US-12622370-B2 - Smart sprinkler system

Abstract

An irrigation system includes at least one sensor configured to acquire data regarding a water saturation level of an area of soil, a sprinkler configured to provide water to the area of soil, and a control system. The control system is configured to acquire the data from the at least one sensor and adjust a watering scheme of the sprinkler based on the data to provide a desired water saturation level to the area of soil.

Inventors

• Payton Michael Loppnow
• Brian David Wanta
• Cole Elliot O'Brien

Assignees

• TEXTRON INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240827

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An irrigation system comprising: at least one sensor configured to acquire data regarding (a) a first water saturation level of a first portion of an area of soil and (b) a second water saturation level of a second portion of the area of soil; a sprinkler system configured to provide water to the area of soil; and a control system configured to: acquire one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide one or more desired water saturation levels to the area of soil; acquire the data from the at least one sensor; and control the sprinkler system to differentially water the first portion and the second portion based on the data and the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide the one or more desired water saturation levels to the first portion and the second portion.
2. 2 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler system includes a first sprinkler associated with the first portion and a second sprinkler associated with the second portion, and wherein differentially watering the first portion and the second portion includes causing (a) the first sprinkler to stop watering the first portion when the first water saturation level is detected to have reached the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds associated the first portion and (b) the second sprinkler to stop watering the second portion when the second water saturation level is detected to have reached the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds associated the first portion.
3. 3 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to control the sprinkler system to start watering or continue watering the first portion or the second portion in response to the first water saturation level or the second water saturation level, respectively, being less than the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds.
4. 4 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to control the sprinkler system to stop watering the first portion or the second portion in response to the first water saturation level or the second water saturation level, respectively, being greater than or equal to the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds.
5. 5 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler system includes a respective sprinkler configured to differentially water both the first portion and the second portion.
6. 6 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor and the control system communicate wirelessly.
7. 7 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a tensiometer configured to be disposed within the soil of the area.
8. 8 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a vehicle sensor configured to be positioned on a vehicle.
9. 9 . The irrigation system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle sensor includes a camera configured to survey the area as the vehicle drives over or proximate the area.
10. 10 . The irrigation system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle sensor is a speed sensor, wherein the data is speed data regarding a component of the vehicle, and wherein the control system is configured to determine the first water saturation level and the second water saturation level based on the speed of the component of the vehicle.
11. 11 . The irrigation system of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is a mower, and wherein the component includes mower blades.
12. 12 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes at least one processing circuit positioned in a vehicle, and wherein the at least one processing circuit is configured to acquire the data from the at least one sensor when the vehicle is within a threshold distance of the at least one sensor.
13. 13 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes at least one processing circuit positioned at a server.
14. 14 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes at least one processing circuit that is part of the sprinkler system.
15. 15 . The irrigation system of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler system includes a first sprinkler and a second sprinkler, wherein the first sprinkler is configured to transmit a command to the second sprinkler.
16. 16 . An irrigation system comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: acquire one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide one or more desired water saturation levels to an area of soil; acquire data regarding (a) a first water saturation level of a first portion of the area of soil from a first sensor and (b) a second water saturation level of a second portion of the area of soil from a second sensor; and control one or more sprinklers to differentially water the first portion and the second portion based on the data and the one or more predetermined water saturation thresholds to provide the one or more desired water saturation levels to the first portion and the second portion.
17. 17 . The irrigation system of claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the one or more processors to generate a graphical user interface based on the data for display to a user on a display device.
18. 18 . The irrigation system of claim 16 , wherein, to control the sprinklers to provide the one or more desired water saturation levels to the area of soil, the instructions cause the one or more processors to: transmit a first command to a first sprinkler of the one or more sprinklers corresponding to the first portion of the area; and transmit a second command to a second sprinkler of the one or more sprinklers corresponding to the second portion of the area.
19. 19 . An irrigation system comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: acquire at least one predetermined water saturation threshold to provide a desired water saturation level to a plurality of areas; acquire a plurality of first signals regarding first water saturation values corresponding to the plurality of areas; generate at least one first command based on the first water saturation values relative to the at least one predetermined water saturation threshold; transmit the at least one first command to at least one sprinkler of a plurality of sprinklers; acquire a plurality of second signals regarding second water saturation values corresponding to the plurality of areas; generate at least one second command based on the second water saturation values relative to the at least one predetermined water saturation threshold; transmit the at least one second command to at least one sprinkler of the plurality of sprinklers; and dynamically generate a graphical user interface based on the first water saturation values and the second water saturation values.
20. 20 . The irrigation system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one first command causes a control system to turn on at least one sprinkler of the plurality of sprinklers and the at least one second command causes the control system to at least one of turn off or rotate at least one sprinkler of the plurality of sprinklers.

Description

BACKGROUND Mowers are used to maintain vegetation (e.g., grass, clover, weeds, etc.) at a desired height. Sprinkler systems are used to provide water to the vegetation. The sprinkler systems are often all controlled based on a singular command turning all of the sprinklers within the sprinkler system on or off. Often, the command is preset to be transmitted to the controllers at a set time regardless of the conditions of the course. Thus, various areas may receive too much or too little water affecting the growth of vegetation and the play of golfers playing on a golf course. SUMMARY One embodiment relates to an irrigation system. The irrigation system includes a at least one sensor configured to acquire data regarding a water saturation level of an area of soil, a sprinkler configured to provide water to the area of soil, and a control system. The control system is configured to acquire the data from the at least one sensor and adjust a watering scheme of the sprinkler based on the data to provide a desired water saturation level to the area of soil. Another embodiment relates to an irrigation system. The irrigation system includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to acquire first data regarding a water saturation level of an area of soil from at least one sensor, control sprinklers based on the first data to provide a first desired water saturation level to the area of soil, acquire second data regarding the water saturation level of the area of soil from the at least one sensor, and adjust a watering scheme of the sprinklers based on the comparison. Another embodiment relates to an irrigation system. The irrigation system includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to acquire a plurality of first signals regarding first water saturation values corresponding to a plurality of areas, generate at least one first command based on the first water saturation values, transmit the at least one first command to at least one sprinkler, acquire a plurality of second signals regarding second water saturation values corresponding to the plurality of areas, compare the second water saturation values to the first water saturation values, generate at least one second command based on the comparison, transmit the at least one second command to the at least one sprinkler, and dynamically generate a graphical user interface based on the first water saturation values and the second water saturation values. This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices or processes described herein will become apparent in the detailed description set forth herein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a vehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a vehicle, according to another exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle of FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a is schematic block diagram of a site monitoring and control system including a plurality of the vehicles of FIG. 1 and an irrigation system, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is an illustration of an irrigation system and a golf course condition reporting system including the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a controller of an irrigation system, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a site monitoring and control system including a sprinkler, a sensor, and the vehicles of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the irrigation system and the golf course condition reporting system of FIG. 6 including the vehicle of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the irrigation system and the golf course condition reporting system of FIG. 6 including a vehicle, according to another embodiment. FIG. 9 show a graphical user interfaces generated by a remote systems in communication with the vehicle of FIG. 1 or FIG. 8, according to an exemplary embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. Overall Vehicle As shown in FIG. 1A-3, a machine or vehicle, shown as vehicle 10, inclu