U.S. patent application number 10/913192 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for method and system for estimating an agricultural management parameter.
Invention is credited to Noel Wayne Anderson, Arnold Albert Taube.
Application Number | 20060030990 10/913192 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35758465 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060030990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson; Noel Wayne ; et
al. |
February 9, 2006 |
Method and system for estimating an agricultural management
parameter
Abstract
A system and method for estimating agricultural parameters for
growing crops is well suited for promoting efficient utilization of
agricultural inputs (e.g., water consumption). Sensors collect data
via one or more vehicles equipped with location-determining
receivers. A transmitter transmits the collected environmental data
to a data processing system. The data processing system applies the
collected environmental data to an agronomic model for determining
an agricultural management parameter. A prescription is made
available for application of an agricultural input (e.g., water) to
a crop in a particular location consistent with the collected
environmental data and the agronomic model.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Noel Wayne;
(Fargo, ND) ; Taube; Arnold Albert; (Geneseo,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEERE & COMPANY
ONE JOHN DEERE PLACE
MOLINE
IL
61265
US
|
Family ID: |
35758465 |
Appl. No.: |
10/913192 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/050 |
International
Class: |
G06G 7/00 20060101
G06G007/00 |
Claims
1. A method for estimating an agricultural management parameter,
the method comprising: collecting environmental data associated
with at least one field for growing a crop in a particular
location, where the collecting is accomplished via one or more
vehicles having one or more sensors and a location-determining
receiver; transmitting the collected environmental data to a data
processing system; applying the collected environmental data to an
agronomic model for estimating an agricultural management
parameter; and making available a prescription for application of
an agricultural input to a crop in a particular location consistent
with the collected environmental data and the agronomic model.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the collecting data
comprises collecting data via one or more vehicles operating on at
least one of a road, a highway, a rail line, and a transportation
route.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the collecting data
comprises collecting environmental data via an off-road vehicle
equipped with a removable weather module for housing the sensors,
the removable weather module located outdoors and the off-road
vehicle located within or under a shelter.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transmitting
comprises transmitting the data via a wireless communications
system.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the transmitting
comprises transmitting data via a wireless access point associated
with or located along a transportation route.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the collected
environmental data comprises one or more of the following: climatic
data, temperature data, dew point temperature, relative humidity,
wind speed, solar radiation, sunlight intensity, wind direction,
and rainfall amounts.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the collected
environmental data comprises one or more of the following precursor
data items: exterior air temperature, humidity, vehicle speed and
heading, interior air temperature, air conditioner setting, fuel
consumption, windshield wiper and speed setting.
8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising: deriving one
or more of the following collected environmental data from the
precursor data items: climatic data, temperature data, dew point
temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation,
sunlight intensity, wind direction, and rainfall amounts.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the agronomic model
comprises estimating water requirements for the crop, the
agricultural input comprising irrigation water.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the agronomic model
comprises estimating evapotranspiration for the crop.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the
evapotranspiration, the crop identifier, and the crop stage of
growth or planting date are applied to provide the prescription for
water input, as the agricultural input, with reference to the
location date within the field.
12. A system for estimating agricultural management parameter, the
system comprising: a sensor for collecting environmental data
associated with at least one field for growing a crop in a
particular location, the sensor associated with a
location-determining receiver mounted on a corresponding vehicle; a
transmitter for transmitting the collected environmental data to a
data processing system; an estimator for applying the collected
environmental data to an agronomic model for estimating an
agricultural management parameter; and a prescription generator for
making available a prescription for application of an agricultural
input to a crop in a particular location consistent with the
collected environmental data and the agronomic model.
13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the vehicle is
associated with operation on at least one of a road, a highway, a
rail line, and a transportation route adjacent to or near the
field.
14. The system according to claim 12 further comprising: a data
processor for processing the environmental data collected by the
sensor; a removable weather module for housing the sensor, the
removable weather module arranged for location outdoors and spaced
apart from the vehicle; and an interface mounted on the vehicle for
communications between the removable weather module and the data
processor.
15. The system according to claim 12 wherein transmitter and
location-determining receiver comprise an integral portion of a
telematics system associated with the vehicle.
16. The system according to claim 12 wherein the transmitter
comprises at least one of a Bluetooth transmitter, a spread
spectrum transmitter, a code division multiple access transmitter,
an infra-red transmitter, and a radio frequency transmitter.
17. The system according to claim 12 wherein the collected
environmental data comprises one or more of the following: climatic
data, temperature data, dew point temperature, relative humidity,
wind speed, solar radiation, sunlight intensity, wind direction,
and rainfall amounts.
18. The system according to claim 12 wherein the collected
environmental data comprises one or more of the following precursor
data items: exterior air temperature, humidity, vehicle speed and
heading, interior air temperature, air conditioner setting, fuel
consumption, windshield wiper and speed setting.
19. The system according to claim 18 further comprising: a data
derivation unit for deriving one or more of the following collected
environmental data from the precursor data items: climatic data,
temperature data, dew point temperature, relative humidity, wind
speed, solar radiation, sunlight intensity, wind direction, and
rainfall amounts.
20. The system according to claim 12 wherein estimator applies an
evapotranspiration as the agronomic model and where the
agricultural input comprises water.
21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the
evapotranspiration, the crop identifier, and the crop stage of
growth or a date are applied to provide a prescription for water
input, as the agricultural input, with reference to the location
data within the field.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a method and system for estimating
one or more agricultural management parameters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Stationary weather stations or other agronomic sensing
stations may be positioned in a field to determine environmental
parameters for raising agricultural crops. However, the cost,
maintenance, and other drawbacks of stationary weather stations
discourage the wide-spread deployment of such agronomic sensing
stations. Batteries of sensing stations may need to be replaced or
recharged periodically. Sensing stations may be vulnerable to theft
or vandalism. The placement of sensing stations in the field can
make them susceptible to collisions or entanglement with machinery,
tractors or implements, for example.
[0003] The success of growers depends upon an adequate supply of
water (e.g., rainfall) and other agricultural inputs for raising
crops. The cost of providing irrigation or other agricultural
inputs to crops is based on the quantity, frequency and rate of
application of the agricultural input to a field. Accordingly,
there is need for providing low cost and accurate agricultural
management parameters to growers to reduce or optimally allocate
agricultural inputs (e.g., water consumption and irrigation
expenses) to the extent practical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A system and method for estimating one or more agricultural
management parameters for growing crops is well suited for
promoting efficient utilization (e.g., water consumption) of an
agricultural input. One or more vehicles are equipped with sensors
and location-determining receivers. The sensors collect
environmental data associated with a field for growing a crop in a
particular location. The location-determining receiver facilitates
referencing one or more sensor-measurement locations (e.g., points
on a transportation route of the vehicle where environmental data
is measured) to the particular location. A transmitter transmits
the collected environmental data to a data processing system. The
data processing system applies the collected environmental data to
an agronomic model for estimating an agricultural management
parameter (e.g., demand or requirement for irrigation). A
prescription is made available for application of an agricultural
input (e.g., water) to a crop in the particular location consistent
with the collected environmental data and the agronomic model.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system for
estimating an agricultural management parameter in accordance with
the invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a system
for estimating an agricultural management parameter in accordance
with the invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system for estimating an
agricultural management parameter that shows the wireless
communications system in greater detail and the collection of data
via multiple vehicles.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a system
for estimating an agricultural management parameter where a
removable weather station module is positioned outdoors and in
communication with a vehicle positioned indoors during its rest
state.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for
estimating an agricultural management parameter in accordance with
the invention.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method for
estimating an agricultural management parameter in accordance with
the invention.
[0011] FIG. 7A is a diagram of an illustrative data structure or
list of data fields for collected environmental data.
[0012] FIG. 7B is a diagram of an illustrative data structure or
list of data fields for grower input data.
[0013] FIG. 7C is a diagram of an illustrative data structure or
list of data fields for prescription data.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] In FIG. 1, a system for estimating one or more agricultural
management parameters comprises vehicle electronics 10 for
collecting environmental data associated with respective location
data. Environmental data may comprise weather data, climatic data
and precursor data to the weather data and climatic data. The
environmental data further comprises location data (e.g., location
stamps, expressed in geographic coordinates) and temporal data
(e.g., time stamps) associated with the weather data, climatic data
and precursor data. The location data may correspond to one or more
sensor measurement locations or points along a path or resting
location of a vehicle (incorporating the vehicle electronics 10) on
a transportation route that bisects, adjoins, or lies near or in a
field where a particular crop is grown by a grower. The vehicle
electronics 10 communicates the collected environmental data to a
receiver 46 via an electromagnetic signal (e.g., a radio frequency
signal). In turn, the receiver 46 supplies the collected
environmental data to a data processing system 48 for estimating
one or more agricultural management parameters (or environmental
parameters) based on the collected environmental data. The
agricultural management parameters may define an agronomic state of
a corresponding field associated with location data. The
environmental parameters may relate to statistically winnowed
(e.g., filtered to attain an acceptable level of reliability)
weather data associated with the field at a corresponding
particular location within a geographic area.
[0015] A grower terminal 56 is arranged to communicate with the
data processing system 48 via a communications network 54 (e.g.,
the Internet). The grower may provide supplemental data to the data
processing system 48. The supplemental data may comprise any data
that is available to the grower. For example, supplemental data may
include information on the quantity, date, date of application,
location data for application or distribution of an agricultural
input; weather data from governmental or commercially available
sources; soil data, soil test data versus location data, soil
profile data from soil surveys that are publicly available; and
information on the crop planted, the planting data, the seed
variety and genetic make-up. The data processing system 48 uses the
collected environmental data (or the estimated agricultural
parameters therefrom) and the supplemental data to generate a
prescription for the grower. The prescription may mean a
recommendation concerning an agricultural input or treatment of a
crop associated with a particular field or particular location
data. For instance, the prescription may provide an identifier of
an agricultural input, a concentration off the agricultural input,
a quantity or rate of application of the agricultural input, date
of application or time window for application of the agricultural
input. An agricultural input means water, seed, fertilizer,
nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, plant nutrients, trace minerals,
chemicals, fungicide, herbicide, pesticide, and any other material
suitable for application to crops or a field.
[0016] In general, the vehicle electronics 10 comprises sensors 11
that are arranged to input collected environmental data to a data
processor 32. The sensors 11 include two or more of the following
items: thermometer 12 (e.g., for external or ambient temperature
around the vehicle), pyrometer, humidity sensor 14, dew point
temperature sensor, solar radiation sensor 16 (e.g., photovoltaic
cell), windshield wiper state sensor 20, precipitation module 18,
rain gauge 22, wind sensor 24 (e.g., wind vane), wind sensing
module 25, vehicle speed, clock 28, air-conditioning load sensor
(e.g., an ammeter for an electrically driven compressor), and
location-determining receiver 30 (e.g., GPS receiver).
[0017] The sensors 11 collect data along the path of travel (e.g.,
transportation route or road) of a corresponding vehicle. The path
of travel may be planned such that sensor measurement points of the
sensors 11 are spatially near a particular field or farm land in a
certain region. However, the path of travel need not be planned and
may be incidental to other tasks of the driver or operator (e.g.,
law enforcement or police patrols for a squad car equipped with
vehicle electronics). The collected environmental data is
associated with a location-determining receiver 30 for gathering
location data and a corresponding temporal data (e.g., clock data)
for time-stamping the gathered location data. The collected
environmental data refers one or more of the following: to sensor
data, clock data and location data.
[0018] The interface 34 is an intermediary between the sensors 11
and the data processor 32. The interface 34 may provide one or more
of the following: (a) an analog-to-digital converter for converting
an analog sensor signal into a corresponding digital sensor signal,
(b) storing environmental data in a buffer memory prior to other
processing by the data processor 32, (c) pre-processing (e.g.,
averaging of the sampled data or measurements over time) of the
digital sensor signal to reduce the requisite computational
throughput capacity of the data processor 32, (d) derivation of
environmental data from precursor data determined by the sensors
11.
[0019] In one embodiment, data processor 32 comprises a collector
36 and a formatter 38. The collector 36 facilitates collection of
the environmental data and organization of the environmental data,
including tracking of the number of samples during a given time
period for any defined geographic area. The collector 36 may
include a statistical analyzer for performing statistical analysis
on the environmental data consistent with the tracked samples per
defined geographic area. The formatter 38 may place the
environmental data into a desired standard data format for storage
in the data storage device 40 or transmission via a communications
interface 42 and the transmitter 44. The data storage device 40 may
comprise nonvolatile memory or a hard-disk drive, for example. The
data processor 32 may comprise an embedded processor, a digital
signal processor, a microprocessor, a computer, or any other data
processor. The interconnections between the data processor 32 and
other components (e.g., the interface 34, data storage device 40,
and communications interface 42) indicated by arrows may represent
physical data paths (e.g., a databus), logical data paths, or
both.
[0020] Although other configurations are possible, in one
illustrative embodiment (a) the data processor comprises a central
processing unit (not shown) coupled to the interface 34 via a
databus, (b) the interface 34 comprises an input/out port (e.g., a
synchronous or asynchronous data port) that communicates with the
central processing unit via the databus and the sensors 11 via a
cable, wireless communications link or other connection, and (c)
the collector 36 and formatter 38 represent software programs,
routines, or instructions associated with or resident in the data
processor or central processing unit.
[0021] In an alternate embodiment, the data processor 32 further
comprises a data derivation unit for deriving one or more of the
following collected environmental data from the precursor data
items: climatic data, temperature data, dew point temperature,
relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, sunlight intensity,
wind direction, and rainfall amounts.
[0022] The communications interface 42 my provide management of the
transmission of data, including temporary storage of collected
environmental data (e.g., buffer memory), error detection and
correction, or other data processing (e.g., data
packetization).
[0023] The transmitter 44 transmits the collected environmental
data to a data processing system 48. In one embodiment, the
transmitter 44 comprises at least one of a Bluetooth transmitter, a
spread spectrum transmitter, a code division multiple access
transmitter, an infra-red transmitter, and a radio frequency
transmitter.
[0024] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the data processing
system 48 comprises an estimator 50 and a prescription generator
52. The estimator 50 applies the collected environmental data to an
agronomic model for determining an agricultural management
parameter (e.g., on water or irrigation management, an agricultural
parameter or both). The prescription generator 52 makes available a
prescription for application of the agricultural input (e.g.,
water) to a crop in a particular location consistent with the
collected environmental data and the agronomic model.
[0025] Now that an overview of the system of FIG. 1 has been
provided, the location-determining receiver 30, clock 28, and
sensors 11, of FIG. 1 are described in greater detail. In one
embodiment, the location-determining receiver 30 provides location
data (e.g., geographic coordinates of the location-determining
receiver 30 mounted on the vehicle). Further, the
location-determining receiver 30 may be configured to provide
heading data, velocity data, and time data. The speed data (e.g.,
from a speedometer 26) may supersede, supplement, or complement
(e.g., provide an error check against) the velocity data provided
by the location-determining receiver 30. In one embodiment, the
location-determining receiver 30 comprises a Global Positioning
System (GPS) receiver (e.g., with differential correction).
[0026] The wind sensor 24 provides an estimated speed of the wind,
direction of the wind, or both. If the vehicle is moving when the
wind sensor 24 takes a measurement, the wind sensor reading needs
to be compensated for the motion of the vehicle to facilitate
accurate estimation of the wind speed. Velocity data may be
gathered from one or more of the following: the
location-determining receiver 30, a speedometer 26, an
accelerometer, a compass, and vehicle steering wheel position
sensors. The velocity data includes a vehicle speed component and a
heading component. The velocity data (e.g., as vector data) may be
applied to determine the relative velocity of the of the wind (as
vector data) with respect to the ground or a stationary vehicle,
rather than with respect to the moving vehicle.
[0027] The windshield wiper state sensor 20 may support one or more
of the following: windshield wiper off and vehicle on; windshield
wiper on and vehicle on; intermittent setting activated, high
windshield wiper setting activated, and low windshield wiper
setting activated. A rain gauge 22 may be used to provide a
estimate of rainfall and may be operational to provide an accurate
reading regardless of whether the vehicle is turned on or off
during the rain or precipitation. The rain gauge 22 may be reset
(e.g., purged or drained by an servo-motor operated valve) on a
daily log kept, for example. The daily log may be recorded over an
extended period and preserved at least until successful
transmission from the transmitter 44 to receiver 46. If the vehicle
is not equipped with a rain gauge 22, the windshield wiper state
sensor 20 may provide the following: (a) a crude indication of
whether precipitation is present (e.g., at least when the vehicle
happens to be on during the rain and when the wiper blades are
activated by the driver in response to the rain) and (b) the rate
of rain or estimated rainfall range may be based on a timer
(associated with the windshield wiper state sensor 20) that times
the duration in which the windshield wiper remains on and the
respective rate of the wind shield wiper movement (e.g., high,
intermittent, or low) during corresponding time periods.
[0028] Spatial variation in the rainfall may be estimated by
looking at vehicle speed and wiper setting of windshield wipers.
Vehicle speed reduction versus posted vehicle speed may indicate
heavy rain-fall; particularly where the wiper setting is on "high"
during such reduction in vehicle speed. The relative amounts of
rain indicated by the windshield wiper settings versus
corresponding location data for vehicles may be referenced actual
measured rainfall at specific locations to yield estimates of
actual rainfall versus geographic location.
[0029] The thermometer 12 may comprise a pyrometer for measuring an
external temperature or ambient temperature outside the vehicle.
The humidity sensor 14 may sense the relative humidity in the
ambient air outside the vehicle (or in the engine compartment) or
the dew point temperature outside the vehicle. The thermometer 12
and humidity sensor 14 may be present in many vehicles, such as
newer automobiles or automobiles with climate control or advanced
fuel injection or carburetion systems.
[0030] The solar radiation sensor 16 may provide a solar intensity
reading versus time on an on-going basis for the vehicle. Tree
canopies, parking garages, buildings and other structures may
detract from the accuracy of the solar intensity readings, unless
the readings are correlated to locations where such parking
garages, tree canopies are absent. In one embodiment, the solar
radiation sensor 16 comprises a photovoltaic cell, a solar cell, a
photovoltaic array, or a solar cell array. The solar radiation
sensor 16 converts sunlight into direct current electricity, which
can be used to estimate the intensity of solar radiation incident
thereon and to operate the other sensors when the vehicle is in the
off state. The current and power output of a photovoltaic cell of a
given surface area is proportional to the intensity of the sunlight
striking the surface area of the photovoltaic cell. An ammeter or
current meter may sample the output of the solar radiation sensor
16 regularly or a periodic intervals during daylight. The solar
radiation sensor 16 is outputted into a known load and each current
measurement recorded is associated with corresponding location data
and temporal data for the vehicle.
[0031] In an alternate embodiment, where the output of a solar
radiation sensor 16 is not available or if the solar radiation
sensor 16 is not present, sunlight or solar intensity may be
estimated as described in this paragraph. Sunlight passing through
vehicle windows or incident on the exterior body of the vehicle
(e.g., especially dark) body panels, heats up the interior or
cockpit of the vehicle. During the summer, for instance, this solar
heating may impact air- conditioner load. For certain air
conditioners, the air-conditioner load is indicated by the
electrical power or current consumption of an electrical motor that
drives the compressor. However, for belt-driven compressors, the
load may be measured by thermal sensors located on the compressor
or the amount of time that the electromagnetic air-conditioner
clutch is engaged versus not engaged when the air conditioner is
turned on. From the date/time/location stamp provided by the
location-determining receiver 30, the location of the sun in the
sky can be determined with respect to the vehicle and its direction
of travel. By measuring the exterior temperature outside the
vehicle, the interior temperature inside the vehicle, the
air-conditioner load, and considering a thermal loading coefficient
for a corresponding vehicle (e.g., based on body color, body style,
model, manufacturer and year), the intensity of the sunlight (or
obscuring of the sun by clouds or other environmental conditions)
incident on the vehicle can be estimated.
[0032] Temperature and humidity data may be available from sensors
present on the vehicle for engine control. If the temperature and
humidity control are located in the engine compartment, the
temperature and humidity may be compensated for the thermal effects
of engine or other components.
[0033] In sum, the sensors 11 collect environmental data that
comprises one or more of the following: exterior air temperature,
humidity, climatic data, temperature data, dew point temperature,
relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, sunlight intensity,
wind direction, and rainfall amounts. The collected environmental
data may be derived from one or more of the following precursor
data items: exterior air temperature, humidity, vehicle speed and
heading, interior air or cabin temperature, air conditioner
setting, fuel consumption, and windshield wiper and speed setting.
In one embodiment, a data derivation unit is associated with the
data processor 32 for deriving collected environmental data from
the precursor data items.
[0034] In one embodiment, an estimator 50 applies an
evapotranspiration model (e.g. in accordance with the
Penman-Monteith system) as the agronomic model. Evapotranspiration
refers to an estimate of the total amount of water required to grow
a crop or other plants. The total amount of water includes for
example, rain water and irrigation. Evapotranspiration considers
evaporation of water from the soil and transpiration of water by
plants. The evapotranspiration varies from crop to a crop and at
the stage of growth of a particular crop. Evapotranspiration may
determined with reference to a reference plant and then multiplied
by a first coefficient associated with a particular crop, and a
second coefficient associated with the stage of growth (e.g.,
period between the planting date and present date) of such
particular crop. The grower provides supplemental data on the
identity of the crop, planting date, current date and crop stage,
whereas the sensors 11 provide the environmental data for input to
the evapotranspiration model. The evapotranspiration, the crop
identifier, and the crop stage of growth (or date) are applied to
provide a prescription for water input on a georeferenced basis.
The evapotranspiration may be determined with reference to a
standardized Penman-Monteith method, although other calculation
method or procedures are equally valid and acceptable. In one
example, the following collected environmental data and
supplemental data forms input to the evapotranspiration
determination: minimum temperature, maximum temperature, relative
humidity (percentage), solar radiation (Energy/surface area),
rainfall, day (e.g., A.M.) wind speed (e.g., miles per hour), and
night (P.M.) wind speed, and location data.
[0035] The vehicle is associated with operation on at least one of
a road, a highway, a rail line, and a transportation route adjacent
to or near or in a field where a crop is present. Although vehicle
electronics 10 is shown as a single vehicle in FIG. 1 for exemplary
purposes, the configuration of FIG. 1 may be extended to multiple
vehicles such that the environmental data represents a compilation
of information from multiple vehicles with corresponding vehicular
electronics 10. At the data processing system 48, statistical
analysis and filters may be applied to remove outlying data, to
weight data, or to assign confidence levels of intervals for
different geographic areas based on the frequency or samples, the
quantity of samples, and the location data associated with the
samples collected from different vehicles and locations.
[0036] Any of the following organizations or entities may
incorporate the vehicle electronics 10 of FIG. 1 into vehicles
(e.g., on-road vehicles, off-road vehicles, or both) for various
reasons (e.g., public safety, road maintenance, snow removal,
road-salt distribution, drought avoidance, crop management, or
other reasons in the public interest): any state government, local
government, federal government, national government, national
government agency, federal governmental agency; any state police
department, county police department, and city police department;
any state Department of Transportation, another governmental agency
or entity, a quasi-governmental organization, a grower cooperative
organization, a crop insurance organization, and any crop insurance
regulator or consultant. Further, the vehicle electronics 10 may be
incorporated into off-road vehicles owned or leased by growers.
Tractors, combines, sprayers, agricultural equipment, and other
vehicles may collect environmental data during the performance of
agricultural tasks in the field or in surrounding areas. For
instance, members of a grower co-op that does spraying of fields of
different growers may gather the environmental data and share such
data with all the members of the co-op, other co-ops, governmental
entities, agencies, or quasi-governmental bodies. Tractors,
combines, sprayers, or other vehicles with vehicle electronics 10
may be left in the field or outdoors (when not being used to treat
plants or work the soil) to gather environmental data, which is
then transmitted to the data processing system 48 via the
transmitter 44 and the receiver 46.
[0037] The embodiment of FIG. 2 is similar to the embodiment of
FIG. 1 except the transmitter 44 and the receiver 46 of FIG. 1 are
replaced with the wireless transceiver 58 and wireless
communications system 60 of FIG. 2. Like reference numbers in FIG.
1 and FIG. 2 indicate like elements.
[0038] The vehicle electronics 110 of FIG. 2 includes the wireless
receiver 58 (e.g., a GSM terminal). It should be appreciated that
wireless transceiver 58 and the location-determining receiver 30
may comprise an integral portion of a telematics system and may be
referred to as such in common usage in the industry. The wireless
communications system 60 of FIG. 2 may comprise a commercially
available communications system, such as a time-division
multiple-access (TDMA) system, a Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM) system, a code-division multiple-access system
(CDMA), a frequency modulated system, a Personal Communications
Service (PCS) system, a cellular communications system, a messaging
system, an analog cellular system that supports a Cellular Digital
Packet Data (CDPD), or any communications system that supports
short messaging service message (SMS) or text or alphanumeric
messages, or a packet data network, for example.
[0039] Telematics refers to a vehicle equipped with a
communications system that interfaces with the sensors (e.g., 11)
and a location-determining receiver (e.g., 30) to transmit
geographically referenced sensed data via an electromagnetic signal
to a remote site (e.g., a data processing system owned or used by
state Department of Transportation or a police department) for
processing.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows an illustrative example of a wireless
communications system 60 in greater detail than FIG. 2. Further,
FIG. 3 illustrates that multiple vehicles may be equipped with
vehicle electronics 110 of FIG. 2 for communication to a data
processing system 48 via a wireless communications system 60. Like
reference numbers in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 indicate like elements.
[0041] In FIG. 3, the vehicles (80, 81, 82) in a geographic area
may be designed as a first vehicle 80, second vehicle 81, through
an Nth vehicle 82, where N equals any whole number greater than
two. Although other configurations of the wireless communications
system 60 are possible, in FIG. 3, the wireless communications
system 60 comprises one or more base stations 87 coupled to a base
station controller 89. In turn, the base station controller 89 is
coupled to a mobile switching center 85. The base station 87
communicates with a transmitter or wireless transceiver 58
associated with one or more of the vehicle electronics 110. For
example, each base station 87 may provide a different coverage area
or service area within a geographic area and the vehicles (e.g.,
each vehicle) may be served by different base stations 87 (e.g.,
handed-off from one base station 87 to another) as they move around
in a geographic area.
[0042] Via grower terminals 48, multiple growers may access a
prescription generated by the data processing system 48. For
instance, the grower terminals 56 may access the data processing
system 48 through Internet Service Provider (ISP) equipment 91
associated with the communications network 54. Each grower may be
associated with a unique location data for one or more
corresponding fields and corresponding crop data for a particular
crop. The prescription for each grower may be more accurate if the
transportation routes or roads in a particular area are more
heavily traveled with on-road vehicles equipped with vehicle
electronics 110, for instance. Accordingly, the data processing
system may provide a reliability level or a confidence level of the
accuracy or integrity of the underlying environmental data upon
which the prescription is based.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of a
system for estimating an agricultural management parameter. The
system of FIG. 4 is similar to the system of FIG. 2, except that
the sensors 11 of FIG. 2 are replaced by a removable weather module
111. Like reference numbers in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 indicate like
elements.
[0044] In FIG. 4, the vehicle electronics 210 comprises a removable
weather module 111 coupled to the interface 34 via an
interconnection cable 35 or wireless link (e.g., a Blue-tooth link,
an unlicensed 2.4 GHz microwave link, an infra-red link, a licensed
900 MHz, VHF or UHF communications link) to facilitate collection
of environmental data when the vehicle is at rest, parked or in
storage. The collected environmental data may be transmitted via
telematics (e.g., including wireless transceivers 58) associated
with the vehicle electronics 210. The configuration of FIG. 4
advantageously leverages the presence of telematics which may be
present to service machine health or maintenance issues of the
vehicle. Accordingly, the removable weather module 111 may be
removed and detached from the vehicle (e.g., a tractor or
agricultural work vehicle) while the vehicle is in a rest state or
parked such that the vehicle may be protected from the elements by
placing it in or under a protected structure (e.g., in a barn). In
one embodiment, prior to use of the vehicle (e.g., to work the soil
or treat crops or plants), the connection to the removable weather
module 111 via the interconnection cable 35 is disconnected or the
removable weather module 111 is reattached to the vehicle to
collect environmental data on a mobile basis. In an alternate
embodiment, where the interconnection cable 35 is replaced by a
wireless link, the vehicle has complete freedom of movement without
tethering the interconnection cable 35.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for estimating
agricultural management parameters. The method of FIG. 5 begins in
step S102.
[0046] In step S102, one or more sensors 11 or removable weather
module 111 collect environmental data. Environmental data includes:
(a) weather data, (b) climatic data, and (c) precursor data to
weather data and climatic data. Further, location data and temporal
data are associated with (a) weather data, (b) climatic data, and
(c) precursor data. A set of sensors 11 (or a removable weather
module 111) and a location-determining receiver 30 is associated
with a corresponding vehicle in a geographic area. Multiple
vehicles equipped with such sensors 11 (or removable weather module
111) and location-determining receivers 30 may be present in a
geographic area to collect the environmental data, although as few
as a single vehicle (e.g., with vehicle electronics 10, 110, or
210) may be used to collect the environmental data and practice the
invention.
[0047] Step S102 may be executed in accordance with a variety of
procedures that may be applied cumulatively or alternatively. In
accordance with a first procedure for executing step S102, the
sensors 11 collect environmental data via one or more vehicles
operating on at least one of a road, a highway, a rail line, and a
transportation route. For example, the grower (or another party
with consent of the grower, lease holder or land owner) may drive
the on-road vehicle around roads that are adjacent to a field at
regular or periodic intervals to gather environmental data on a
regular basis. Collected environmental data from one or more
vehicles may be organized spatially and temporally to interpolate
or estimate collected environmental data in space and time for
various geographic regions within the geographic area.
[0048] In accordance with a second procedure, the collected
environmental data is gathered from one or more off-road vehicle
equipped with vehicle electronics 10, 110 or 210. For example, the
sensors 11 of vehicle (e.g., a tractor, planter, combine,
harvester, or sprayer) may collect environmental data may while
applying an agricultural input, planting or harvesting a crop, or
performing another work task. For example, the grower (or another
party with consent of the grower, lease holder or land owner) may
drive the off-road vehicle around the perimeter of a field or
within the field at regular or periodic intervals to gather
environmental data on a regular basis.
[0049] In accordance with a third procedure, collected
environmental data comprises one or more of the following: climatic
data, temperature data, dew point temperature, relative humidity,
wind speed, solar radiation, sunlight intensity, wind direction,
and rainfall amounts. In accordance with a fourth procedure, the
collected environmental data comprises one or more of the following
precursor data items for deriving environmental data: exterior air
temperature, humidity, vehicle speed and heading, interior air
temperature, air conditioner setting, fuel consumption, windshield
wiper and speed setting. In accordance with a fourth procedure, a
data processor 32 associated with the sensors derives one or more
of the following collected environmental data from the precursor
data items: climatic data, temperature data, dew point temperature,
relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, sunlight intensity,
wind direction, and rainfall amounts.
[0050] The vehicle may have sensors 11 on board that collect data
from engine, interior environmental control, and other features
like lights, windshield wipers, fuel use, or otherwise. The sensor
data or environmental data may be referenced to corresponding
location data and time-stamped via a location-determining receiver
20, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS).
[0051] In step S104, the location data and collected environmental
data are transmitted to a data processing system 48. In one example
of step S104, a transmitter 44 or transceiver transmits the data
via a wireless communications system 60 (e.g., a Global System for
Mobile Communications (GSM) system). In another example of step
S104, a transmitter 44 or transceiver transmits data (e.g., via
Bluetooth or unlicensed, low power, short range transmission) to a
receiver 46. The receiver 46 may comprise a wireless access point
associated with a transportation route. The wireless access point
may be provided by a manufacturer, distributor or dealer of
agricultural equipment that is equipped to communicate with the
wireless access point, for instance. In yet another example, an
on-road vehicle is equipped with telematics or wireless
communications which communicates the collected environmental data
from the on-road vehicle to a designated wireless access point
(e.g., an intersection, primary transportation route, central
location within a city or town) without any intervention from the
driver of the vehicle. The wireless access point may support
communications range of one quarter mile or less, for example.
[0052] In step S106, the data processing system 48 applies the
collected environmental data to an agronomic model for managing an
agricultural input (e.g., water or irrigation management) to
determine an agricultural management parameter (e.g., an
evapotranspiration estimate or indicator). For example, the data
processing system 48 applies the collected environmental data to an
estimator 50 for estimating an evapotranspiration for a particular
crop growing at a corresponding location. Although other techniques
may be available, the agronomic model for water consumption may
comprises a estimating evapotranspiration in accordance with the
Penman-Monteith method. The evapotranspiration, the crop
identifier, and the crop stage of growth (or date) are applied to
provide a prescription for water input on a geo-referenced
basis.
[0053] The collected environmental data may be used to estimate
envirotransportation based on multiple on-road vehicles equipped
with sensors and telematics, for example. To the extent the method
relies on on-road collection of environmental data, it is better
suited for higher populated agricultural areas such as the U.S.
corn belt and in Europe, rather than sparsely populated areas like
the western Dakotas and eastern Montana.
[0054] In one example for conducting step S106, additional
processing may apply to the collected environmental data or the
agronomic model based on: (a) feedback from previous applications
of prior collected environmental data to the agronomic model, (b)
machine learning techniques for successive applications of the
agronomic model or (c) a priori calibration or adjustment of
collected environmental data to correct for measurement errors,
system errors, model estimation errors, or otherwise.
[0055] In step S108, the data processing system 48 makes available
a prescription for application of an agricultural input (e.g.,
quantity of water, volume of water, rate, frequency of application,
recommended time window of application for water) to a crop in a
particular location consistent with the collected environmental
data and the agronomic model. For example, the data processing
system 48 transmits a prescription (e.g., for irrigation or water
allocations) for a particular crop in a corresponding field to a
grower terminal 56 via a communications network 54 (e.g.,
Internet).
[0056] FIG. 6 is an alternate embodiment of a method for estimating
an agricultural management parameter. The method of FIG. 6 is
similar to the method of FIG. 5, except the method of FIG. 6
includes a statistical filtering mechanism (e.g., step S200). Like
reference numbers in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 indicate like steps or
procedures. The method of FIG. 6 begins in step S102.
[0057] Because steps S102 and S104 are identical to those of FIG.
5, here the explanation of FIG. 6 begins with step S200.
[0058] In step S200, a data processing system 48 determines if the
environmental data associated with a corresponding location data
within a geographic area has a sufficient quantity of samples to
meet or exceed a minimum threshold sample size. If the minimum
threshold sample size is met or exceeded, the method continues with
step S206. However, if the minimum threshold sample size is not met
or exceeded, the method returns to step S102 for additional
collection of environmental data.
[0059] In step S206, the data processing system 48 applies the
collected environmental data to an agronomic model for managing an
agricultural input (e.g., water or irrigation management) to
determine an agricultural management parameter for the geographic
area.
[0060] In step S208, the data processing system 48 makes available
a prescription of the agricultural input (e.g., water) to a crop in
a particular location consistent with the collected data and the
agronomic model for the geographic area. For example, the data
processing system 48 transmits the prescription of the agricultural
input or the agricultural management parameter concerning a
particular crop at a corresponding location consistent with the
collected data and the agronomic model for the geographic area. The
prescription may be time sensitive in that it is valid for a
limited time and the prescription may specify a time window for the
application of certain agricultural input in accordance with a
defined quantity, rate, concentration, or other defined application
parameters.
[0061] FIG. 7A discloses an illustration of a potential data
structure or data fields for the collected environmental data. The
collected environmental data may include one or more of the
following: a vehicle identifier, a vehicle location identifier,
vehicle velocity data, vehicle heading data, time stamp,
temperature data, humidity data, solar radiation data (e.g., solar
intensity versus time data), precipitation and wind data. It is
understood that the vehicle electronics (10, 110 or 210) disclosed
herein may be applied to collect the foregoing environmental data.
Further, any vehicle equipped with vehicle electronics may collect
multiple samples along a transportation route, where each sample is
uniquely identifiable by its time stamp and assigned vehicle
identifier.
[0062] FIG. 7B discloses an illustration of a potential data
structure or data fields for grower input data. The grower input
data may include one or more of the following: a grower identifier,
grower location data, crop identifier, planting date, present date,
and irrigation equipment specification (optional).
[0063] FIG. 7C discloses an illustration of a potential data
structure or data fields for prescription data. The prescription
data may include one or more of the following: water requirement
data, irrigation settings (optional), date of prescription, and
time window for fulfilling prescription.
[0064] The system and method of this invention may be used with
on-road vehicles (e.g., automobiles, state Department of
Transportation vehicles), off-road vehicles (e.g., tractors or golf
carts), or both to support the collection of environmental data
(e.g., weather data). The system and method of this invention may
be supported by or leveraged by telematics infrastructure supported
by auto manufacturers, governmental entities, or others to gather
weather data with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution for
application to certain agronomic models. It is anticipated that the
existing telematics infrastructure or existing wireless
communications systems will lower the costs of collecting such
information in comparison to a network of weather stations placed
in a single field.
[0065] Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become
apparent that various modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying
claims. For example, in any of the embodiments disclosed herein the
location determining receiver 30 may be coupled to the interface 34
instead of the data storage device 40, and such modification shall
fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *