Golf course environmental management system

• US 6,997,642 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SubAir Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: SubAir Systems LLC
• Inventors: Bishop, Robert F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JONG SUK
• Application Number:
  US10/935,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20050031416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 405/36, 405/37, 405/43, 405/45, 405/269, 405/258, 47/10.1 R, 47/10.1 F, 37/581.R, 137/78.1, 137/78.3, 137/79, 700/284, 239 63- 65
• US Class Current: 405/37
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 45/02 for aerating
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 13/02 Foundations, e.g. with drainage or heating arrangements E01C13/003, E01C13/083, E01C13/10 take precedence; drainage of soil E02B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

The invention is a system for managing a plurality of areas of interest of a golf course. The system comprises a plurality of electromechanical subsystems and a programmable master control module. Each subsystem provides to a specific area at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum. In each area of interest, a local control module is responsive to a directive and to a datum. The local control module is configured to operate the subsystem and is in communication with the programmable master control module. The programmable master control module receives from at least two of the plurality of local control modules information representing a status of the respective specific area to which the local control module is dedicated, and in response to the information and to a command, the programmable master control module issues a directive to the local control module to operate the electromechanical subsystem.

Claims

1. A system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course, comprising:

a plurality of electromechanical subsystems, each subsystem dedicated to a specific area of said golf course, each subsystem comprising;

a subsurface aeration conduit for providing to said specific area of said golf course at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum;

an air pump in fluid communication with said subsurface aeration conduit, said air pump configured to provide at least one of air under pressure and a partial vacuum;

a motor mechanically connected to said air pump;

a local control module responsive to a directive and to a datum, said local control module operatively coupled to said motor; and

at least one sensor that measures an environmental parameter, said at least one sensor in data communication with said local control module; and

a programmable master control module in communication with each of said plurality of local control modules;

whereby said programmable master control module receives from at least two of said plurality of local control modules information representing a status of the respective specific area to which said local control module is dedicated, and in response to said information and to a command, said programmable master control module issues a directive to each of said local control modules to operate said electromechanical subsystem.

2. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said subsurface aeration conduit is a device used to supply air under pressure to or withdraw air under vacuum from the subsurface of said area of interest on said golf course.

3. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said subsurface aeration conduit is a selected one of interconnecting perforated pipe, interconnecting porous pipe and channels formed by a placement of spacing devices.

4. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 3, wherein said spacing devices comprise trays.

5. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said motor is an electric motor.

6. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said programmable master control module is a selected one of a programmable computer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), and a programmable industrial controller.

7. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said programmable master control module is in communication with a selected one of said plurality of local control modules by way of a selected one of a hard-wired communication link, a wireless communication link, and a fiber-optic communication link.

8. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said programmable master control module further comprises a connection to a communication network.

9. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 8, wherein said communication network comprises a selected one of a telephone communication link, a wireless communication link, an optical communication link, and a packet-switched communication link.

10. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 9, wherein said system can communicate information over said selected communication link to a user at a remote location.

11. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 9, wherein said system can receive a command over said selected communication link from a user at a remote location.

12. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein at least one of said local control modules further comprises a communication link accessible by way of a hand-held battery-powered device.

13. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 12, wherein said hand-held battery-powered device is a selected one of a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a pocket personal computer (pocket PC).

14. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein at least one electromechanical subsystem further comprises a reversing mechanism in fluid communication with said air pump and with said subsurface aeration conduit, said reversing mechanism configured to cause air to flow in a first flow direction to provide air under pressure, and configured to cause air to flow in a second flow direction to provide a partial vacuum.

15. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 14, wherein said reversing mechanism is responsive to said local control module.

16. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein at least one electromechanical subsystem further comprises an irrigation system configured to irrigate at least a portion of a selected one of said specific areas of said golf course.

17. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 16, wherein said local control module is operatively coupled to said irrigation system.

18. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 16, wherein said irrigation system further comprises at least one sprinkler.

19. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 16, wherein said irrigation system is configured to control a flow rate of water.

20. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 16, wherein said irrigation system is configured to add substances to irrigation water.

21. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 20, wherein said substances that said irrigation system is configured to add to irrigation water comprise at least one of a nutrient for a plant, an anti-fungal agent, and a chemical.

22. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor that measures an environmental parameter comprises a sensor that measures at least one of a temperature, a moisture content, an illumination, a chemical concentration, and a motion.

23. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said programmable master control module comprises a data recording and analysis module.

24. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 23, wherein said data recording and analysis module is configured to record a selected one of a parameter relating to aeration, a parameter relating to irrigation, an operating parameter of an air pump, a temperature, a moisture content, a parameter relating to an additive applied to irrigation water, and a time.

25. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 23, wherein said data recording and analysis module is configured to analyze one or more parameters relating to aeration, to irrigation, to operation of an air pump, to a temperature, to a moisture content, to an additive applied to irrigation water, and to a time.

26. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 23, wherein said data recording and analysis module is configured to compare a selected parameter to a setpoint.

27. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 23, wherein said data recording and analysis module is configured to determine a status of at least one of said electromechanical subsystems.

28. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said programmable master control module further comprises a master display.

29. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 28, wherein said master display exhibits a status of at least one of said electromechanical subsystems.

30. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 29, wherein said status is a selected one of a time when said electromechanical subsystem begins to operate, a duration of operation of said electromechanical subsystem, an operating parameter of said electromechanical subsystem, a environmental condition, a fault condition, an alarm condition, a setpoint, and a directive.

31. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 30, wherein said operating parameter of said electromechanical subsystem comprises a selected one of an electrical current, a pressure, a temperature, a vacuum, an air flow, and a water flow.

32. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 30, wherein said environmental condition comprises a selected one of a soil temperature, an ambient temperature, a moisture content, an amount of solar radiation received in a specified time period, a soil salinity, and a detection of motion.

33. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 32, wherein said ambient temperature is an ambient air temperature.

34. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 32, wherein said moisture content is a selected one of a soil moisture content and an air humidity.

35. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said programmable master control module further comprises an input device for receiving commands from a user of said system.

36. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 35, wherein said input device for receiving commands from a user of said system comprises a selected one of a keyboard, a key pad, a touch pad, a touch screen, a mouse, a joystick, a light pen, a pointing device, and a microphone.

37. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 35, wherein said command is a command received from a user.

38. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said command is a command received from a computer program operating on said programmable master control module.

39. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said temperature is a selected one of a soil temperature and an ambient temperature.

40. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein at least one of said electromechanical subsystems further comprises a local display.

41. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 40, wherein said local display exhibits a status of said electromechanical subsystem.

42. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 41, wherein said status is a selected one of a time when said electromechanical subsystem begins to operate, a duration of operation of said electromechanical subsystem, an operating parameter of said electromechanical subsystem, a environmental condition, a fault condition, an alarm condition, and a directive.

43. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 42, wherein said operating parameter of said electromechanical subsystem comprises a selected one of an electrical current, a pressure, a vacuum, an air flow, and a water flow.

44. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 42, wherein said environmental condition comprises a selected one of a soil temperature, an ambient temperature, a moisture content, an amount of solar radiation received in a specified time period, a soil salinity, and a detection of motion.

45. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 44, wherein said ambient temperature is an ambient air temperature.

46. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 44, wherein said moisture content is a selected one of a soil moisture content and an air humidity.

47. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said local control module is implemented as a virtual local control module on said programmable master control module.

48. The system for managing a plurality of areas of interest within a golf course of claim 1, wherein said areas of interest comprise at least a plurality of one or more golf greens, one or more fairways, one or more tee boxes, one or more walkways, one or more gallery viewing areas, one or more driving ranges, one or more putting greens, and one or more practice areas.