Method and system for estimating an agricultural management parameter

• US 20090005990A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Noel Wayne, Taube, Arnold Albert
• Granted Patent: US 7,742,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

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.

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 a removable weather module on an off-road vehicle in a mobile state while applying an agricultural input, planting, harvesting the crop, or performing another work task and via the removable weather module detached from the vehicle when the vehicle is in a rest state, the removable weather module having one or more sensors and the vehicle associated with a location-determining receiver;

compensating for vehicle motion in estimating wind speed data as the collected environmental data in the mobile state;

transmitting the collected environmental data to a data processing system;

determining whether a sample size of the collected environmental data for a geographic area meets or exceeds a minimum threshold;

applying the collected environmental data to an agronomic model for estimating an agricultural management parameter for the geographic area, if the sample size meets or exceeds the minimum threshold, where the agronomic model comprises evapotranspiration for the crop; and

making available a prescription for application of an agricultural input to a crop in the 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 removable weather module is located outdoors and the off-road vehicle is 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 in addition to the wind speed data:

climatic data, temperature data, dew point temperature, relative humidity, 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 7 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.

11. The method according to claim 1 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.

22. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

detecting whether precipitation is present when a vehicle is on via a windshield wiper sensor, the environmental data comprising windshield wiper settings associated with the windshield wiper sensor.

23. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

estimating a rainfall range based a duration in which a windshield wiper remains on and the respective rate of the windshield wiper movement during the corresponding duration, the environmental data comprising the rainfall range.

24. The method according to claim 23 further comprising:

referencing the estimated rainfall range to actual measured rainfall at specific corresponding locations to yield estimates of actual rainfall versus geographic location associated with multiple vehicles.

10. (canceled)

12. A system for estimating an agricultural management parameter, the system comprising:

a removable weather module on an off-road vehicle for collecting environmental data associated with at least one field for growing a crop in a particular location, the removable weather module for collecting the environmental data in a mobile state while applying an agricultural input, harvesting the crop, or performing another work task and for collecting the environmental data in a vehicle rest state;

the removable weather module having one or more sensors and the vehicle associated with a location-determining receiver;

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;

a data processing system for determining whether a sample size of the collected environmental data for a geographic area meets or exceeds a minimum threshold; 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 for the geographic area, if the sample size meets or exceeds the minimum threshold.

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.