FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to Internet of Things (IoT) based irrigation system, and particularly to an IoT based irrigation system that measures real-time soil conditions, and facilitates irrigation of the soil, based on the measured soil conditions.
BACKGROUND
Description of Related Art
[002] Typically, irrigation systems are used in many applications, such as commercial, residential and agricultural applications. Specifically for the agricultural application, the irrigation system generally includes a control system that controls the supply of water in agricultural fields, in a predetermined manner. For instance, the control system supplies water to the fields during preset times of the day, and for a set duration. A farmer or an operator of the control system may set these times and duration of the water supply.
[003] In general, the irrigation requirement (for example an amount of water to be supplied, the timing of the supply, etc.) varies with crop variety, crop stage, soil physical properties, weather conditions, etc. However, sometimes the farmers are not aware of the real-time information of the soil, and merely rely on their expertise or follow historical patterns to irrigate their fields. Because of lack of accurate and real-time information, the farmers tend to supply more or less water to the crops, which leads to deterioration in quality and quantity of the yield.
[004] Existing systems and methods (e.g. use of wired sensors or complex equipment) to identify real-time information of soil are either too expensive or require expertise and resources, that are usually scarce with farmers. Furthermore, the existing systems are prone to damage and hence farmers need to frequently replace the systems, which add to their burden.
[005] Therefore, an easy-to-use irrigation system is required that can measure real-time information of soil, and assist famers to determine an appropriate time and amount of water to be supplied to the fields during irrigation, resulting in better yield.
SUMMARY
[006] An irrigation unit to facilitate irrigation for a crop is provided. In an embodiment, the irrigation unit may be used by a farmer to determine an appropriate time and amount of water to dispense to the crop during various stages of the crop growth. In another embodiment, a controller of an irrigation control system of a field may use the irrigation unit of the present disclosure. For example, an operator of a water sprinkling system may use the irrigation unit of the present disclosure to optimize the time and the amount of irrigation, thus leading to a better yield of the crop.
[007] In an embodiment, the irrigation unit may include a measurement unit. The measurement unit may be configured to measure one or more conditions of the soil. The measured conditions may include, for example, quality (i.e. moisture) and temperature of the soil on which the crop is grown. In some aspects, the measurement unit may include a top detachable pipe and a bottom detachable pipe.
[008] In an embodiment, the bottom detachable pipe has a first distal end and a first proximate end. A first soil quality sensor may be placed at the first distal end of the bottom detachable pipe, to measure the quality of the soil. Furthermore, a first soil temperature sensor may be placed between the first proximate end and the first distal end, to measure the temperature of the soil.
[009] In an embodiment, the top detachable pipe has a second distal end and a second proximate end. Further, the first proximate end of the bottom detachable pipe is connected to the second distal end of the top detachable pipe through a fastening means, which may be, for example a snap lock.
[0010] In some aspects, a diameter of the bottom detachable pipe is less than a diameter of the top detachable pipe.
[0011] The irrigation unit may further include an antenna and a control unit attached to / placed at the second proximate end of the top detachable pipe. The control unit may be communicatively coupled to the measurement unit and the antenna, and may receive the quality and the temperature of the soil from the respective sensors (i.e. from the first soil quality sensor and the first soil temperature sensor) installed in the measurement unit. On receipt of the quality and the temperature, the control unit may be configured to transmit the quality and the temperature of the soil to a server to determine the appropriate time and amount of irrigation for the crop.
[0012] In an embodiment, the server may determine the time and amount of irrigation based on the measured quality and temperature of the soil.
[0013] In some aspects, the irrigation unit may include a top cap having a first diameter, where the first diameter is greater than the diameter of the bottom detachable pipe and the diameter of the top detachable pipe. In an embodiment, the top cap is placed over the control unit to protect the control unit (324) from ambient environment.
[0014] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the diameter of the first proximate end of the bottom detachable pipe is greater than the diameter of the first distal end of the bottom detachable pipe.
[0015] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the measurement unit may include a second soil quality sensor that is placed at the second proximate end of the top detachable pipe. In this case, the first soil quality sensor measures the quality of the soil at a first location of the soil, and the second soil quality sensor measures the quality of the soil at a second location of the soil.
[0016] In the embodiment mentioned above, the control unit receives the quality and the temperature of the soil from the first soil quality sensor, the second soil quality sensor, and the first soil temperature sensor. On receipt of the quality and the temperature, the control unit transmits the received quality and the temperature information to the server, that determines the appropriate time and amount of irrigation for the crop based on the received information.
[0017] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the irrigation unit may include a battery holder that is configured to hold a battery in the irrigation unit. In some aspects, the battery holder is placed over the control unit.
[0018] In some aspects, the first diameter of the top cap is greater than a diameter of the battery holder, and the top cap is placed over the battery holder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary environment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 2 depicts an irrigation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 3 depicts a first view of an irrigation unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 4 depicts a second view of the irrigation unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0023] FIG. 5 depicts a third view of the irrigation unit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of a server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be clear from this description of the disclosure that the disclosure is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the disclosure also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims.
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary environment 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The environment 100 may include a land 102 (for example, an agriculture field) in which one or more types of crops may be grown. The land 102 may be a commercial or a residential agriculture land. The crops may include, but are not limited to, rice, wheat, sugarcane, maize, vegetables, fruits, nuts, mustard oil, sunflower seed oil, and the like.
[0029] A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that for growing the crops, a farmer 104 typically adds seeds of the specific crops to the land 102 and waters the seeds regularly. With time, the seeds sprout, growing into small plants and eventually into fully-grown crops / plants. The farmer 104 then harvests the crops when the crops are fully-grown. Thereafter, the cycle repeats, wherein the farmer 104 again adds new seeds to the land 102, and harvests the crops when the crops are fully-grown.
[0030] Watering of the seeds and plants is essential for the proper growth of the crops, and later on for a healthy harvest (yield) of the crops for the farmer 104. In order to water the land 102, the farmer 104 typically installs sprinklers or other water supply system (not showing in FIG. 1) at different locations to cover the whole land 102. Typically, the sprinklers supply water during set times of the day (for example, during morning or evening times) and for set duration (for example, for 30 minutes or 45 minutes), which is usually set by the farmer 104. The farmer 104 may also water the land 102 on his own, for example, by using water bucket or water pipe.
[0031] In order to ensure that the farmer 104 waters the land 102 at an appropriate time and with an appropriate amount of water, it is essential that the farmer 104 knows real-time moisture and temperature information of the land 102. This information is highly essential for the farmer 104, as different crop types require different levels of moisture, and less or more water supply to the land 102 may damage the crop that is grown on the land 102. For example, millets require less water than wheat or rice. Therefore, if the farmer 104 is growing millets in the land 102, the farmer 104 should ideally supply less water to the land 102 than the water that is supplied for the wheat or rice crop. Furthermore, if natural watering of the land 102 has already occurred, for example, during rains, it is important for the farmer 104 to know the exact moisture content of the soil, to ensure that he does not over-water the land 102, leading to crop damage.
[0032] To provide real-time and accurate soil quality (moisture) and temperature information, the present disclosure describes an IoT based irrigation unit.
[0033] The IoT based irrigation system may include one or more irrigation units 106 that may be installed in the land 102 to enable control of supply of water to the land 102. The irrigation unit 106 may measure soil conditions in real-time, and transmit the measured soil conditions to a user device (not shown in FIG. 1) of the farmer 104. The farmer 104 may then control the supply of water based on the measured soil conditions. In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, the irrigation unit 106 may automatically control the supply of water (for example, by using an automated water sprinkler system). The details of the irrigation unit 106 may be understood in conjunction with subsequent drawings.
[0034] FIG. 2 depicts an irrigation system 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The irrigation system 200 may include one or more irrigation units 202, a server 204, and one or more external databases 206, which are connected via a network 208. The network 208 may be, for example, a communication infrastructure in which the connected devices discussed in various embodiments of this disclosure may communicate. The network may be and / or include the Internet, a private network, public network or other configuration that operates using any one or more known communication protocols such as, for example, transmission control protocol / Internet protocol (TCP/IP), Bluetooth®, BLE®, Wi-Fi based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11, UWB, and cellular technologies such as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), High Speed Packet Access (HSPDA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and Fifth Generation (5G), to name a few examples.
[0035] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more irrigation units 202 may be placed at different location in an agriculture land (for example, the land 102) to monitor the conditions of the soil of the land. Further, the one or more irrigation units 202 may include a plurality of sensors (not shown in FIG. 2). In some aspects, the plurality of sensors may include one or more soil moisture sensors, and / or one or more soil temperature sensors. In other aspects, the plurality of sensors may further include one or more environment sensors (such as rainfall, solar intensity, wind, etc.), other soil sensors (such as soil precipitation, soil tension, soil humidity etc.), crop sensors, crop growth sensors, pollution sensors, and the like.
[0036] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more external databases 206 may store information of one or more crops that may be grown on the agriculture land. The information may include different stages of respective crops, water requirements at each stage of each crop type, water requirements for each crop variety, etc. In an embodiment, this information is pre-stored in the external databases 206, by an operator (not shown in FIG. 2) of the external databases 206. For example, the operator may store new information to the external databases 206, as and when new research is published on the watering needs of a particular crop type.
[0037] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the irrigation units 202 may be configured to measure the quality of the soil and the temperature of the soil, by using the sensors installed in the irrigation units 202. The irrigation units 202 may be further configured to transmit the measured quality and the temperature of the soil to the server 204. On receipt of the quality and temperature information, the server 204 may process the measured information to determine an appropriate time and amount of irrigation for the crop(s) that is grown on the soil.
[0038] In accordance with an embodiment, along with the quality and temperature information of the soil, the server 204 may also receive crop-type and real-time crop growth stage information of the crops that are grown on the agriculture land. In one aspect, the server 204 may receive the crop-type and real-time crop growth stage information directly from the crop sensors and the crop growth sensors that are installed on the irrigation units 202, via the network 208. In another aspect, the server 204 may receive the crop-type and the real-time crop growth stage information by a user device (e.g. mobile phone) of the farmer. For instance, the server 204 may receive the information that the millet seeds are sprouted from the farmer, and the may use this information to determine the appropriate time and amount of irrigation.
[0039] Specifically, on receipt of the quality (moisture) and temperature information of the soil, and the crop-type and the crop growth stage information of the crop, the server 204 may use the information stored in the external databases 206 to determine the best time and quantity of irrigation for the crop. For example, if the crop-type is millet and the growth stage is that “the seeds have just sprouted”, the server 204 may determine the best watering time and its amount with respect to different temperature levels of the soil, based on the information stored in the external databases 206. Thereafter, the server 204 may check whether the moisture level in the soil is already high (or low) based on the received quality information of the soil and then determine the appropriate time and amount of water that is to be provided to the soil, to ensure best yield for the farmer.
[0040] When the server 204 determines the time and amount of irrigation, the server 204 transmits a notification to the farmer(s) via their user devices 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d (collectively considered as user devices 210), to notify the real-time condition of the soil, and also recommend time and amount of irrigation that should be provided by the farmer(s). Based on the notification, the farmer(s) may control the supply of water in the agriculture land. Alternatively, the server 204 may itself transmit a command to the irrigation units 202 to control the water supply. In this case, the irrigation units 202 may be connected to an automated water sprinkling system that waters the agriculture land.
[0041] The details of the irrigation units 202 and the server 204 may be understood in conjunction with subsequent figures.
[0042] FIG. 3 depicts a first view (an exploded view) of an irrigation unit 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The irrigation unit 300 may include a bottom pipe 302 and a top pipe 304, which are detachably connected to each other through a fastening means (not shown in FIG. 3). For instance, the bottom pipe 302 and the top pipe 304 may be detachably connected with each other using a snap lock. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the bottom pipe 302 and the top pipe 304 may be connected through a fastener, a rivet, or the like.
[0043] In some aspects, the bottom pipe 302 may include a proximate end 306 and a distal end 308. Similarly, the top pipe 304 may include a proximate end 310 and a distal end 312. The proximate end 306 of the bottom pipe 302 may be connected to the distal end 312 of the top pipe 304 via the snap lock. In accordance with an embodiment of present disclosure, the proximate end 306 of the bottom pipe 302 may be inserted into the distal end 312 of the top pipe 304, and rotated in clockwise or anticlockwise directions to lock against each other using the snap lock. In other words, the diameter of the bottom pipe 302 is less than the diameter of the top pipe 304. This structure enables a portion of the bottom pipe 302 to be inserted into the top pipe 304, to detachably connect with each other through the snap lock.
[0044] The advantage of the above-mentioned detachable structure is that if the bottom pipe 302 develops a fault or is broken, the entire irrigation unit 300 is not required to be changed. Instead, the broken bottom pipe 302 may be replaced with a new bottom pipe and inserted into the top pipe 304.
[0045] In accordance with an embodiment, the bottom pipe 302 and the top pipe 304 may be hollow cylindrical tubes, and may be made of plastic, steel, or any other material.
[0046] In accordance with further embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom pipe 302 may include a plurality of sensors. For instance, the bottom pipe may include a first soil quality sensor 314 and a first soil temperature sensor 316.
[0047] In some aspects, the first soil quality sensor 314 may be a soil moisture sensor. The soil moisture sensor 314 may be configured to monitor water content / moisture level of the soil in which the irrigation unit 300 is inserted. The measurement of moisture level of the soil is used to determine / estimate the requirement of irrigation (i.e. timing and amount of irrigation), as already explained in conjunction with FIG. 2.
[0048] The first soil temperature sensor 316 may be configured to monitor / measure the temperature of the soil, which may also be used to determine / estimate the requirement of irrigation for the soil in which the irrigation unit 300 is inserted.
[0049] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first soil quality sensor 314 may be placed at / attached to a first location (i.e. at the distal end 308 of the bottom pipe 202) in order to be positioned inside the soil completely. Further, the first soil temperature sensor 316 may be placed between the distal end 308 and the proximate end 306 of the bottom pipe 302. In some aspects, the first soil temperature sensor 316 may be placed closer to the distal end 308, or the first soil temperature sensor 316 may be placed closer to the proximate end 306.
[0050] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the distance between the first soil quality sensor 314 and the first soil temperature sensor 316 may be predetermined. In other aspects, the distance between the first soil quality sensor 314 and first soil temperature sensor 316 is greater than a threshold value, in order to accurately capture the soil moisture and the soil temperature data, without any interference. In an exemplary embodiment, the distance between the top of the first soil quality sensor 314 and the bottom of the first soil temperature sensor 316 is around 30 mm.
[0051] In some aspects, the plurality of sensors may include additional soil sensors (such as soil precipitation sensor, soil tension sensor, soil humidity sensor, etc.) that are not shown in FIG. 3. These additional soil sensors may be installed on the bottom pipe 302.
[0052] In accordance with an embodiment of present disclosure, the bottom pipe 302 may include a first portion 318 and a second portion 320. The diameter of the first portion 318 may be greater than the diameter of the second portion 320. In some aspects, the second portion 320 may extend from the lower end of the first portion 318, as shown in FIG. 3. In particular, the second portion 320 may extend from a side of the lower end of the first portion 318, and not exactly from the center of the first portion 318. In other words, the second portion 320 extends from a slight offset from the diametrical center of the lower end of the first portion 318. Alternatively, the second portion 320 may also extend from the center of the lower end of the first portion 318, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0053] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the height of the first portion 318 may be greater than the height of the second portion 320. For instance, the height of the first portion 318 may be between 70 to 80 mm, and the height of the second portion 320 may be between 35 to 45 mm. In other embodiments, the height of the first portion 318 may be less than or equal to the height of the second portion 320.
[0054] In an embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 3, the first portion 318 may be longer at one side and shorter at the other side. In other words, the distal end of the first portion 318 may be slanted, as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the height of the first portion 318, as mentioned above in the example, may be construed as an average length of the first portion 318. In an alternative embodiment, the distal end of the second portion 320 may also be slanted (not shown in FIG. 3). This structure, as mentioned here, has an advantage that it enables the operator (for example, the farmer) of the irrigation unit 300 to easily insert the irrigation unit 300 into the soil.
[0055] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the diameter of the second portion 320 may be similar to (but slightly greater than) the diameter of the first soil quality sensor 314, and the first soil quality sensor 314 may be configured to be locked inside the lower end of the second portion 320. Due to this detachable arrangement, the first soil quality sensor 314 may be easily replaced without replacing the complete irrigation unit 300, in case the first soil quality sensor 314 develops a fault. Therefore, the present disclosure provides an advantage to the farmer that he is not required to spend a substantial amount of money to buy a new irrigation unit, when just a small part like the soil quality sensor 314 develops a fault. The farmer just needs to buy a replacement to the faulty sensor, and the same irrigation unit can work with the new replaced sensor.
[0056] In an exemplary embodiment, the height of the first soil quality sensor 314 is between 65 to 70 mm.
[0057] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first soil temperature sensor 316 may be detachably connected to the lower end of the first portion 318. As already mentioned above, the second portion 320 extends from a slight offset from the diametrical center of the lower end of the first portion 318. In one aspect, the “vacant space” left by the offset in the lower end of the first portion 318 is used to detachably connect the first soil temperature sensor 316. In particular, the first soil temperature sensor 316 may be inserted into a hole 322 placed at the lower end of the first portion 318.
[0058] Due to this detachable arrangement, the first temperature sensor 316 may be easily replaced without replacing the complete irrigation unit 300. Therefore, along with the detachable arrangement of the first soil quality sensor 314, the detachable arrangement of the first temperature sensor 316 provides additional advantage to the farmer who uses the irrigation unit 300.
[0059] In accordance with further embodiment of the present disclosure, the proximate end 310 of the top pipe 304 may include a printed circuit board (PCB) holder in which a PCB 324 (or control unit 324) may be removably placed in the PCB holder. In particular, the proximate end 310 of the top pipe 310 includes the PCB holder. In some aspects, a diameter of the proximate end 310 (or the PCB holder) of the top pipe 304 is greater than a diameter of its distal end 312, in order to hold the PCB 324 inside it.
[0060] The proximate end 310 of the top pipe 304 may further include an antenna 326 to transmit and receive signals from a server (not shown in FIG. 3). In an embodiment, the antenna 326 may be detachably attached to the proximate end 310 of the top pipe 304.
[0061] In accordance with further embodiment of the present disclosure, the proximate end 310 of the top pipe 304 may include a switch (not shown in FIG. 3) to turn on or turn off the irrigation unit 300. The proximate end 310 may further include a waterproof connector (not shown in FIG. 3) or a housing to cover a second soil quality sensor (not shown in FIG. 3). In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the top pipe 304 may include one or more environment sensors 332 (such as rainfall, solar intensity, wind, pollution sensor, etc.).
[0062] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the irrigation unit 300 further includes a battery holder 328 to place a battery (not shown in FIG. 3) inside the battery holder 328. The battery holder 328 may also act a protective cap for the PCB 324, to protect the PCB 324 from ambient environment (for example, rainfall, wind, insects, etc.).
[0063] The battery inside the battery holder 328 may be configured to provide power to the irrigation unit 300. Thus, the irrigation unit 300 has a self-reliant source of power. In other words, the irrigation unit 300 is not required to be powered externally, and hence no wires are required. In addition, all the sensors included in the irrigation unit 300 (for example, the first soil quality sensor 314, the first soil temperature sensor 316, the environment sensors 332, etc.), as mentioned above, are wireless sensors. Therefore, the irrigation unit 300 is wireless externally, and hence is easy to carry and install in the fields. Since there are no external wires, wear and tear of the irrigation unit 300 is minimal, and hence the irrigation unit 300 does not require replacement for a long duration of time.
[0064] In some aspects, the battery inside the battery holder 328 may be used in conjunction with solar panel to provide power to the irrigation unit 300. On the top of the battery holder 328, a top cap 330 may be placed to cover the battery holder 328 and the PCB holder. In other words, the top cap 330 acts as a second protective cap for the PCB 324 to protect it from ambient environment.
[0065] FIG. 4 depicts a second view (top exploded view) of an irrigation unit 400, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, FIG. 4 depicts a measurement unit that comprises a bottom pipe 402 and a top pipe 404. The bottom pipe 402 and the top pipe 404 of the irrigation unit 400 are same as the top pipe 304 and the bottom pipe 303 of the irrigation unit 300. Therefore, the top pipe 304 and the bottom pipe 303 may also be construed collectively as a “measurement unit” of the irrigation unit 300.
[0066] The bottom pipe 402 may include a first soil quality sensor 406, and a first soil temperature sensor 408. Further, the top pipe 404 may include a proximate end 410 (or PCB holder 410) in which a PCB 412 (or control unit 412) is placed. The PCB holder 410 is covered by a battery holder 414 that holds a battery (not shown in FIG. 4). The battery holder 414 is further covered by a top cap 416, to protect the PCB 412 and battery from ambient environment.
[0067] FIG. 5 depicts a third view (assembled view) of an irrigation unit 500, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, FIG. 5 depicts a measurement unit that comprises a bottom pipe 502 and a top pipe 504. The bottom pipe 502 includes a first portion 506 and a second portion 508. The second portion 508 includes a lower end that is connected to a first soil quality sensor 510. Furthermore, the first portion 506 includes a lower end that is connected to the second portion 508 and a first soil temperature sensor 512. The irrigation unit 500 further includes a control unit (not shown in FIG. 5) that is placed at a top portion of the top pipe 504. The control unit is covered completely by a top cap 514, to protect the control unit from ambient environment. Further, the top portion of the top pipe 504 is detachably attached to an antenna 516 to communicate with a server (not shown in FIG. 5).
[0068] FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of a server 600, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The server 600 may include various units such as, but not limited to, an input unit 602, a memory 604, a controller 606, and an output unit 614, which are communicatively coupled to each other.
[0069] The memory 604 may be an integrated circuit (IC) memory chip containing any form of random-access memory (RAM) or read-only memory (ROM), a floppy disk, a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a hard disk drive, a digital video disc (DVD), a flash memory card, external subscriber identity module (SIM) card or any other medium for storing non-transitory digital information.
[0070] The controller 606 may include a hardware unit dedicated to perform its operations. The controller 606 may include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), state machines, logic circuitry, or any other device or devices that process information.
[0071] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 606 may include various units such as, but not limited to, a soil moisture unit 408, a soil temperature unit 410, and environment sensing unit 412, which are communicatively coupled to each other.
[0072] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the input unit 602 is configured to receive measurements of soil quality and temperature from a first soil quality sensor, a second soil quality sensor, a first soil temperature sensor of an irrigation unit, as already explained in conjunction with previous figures. In some aspects, the first soil quality sensor and the second soil quality sensor measure the moisture of the soil at different locations in an agriculture land. In addition, the input unit 602 may be further configured to receive environmental measurements from environmental sensors, which are installed in the irrigation unit, or from separate environment sensors (not necessarily installed in the irrigation unit). The environmental measurements may include measurement of the wind, pollution, etc. level of environment around the agriculture land, and/or may include weather prediction data.
[0073] In addition, the input unit 602 may be configured to receive information associated with crops from crop sensors (installed in the irrigation unit, or separate crop sensors not installed in the irrigation unit) or from user device of a farmer. The information associated with crops may include the crop type, crop growth stage, etc. of the crops that are grown by the farmer in the agriculture land.
[0074] On receipt of the above-mentioned measurements / information from various sensors, the input unit 602 may send the information to the memory 604 for storage. The controller 606 may then access the memory 604 and process the stored information, as described below.
[0075] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the soil moisture unit 608 of the controller 606 may be configured to compare the measurement of the soil moisture, as received by the input unit 602, with a predefined moisture threshold. The predefined moisture threshold may be determined, for example, based on the crop type, crop growth stage, environmental measurements, etc. Specifically, in an embodiment, the server 600 may access one or more external databases (not shown in FIG. 6, but same as the one or more databases 206 of FIG. 2), to determine an appropriate moisture level for particular crop type and for a particular crop growth stage. Said appropriate moisture level is the predefined moisture threshold, against which the measurement of the soil moisture, as received by the input unit 602, is compared.
[0076] Based on the comparison, the controller 606 may determine an amount and a time of irrigation for the soil. For example, if the measured soil moisture is much less than the predefined moisture threshold, the controller 606 may determine that the soil needs to be irrigated immediately. On the other hand, if the soil moisture is equal to or more than the predefined moisture threshold, the controller 606 may determine that the soil need not be irrigated for some time (for example, a day or two days).
[0077] On the determination of the amount and time of irrigation, the controller 606 may send a notification to the farmer or an irrigation control system via the output unit 614. The notification may include the measured soil moisture value, and the recommended amount and time of irrigation. In accordance with an embodiment, the notification may be sent to a user device (for example, a mobile phone) of the farmer. In this case, the server 600 may pre-store the contact information of the user device of the farmer in the memory 604.
[0078] In accordance with further embodiment of the present disclosure, the soil temperature unit 610 may be configured to compare measurement of the soil temperature, as received by the input unit 602, with a predefined temperature threshold. Based on the comparison, the controller 606 may determine the amount and time of irrigation, and accordingly send the notification to the farmer or irrigation control system via the output unit 614, as discussed above. In other words, the controller 606 may use the soil moisture as well as soil temperature measurements to determine the amount and time of irrigation.
[0079] The server 600 may determine the predefined temperature threshold in the same manner as it determines the predefined moisture threshold, i.e. by accessing one or more external databases.
[0080] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the environment sensing unit 612 is configured to compare the measurement of the environment conditions, as received by the input unit 602, with a predefined environmental threshold. Based on the comparison, the controller 606 may determine the amount and time of irrigation, and accordingly send the notification to the farmer or irrigation control system via the output unit 614, as discussed above. For instance, if the environmental sensor determines that it will rain heavily in the next 24-48 hours, then the controller 606 may accordingly send the notification / control signal to the farmer or the irrigation control system to not irrigate the agriculture land.
[0081] While the disclosure 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 disclosure 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 spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0082] This written description uses examples to disclose the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure 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

I/We Claim:

1. An irrigation unit (300) comprising:
a measurement unit configured to measure one or more conditions of soil, the measurement unit comprises:
a bottom detachable pipe (302) having a first distal end (308) and a first proximate end (306), wherein the bottom detachable pipe (302) comprises:
a first soil quality sensor (314) placed at the first distal end (308), wherein the first soil quality sensor (314) is configured to measure a quality of the soil; and
a first soil temperature sensor (316) placed between the first proximate end (306) and the first distal end (308), wherein the first soil temperature sensor (316) is configured to measure a temperature of the soil;
a top detachable pipe (304) having a second distal end (312) and a second proximate end (310), wherein a diameter of the bottom detachable pipe (302) is less than a diameter of the top detachable pipe (304), and wherein the first proximate end (306) of the bottom detachable pipe (302) is connected to the second distal end (312) of the top detachable pipe (304) through a fastening means;
an antenna (326) attached to the second proximate end (310) of the top detachable pipe (304);
a control unit (324) placed at the second proximate end (310) of the top detachable pipe (304) and communicatively coupled to the measurement unit and the antenna (326), the control unit (324) is configured to:
receive the quality and the temperature of the soil from the first soil quality sensor (314) and the first soil temperature sensor (316) respectively; and
transmit the quality and the temperature of the soil to a server (204) to determine a time and an amount of irrigation; and
a top cap (330) having a first diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the diameter of the bottom detachable pipe (302) and the diameter of the top detachable pipe (304), and wherein the top cap (330) is placed over the control unit (324) to protect the control unit (324) from ambient environment.
2. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises a snap lock.
3. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first proximate end (306) of the bottom detachable pipe (302) is greater than a diameter of the first distal end (308) of the bottom detachable pipe (302).
4. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 1, wherein the measurement unit comprises a second soil quality sensor placed at the second proximate end (310) of the top detachable pipe (304).
5. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 4, wherein the first soil quality sensor (314) is configured to measure the quality of the soil at a first location of the soil, and the second soil quality sensor is configured to measure the quality of the soil at a second location of the soil.
6. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 4, wherein the control unit (324) is configured to receive the quality and the temperature of the soil from the first soil quality sensor (314), the second soil quality sensor, and the first soil temperature sensor (316).
7. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 6, wherein the control unit (324) is configured to transmit the quality and the temperature of the soil to the server (204).
8. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 7, wherein the server (204) is configured to determine the time and the amount of irrigation for a crop based on the quality and the temperature of the soil.
9. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 1, wherein the irrigation unit (300) comprises a battery holder (328) that is configured to hold a battery in the irrigation unit (300), and wherein the battery holder (328) is placed over the control unit (324).
10. The irrigation unit (300) of claim 9, wherein the first diameter of the top cap (330) is greater than a diameter of the battery holder (328), and wherein the top cap (330) is placed over the battery holder (328).