Patent ID: 11856900
Assignee: RACHIO, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 8:
9. A system for application of nutrients to an area comprising:
a central controller configured to determine application characteristics for applying a consumable to an irrigation area based on irrigation area characteristics of the irrigation area and analyze consumable characteristics including one or more of a type, chemical makeup, volume contained within a nutrient module, application frequency, or targeted vegetation corresponding to the consumable and generate an irrigation schedule selected to apply an amount of the consumable and an amount of water to the irrigation area, the irrigation schedule based on the consumable characteristics of the consumable within the nutrient module and the application characteristics of the irrigation area, wherein the consumable characteristics and the application characteristics together enhance the benefits of the consumable to the irrigation area;
the nutrient module comprising an inlet and an outlet and is in fluid connection with a water supply of a sprinkler system and one or more delivery outlets of the sprinkler system, the nutrient module including the consumable, wherein the nutrient module is configured such that water from the water supply flows into the nutrient module to mix with the consumable within the nutrient module and a consumable water mixture exits the nutrient module;
a local controller in electronic communication with the central controller, the local controller configured to selectively activate the sprinkler system in accordance with the irrigation schedule to deliver the consumable water mixture from the nutrient module to the irrigation area via the one or more delivery outlets of the sprinkler system; and
the central controller is configured to generate a growth and irrigation model for the irrigation area based on the consumable characteristics, the applied amount of the consumable, vegetation characteristics of vegetation growing in the irrigation area, and the amount of the water applied to the irrigation area, wherein the growth and irrigation model estimates a growth curve for the vegetation growing in the irrigation area, and the central controller is configured to generate an updated irrigation schedule for the irrigation area based on the growth curve determined by the growth and irrigation model.