Method and system for estimating an agricultural management parameter

• US 7,742,862 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Noel Wayne, Taube, Arnold Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Algahaim; Helal A
• Application Number:
  US11/650,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/50, 702/1, 702/2, 700/284, 405/36, 405/37, 137 781- 783, 47/10.1, 47/581
• US Class Current: 701/50
• 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;

responsive to a determination that the sample size is less than the minimum threshold, collecting additional environmental data associated with the at least one field for growing the crop in the particular location, transmitting the additional environmental data to the data processing system to form a new sample size, and determining whether the new sample size meets or exceeds a minimum threshold;

responsive to a determination that at least one of the sample size and the new sample size meets or exceeds the minimum threshold, applying the collected environmental data to an agronomic model for estimating an agricultural management parameter for the geographic area, 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.

10. 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.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

detecting whether precipitation is present when a vehicle is on via a precipitation sensing module, wherein the precipitation sensing module includes a windshield wiper sensor and a rain gauge.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

estimating a rainfall range using a precipitation sensing module, wherein the precipitation sensing module estimates the rainfall range based on a duration in which a windshield wiper remains on, the respective rate of the windshield wiper movement during the corresponding duration, and a rain gauge, the environmental data comprising the rainfall range.

13. The method according to claim 12 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.