Systems and methods for detecting soil characteristics

• US 8,849,523 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Duncan, William D., Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen
• Application Number:
  US13/898,298
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 111/149
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/00 Steering of agricultural machines or implements; Guiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/005 Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/04 Distributing under pressure; Distributing mud; Adaptation of watering systems for fertilising-liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/085 Broadcast seeders
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/102 Regulating or controlling the seed rate
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/18 by spraying, e.g. insecticides spraying apparatus per se B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values

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.

Claims

1. A soil detection and planting apparatus comprising:

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;

a ground penetrating radar soil sensor coupled to the vehicle, 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 location 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 location.

2. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a location sensor coupled to the vehicle, the location sensor configured to provide a location feedback signal to the controller, and wherein the controller analyzes the location feedback signal to determine a specific location of the intrinsic soil characteristic.

3. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller instructs the planting device to plant the seed in the soil material at the specific location based on the soil characteristic.

4. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to create a map of the soil material based on the sensor feedback signal and the location feedback signal.

5. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller updates the map with an indication that the seed was planted at the specific location.

6. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller indicates a soil characteristic on the map at the specific location.

7. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ground penetrating radar soil sensor is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to the controller with respect to an extrinsic characteristic of the soil material.

8. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the extrinsic characteristic comprises a presence of the soil material.

9. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the extrinsic characteristic comprises a presence of an object beneath the surface of the soil material.

10. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller identifies the object based on the sensor feedback signal.

11. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a location sensor coupled to the vehicle, the location sensor configured to provide a location feedback signal to the controller, and wherein the controller analyzes the location feedback signal to determine a specific location of the extrinsic soil characteristic.

12. The soil detection and planting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to update a map of the soil material based on the specific location of the extrinsic soil characteristic.