At step 306, the tool 100 may measure, by the bulk-density unit 106, in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores.
[0065] At step 308, the tool 100 may detect, by the moisture sensor 108, the soil moisture content for correction of the compaction measurements.
[0066] At step 310, the tool 100 may acquire and condition, by the electronics unit 110, sensor signals comprising the penetration resistance, the bulk density, and the moisture data.
[0067] At step 312, the tool 100 may acquire, by the geo-spatial mapping unit 112, geographical coordinates corresponding to measured soil parameters.
[0068] At step 314, the tool 100 may receive, by the processing unit 114, the sensor signals from the penetration assembly 102, the force sensor 104, the bulk-density unit 106, the moisture sensor 108, and the electronics unit 110.
[0069] At step 316, the tool 100 may process, by the processing unit 114, the received sensor signals to compute the soil strength profile, the cone index, and the hardpan depth.
[0070] At step 318, the tool 100 may apply, by the processing unit 114, the moisture compensation and the soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters.
[0071] At step 320, the tool 100 may associate, by the processing unit 114, the computed soil parameters with the geographical coordinates to generate the geo-referenced compaction data.
[0072] At step 322, the tool 100 may generate, by the processing unit 114, the actionable land restoration recommendations including the tillage intensity and the optimal subsoiling depth based on the analyzed soil compaction characteristics.
[0073] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
[0074] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. An advanced soil compaction tool (100) for land degradation recovery, the tool (100) comprising:
a penetration assembly (102) adapted to insert a probe into soil using a motorized actuator operating at a constant penetration rate to obtain depth-resolved penetration resistance data;
a force sensor (104) operatively coupled with the penetration assembly (102) and adapted to measure resistance encountered during insertion to generate a continuous penetration resistance profile;
a bulk-density unit (106) adapted to measure in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores;
a moisture sensor (108) adapted to detect soil moisture content for correction of compaction measurements;
an electronics unit (110) adapted to acquire and condition sensor signals comprising penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data; and
a processing unit (114) communicatively coupled with the penetration assembly (102), the force sensor (104), the bulk-density unit (106), the moisture sensor (108), and the electronics unit (110), characterized in that the processing unit (114) is configured to:
receive conditioned sensor signals comprising the penetration resistance, the bulk density, and the moisture data from the electronics unit (110);
process the received sensor signals to compute a soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth;
apply moisture compensation and soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters;
associate computed soil parameters with geographical coordinates to generate geo-referenced compaction data; and
generate actionable land restoration recommendations including tillage intensity and optimal subsoiling depth based on analyzed soil compaction characteristics.
2. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the penetration assembly (102) comprises an abrasion-resistant probe tip adapted to withstand corrosive and compacted soil conditions.
3. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a geo-spatial mapping unit (112) adapted to acquire geographical coordinates corresponding to measured soil parameters.
4. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to identify compaction layers and determine depth of hardpan formation based on processed sensor signals.
5. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to generate two-dimensional and three-dimensional compaction maps for field-scale visualization.
6. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to correlate soil strength and bulk density data with predefined agronomic thresholds to generate restoration recommendations.
7. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronics unit (110) is configured to store time-series data for longitudinal monitoring of soil compaction.
8. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the geo-spatial mapping unit (112) comprises a global navigation satellite system for real-time field mapping.
9. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit (114) is configured to integrate penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data to generate a unified soil compaction index.
10. A method (300) for analyzing soil compaction for land degradation recovery, the method (300) is characterized by steps of:
inserting, by a penetration assembly (102), a probe into soil using a motorized actuator operating at a constant penetration rate to obtain depth-resolved penetration resistance data;
measuring, by a force sensor (104) operatively coupled with the penetration assembly (102), resistance encountered during insertion to generate a continuous penetration resistance profile;
measuring, by a bulk-density unit (106), in-situ soil bulk density corresponding to multiple depths without extraction of soil cores;
detecting, by a moisture sensor (108), soil moisture content for correction of compaction measurements;
acquiring and conditioning, by an electronics unit (110), sensor signals comprising penetration resistance, bulk density, and moisture data;
acquiring, by a geo-spatial mapping unit (112), geographical coordinates corresponding to measured soil parameters;
receiving the sensor signals from the penetration assembly (102), the force sensor (104), the bulk-density unit (106), the moisture sensor (108), and the electronics unit (110);
processing the received sensor signals to compute a soil strength profile, cone index, and hardpan depth;
applying moisture compensation and soil texture correction to improve accuracy of computed parameters;
associating computed soil parameters with geographical coordinates to generate geo-referenced compaction data; and
generating actionable land restoration recommendations including tillage intensity and optimal subsoiling depth based on analyzed soil compaction characteristics.
Date: May 13, 2026
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant