GPS-based control system and method for controlling mechanized irrigation systems
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a center pivot irrigation system having a center pivot point and an end tower, comprising the steps of:
- programming a microprocessor with a first set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a position of the center pivot point;
receiving global positioning signals at the end tower and using said signals to generate a second set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a position of the end tower;
outputting said second set of coordinates to the microprocessor;
calculating the azimuth between the center pivot point and the end tower using the first and second sets of coordinates; and
using the calculated azimuth to control a function of the center pivot irrigation system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A GPS-based control system for irrigation systems includes a power supply, a nonvolatile memory for storing a first set of coordinates corresponding to a reference position for the irrigation system, circuitry for receiving GPS data and using the data to generate a second set of coordinates corresponding to a current position of the irrigation system, and a microprocessor for calculating the azimuth and the distance between the reference position and the current position using the first and second sets of coordinates. The control system communicates with a main controller of the irrigation system to control a function of the irrigation system, such as stopping, reversing, end gun operation, application rate, or other auxiliary output, at a selected distance or azimuth value of the current position relative to the reference position. The control system can be used with either a center pivot irrigation system or a linear move irrigation system.
63 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a center pivot irrigation system having a center pivot point and an end tower, comprising the steps of:
-
programming a microprocessor with a first set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a position of the center pivot point;
receiving global positioning signals at the end tower and using said signals to generate a second set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a position of the end tower;
outputting said second set of coordinates to the microprocessor;
calculating the azimuth between the center pivot point and the end tower using the first and second sets of coordinates; and
using the calculated azimuth to control a function of the center pivot irrigation system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of controlling a linear move irrigation system, comprising the steps of:
-
programming a microprocessor with a first set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a starting position of a selected point on the linear move irrigation system;
receiving global positioning signals at the selected point as the irrigation system moves linearly across a field and using said global positioning signals to generate a second set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a traveled position of the selected point;
outputting said second set of coordinates to the microprocessor;
calculating a distance traveled by the selected point from the starting position to the traveled position using the first and second sets of coordinates; and
using the calculated distance traveled to control a function of the linear move irrigation system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A control system for irrigation systems, comprising:
-
a power supply;
a non-volatile memory for storing a first set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a reference position for the irrigation system;
receiving circuitry for receiving global positioning signals and using said signals to generate a second set of latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to a current position of the irrigation system;
a microprocessor for calculating the azimuth and the distance between the reference position and the current position of the irrigation system using the first and second sets of coordinates; and
means for controlling a function of the irrigation system based on at least one of the calculated azimuth and distance. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification