SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING SOIL CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A method of operating a vehicle including a controller, wherein the vehicle is configured to map soil characteristics and plant seeds or plants, comprising:
- detecting intrinsic soil characteristics of a soil material through a ground penetrating radar unit coupled to the vehicle, wherein the ground penetrating radar unit is configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, and wherein the ground penetrating radar unit is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to a controller with respect to the intrinsic soil characteristics; and
in response to the intrinsic soil characteristics, instructing a planting mechanism coupled to the vehicle to plant a seed or a plant.
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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.
33 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of operating a vehicle including a controller, wherein the vehicle is configured to map soil characteristics and plant seeds or plants, comprising:
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detecting intrinsic soil characteristics of a soil material through a ground penetrating radar unit coupled to the vehicle, wherein the ground penetrating radar unit is configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, and wherein the ground penetrating radar unit is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to a controller with respect to the intrinsic soil characteristics; and in response to the intrinsic soil characteristics, instructing a planting mechanism coupled to the vehicle to plant a seed or a plant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of mapping soil characteristics with a vehicle having a controller, comprising:
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receiving operating parameters through a user input of the vehicle; navigating the vehicle through a vehicle path; detecting intrinsic soil characteristics of a soil material through a ground penetrating radar unit coupled to the vehicle, wherein the ground penetrating radar unit is configured to scan the soil material up to a designated depth beneath a surface of the soil material, and wherein the ground penetrating radar unit is further configured to provide a sensor feedback signal to a controller of the vehicle; tracking a location of the vehicle through a location sensor coupled to the vehicle; and creating a map of an area of land traversed by the vehicle, wherein the map includes detected intrinsic soil characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification