Robotic watering unit

• US 8,028,470 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Noel Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRINH T
• Application Number:
  US12/427,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20100263275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 47/581.R, 47/79, 47/485, 47/211, 47/10.1 R, 137/78.2, 137/78.3, 239/71, 239/723, 239/172, 700/284, 700/282, 700/283
• US Class Current: 47/48.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/09 Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors

Abstract

The different illustrative embodiments provide a method and system for watering plants. A map of an area is received and a determination is made using a processing unit as to whether the area needs water. If the area needs water, current constraints are identified and a determination is made using the processing system as to whether the current constraints allow for watering. If the current constraints allow for watering, a watering solution application plan is generated using the processing system, and the watering solution application plan is executed using a mobile utility vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for autonomous watering of plants, the system comprising:

a machine controller capable of controlling at least one mobile utility vehicle for executing a water solution application plan, wherein the machine controller includes a structured light generator processor;

a link to a data source capable of receiving information about current constraints; and

a watering unit connected to a processing system, wherein the processing system controls the watering unit to execute the water solution application plan, and wherein the watering unit is connected to a water supplier that carries watering solution from a supply source of the watering solution to the watering unit, and wherein the structured light generator processor is capable of monitoring a path of the water supplier by identifying a current location of the water supplier relative to a current location of the mobile utility vehicle, and wherein the machine controller identifies a next location for the mobile utility vehicle and plans a route to the next location that keeps the water supplier traveling along with the mobile utility vehicle, and wherein the machine controller adjusts the water solution application plan in response to a determination by the structured light generator processor that the water supplier is not traveling along with the mobility vehicle in order to resolve an issue that prevents the water supplier from traveling along with the mobility vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the watering unit further comprising:

a watering solution application system; and

a water supplier connector capable of allowing the watering solution from the supply source to be used by the watering solution application system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the watering solution application system further comprises:

a piping system capable of routing the watering solution through the watering solution application system; and

a pressure system capable of forcing the watering solution through the piping system.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the watering solution application system comprises at least one of a fixed pattern sprinkler, a spray head, a nozzle, an impact sprinkler, an oscillating sprinkler, a pulsating sprinkler, and a spout.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the water supplier comprises at least one of an on-board tank, a towed tank, and a hose.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor system capable of detecting information about an area.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device capable of receiving input from a number of sensors.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the link to the data source receives a geo-referenced map of an operating environment of the mobile utility vehicle that identifies a plurality of different labeled locations within the operating environment, and wherein the machine controller determines whether a labeled location in the plurality of different labeled locations requires application of the watering solution based on labeling found in the geo-referenced map.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the current constraints identify water restrictions imposed on a specific location that includes an operating environment of the mobile utility vehicle, and wherein the machine controller determines whether the water restrictions allow for application of the watering solution within the operating environment.