SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING SOIL CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A soil detection apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a controller;
a ground penetrating radar soil sensor coupled to the housing, the ground penetrating radar soil sensor configured to scan a soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an intrinsic characteristic of the soil material; and
a location sensor, the location sensor configured to provide a location feedback signal to the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to create a map of the soil material based on the sensor feedback signal and the location feedback signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A soil detection and planting apparatus. The apparatus includes a vehicle and a controller coupled to the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a planting device coupled to the vehicle, the planting device configured to plant seeds or plants into a soil material. The apparatus includes a ground penetrating radar sensor coupled to the vehicle. The ground penetrating radar soil sensor is configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an intrinsic characteristic of the soil material. The controller is configured to instruct placement of a seed or a plant into the soil material based on the feedback signal.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A soil detection apparatus comprising:
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a housing; a controller; a ground penetrating radar soil sensor coupled to the housing, the ground penetrating radar soil sensor configured to scan a soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an intrinsic characteristic of the soil material; and a location sensor, the location sensor configured to provide a location feedback signal to the controller; wherein the controller is configured to create a map of the soil material based on the sensor feedback signal and the location feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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14. An air-based soil detection apparatus comprising:
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an aircraft; a controller coupled to the aircraft; a soil sensor coupled to the aircraft, the soil sensor configured to scan a soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material to locate at least a portion of an irrigation system contained within the soil material or on a surface of the soil material, wherein the soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal relating to the detected portion of the irrigation system to the controller; and a location sensor coupled to the aircraft, the location sensor configured to provide a location feedback signal to the controller; wherein the controller is configured to create a map of the soil material including a location of the portion of the irrigation system based on the sensor feedback signal and the location feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle; a controller coupled to the vehicle; a soil sensor coupled to the vehicle, the soil sensor configured to scan a soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material to locate at least a portion of an irrigation system contained within the soil material or on a surface of the soil material, wherein the soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal relating to the detected portion of the irrigation system to the controller; and a location sensor coupled to the vehicle, the location sensor configured to provide a location feedback signal to the controller; wherein the controller is configured to create a map of the soil material including a location of the portion of the irrigation system based on the sensor feedback signal and the location feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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36. A soil detection and planting apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle; a controller coupled to the vehicle; a planting device coupled to the vehicle, the planting device configured to plant seeds or plants into a soil material at varying depths; a ground penetrating radar soil sensor in communication with the controller, the ground penetrating radar soil sensor configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an intrinsic characteristic of the soil material; and wherein the controller is configured to; determine a designated planting depth in the soil material based on the sensor feedback signal, and instruct placement of a seed or a plant into the soil material at the designated planting depth by the planting device.
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Specification