Patent Description:
Precision agriculture involves obtaining large amounts of data relating to condition of a crop at a high spatial resolution, in order to address variability of e.g. agricultural land and crop. This agricultural approach includes utilizing technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), Geographical information systems (GIS), yield monitoring and technologies for remote and/or proximal sensing.

Technologies for monitoring or sensing crops may utilize airborne sensors mounted on crafts, such as: satellites, airplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), hot-air balloons (and the like). Ground sensors may also be used, such as a vehicle mounted sensors (e.g. on tractors) for monitoring crops from a proximal distance; or on poles, masts or towers for monitoring crops in a field from above. Proximal sensing may include also a mesh of local fixed sensors.

Sensors commonly used for precise agriculture can be hyper and multi spectral cameras, such as the type manufactured by TETRACAM Inc. that may e.g. capture few bands in the spectrum of <NUM>-<NUM>. Other sensing methods may make use of thermal cameras to evaluate water status in plants by temperature reading of the canopy. FLIR Systems Inc. is known to offer wide range of thermal cameras that can be mounted on aircrafts or poles and also light weight mini thermal cameras that can be mounted on drones.

Spatial information gathered from sensors may be used to determine the spatial variability of vegetation or plant water content in the field. This information may be used to derive indexes indicative e.g. of crop or vegetation condition. Such indexes may include stress indexes such as Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) derived from sensors obtaining temperature measurements of crops. Other indexes may include soil and vegetation indexes, such as Normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) derived e.g. from high spectral imagery and based on optical reflectivity of plants. Using such indexes may assist in determining e.g. an irrigation recommendation and scheduling.

Crop growth can be affected by the administration via irrigation of various substances such as water, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, pesticides (and the like). At least some of said substances such as fungicides, herbicides, pesticides may be collectively called crop protection products. By accurately monitoring a crop it can be possible to arrive at the quantity, location and timing of e.g. irrigation of fertilizing a field in order to reduce crop variability, increase yield and reduce inputs costs. A field may be divided into zones according to e.g. a required irrigation resolution.

A minimal area in a field monitored by an imaging device may be defined by the pixel resolution of the imaging device, while the actual zone size by crop spatial variability characteristics. Such minimal area may be the coverage area that each pixel in such sensor monitors in a field or sub-pixel area within the pixel coverage. Therefore, a zone derived from technology utilizing an imaging device, may range in size from the area that each pixel (or sub-pixel) covers in a field to a cluster of one or more of such areas. In fields monitored by e.g. technologies utilizing vehicle mounted sensors, a minimal size of zone may be more flexibly defined.

Pixels, for example in a satellite image, may cover areas in the range of resolution of about <NUM> square meter to about <NUM> square meters (even <NUM> m3) in a field at ground level. Consequently, using such data can derive an irrigation recommendation, plan and/or regime tailored to distinct zones in a field. Attempts have been made to derive irrigation scheduling on the basis of remote or proximal sensed crops.

<NPL>); describe using an irrigation system divided into sectors and then taking individual irrigation decisions for each sector based on sensed information.

<NPL>; describe an irrigation system including water valves, flow meters, power and electronics components as well as a central computer, antenna and wireless modem for remote access and control of the system. Hoses are used in the system fastened to wires running back and forth along the vine row. <CIT> relates generally to fluid distribution or sprinkler systems and valves included therein for irrigation purposes.

<CIT>and <CIT> disclose relevant background art.

The subject-matter of the present invention is defined in the independent claims. In particular, the following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which:.

Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements.

Attention is first drawn to <FIG> showing a field <NUM> in which precision agriculture and/or irrigation is intended to be used. The field <NUM> is divided into zones <NUM>, here an optional matrix or array of 'three' by 'five' zones <NUM>. In embodiments of the invention, any array size may be possible, with the number of rows not necessarily corresponding in number to the number of columns and not all columns or rows having equal number of zones and/or not all zones being of similar size and/or shape. Field <NUM> may be defined as including field-strips <NUM> including each several zones <NUM>, in this example, 'five' zones. The strips <NUM> may extend one alongside the other.

The size of a zone <NUM> may define a minimal resolution/area to which irrigation may be provided in field <NUM>. Such size or resolution may be the result of consideration(s), such as, the type of crops being grown in field <NUM>, the variability in the soil in the field, the topography of the field (etc.). The smallest possible zone size, in certain embodiments, may be the result of the data or information used for precision agriculture in field <NUM>. Such data may be based in some embodiments, inter alia, on information from sensors monitoring the field.

Sensors used for deriving data in precision agriculture, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, may include airborne sensors mounted on crafts, such as: satellites, airplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), hot-air balloons (and the like). Ground sensors may also be used, such as a vehicle mounted sensors (e.g. on tractors) and/or ground or plant zone specific stationary sensors; for monitoring crops from a proximal distance. Sensors mounted on poles, masts or towers for monitoring crops in a field from above may also be used for deriving the data for the precision agriculture.

Pixel resolution of an imaging device monitoring a field, may in some cases define a minimum size area covered in a field. Consequently the smallest possible size zone <NUM> may be defined by the area that such pixel covers in a field. In fields monitored by other techniques, such as by vehicle mounted sensors, larger flexibility may be available for defining such zone size. In certain embodiments, zone <NUM> may also be defined by a cluster of areas each covered by a single (or plurality) of pixels. In some embodiments sub-pixel resolution may also be used to define a minimal area monitored in a field, by taking for example an area monitored/viewed by a single pixel and dividing it into several zones.

Zone size may thus at least in certain embodiments of the invention be determined by the actual field spatial variability to which preferably a dedicated irrigation schedule distinct from other field areas (zones), would be beneficial for enhancing e.g. crop yield in the field. Thus such zone size (possible smaller than pixel resolution) would in this case be defined not by the pixel resolution of the imaging device or at least would not be constrained by such resolution.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> illustrating an embodiment of an irrigation system <NUM> installed for irrigating field <NUM>. Irrigation system <NUM> includes irrigation strips <NUM> each configured to irrigate a respective strip <NUM> of field <NUM> that extend in the column direction of the field. A main distribution pipe <NUM> of system <NUM> configured to provide irrigation fluids/liquids and/or substances to the irrigation strips <NUM> of system <NUM>, extends laterally along a row direction of the field.

Each irrigation strip <NUM> in this example includes three irrigation columns <NUM> having each a column control device <NUM> located at an upstream end. A possible main controller <NUM> in wire or wireless communication with each control device <NUM> may also be provided in irrigation system <NUM>, here optionally located also at an upstream side of the system.

Thus, in at least certain embodiments such as illustrated in <FIG>; all (or most) control devices (e.g. forming at least part of elements <NUM>, <NUM>), which are possibly electrically and/or computerized activated devices - are preferably located alongside an upper row of zones of the field and/or outside of an irrigated portion of the field. Configuring embodiments of irrigation systems in such manner may permit easy installation of such system and/or ease of maintenance e.g. in case of failure and/or malfunction of such controllers that consequently can be easily accessed without substantially entering the zones of the field where e.g. crops, vegetation and/or other agricultural installations are located.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> illustrating a possible arrangement of an irrigation column <NUM>. Control device <NUM> in this embodiment includes a column controller <NUM> (possibly being an electrically and/or computerized activated device), a possible filter <NUM> and flow meter <NUM>. Control device <NUM> may further include a control flow sensor <NUM> and an actuator manifold <NUM>, possibly an electrically activated manifold.

A fluid conducting line <NUM> of column <NUM> in fluid communication at an upstream end with distribution pipe <NUM> may be configured to extend downstream via optional devices <NUM> and <NUM> to conduct fluid(s) and/or liquid(s) downstream along column <NUM>. An actuator manifold <NUM>, here belonging/associated to control device <NUM>, may be in fluid communication with distribution pipe <NUM>, here via a conduit branch <NUM> that branches off from distribution pipe <NUM> and passes via control flow sensor <NUM>. Possibly, other fluid/liquid sources (not shown) may provide liquid/fluid to actuator manifold <NUM>.

A control bundle <NUM> of column <NUM> in fluid communication at an upstream end with actuator manifold <NUM> may be configured to extend downstream therefrom alongside distribution pipe <NUM>; and irrigation column <NUM> may include a plurality of here spaced apart zone valves <NUM> configured to control e.g. branching-off, of fluid(s) and/or liquid(s) from distribution pipe <NUM> towards respective drip line segment <NUM> extending each alongside a portion of distribution pipe <NUM>.

At least some zone valves <NUM> may include two segments <NUM>, <NUM>. A first one of the segments <NUM> can be in fluid/liquid communication with a downstream end of a respective (upstream located) drip line segment <NUM>, in order to control opening of the segment's downstream end to the ambient environment. A second one of the segments <NUM> can be in fluid/liquid communication with an upstream end of a respective (downstream located) drip line segment <NUM>, in order to control opening of the segment's upstream end for communication with pressurized fluid/liquid present in conducting line <NUM>.

Control bundle <NUM> may include a plurality of control tubes, in this example three such control tubes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>; with each control tube being in fluid/liquid communication at an upstream end with a respective actuator within actuator manifold <NUM>. In the figures, the control tubes are marked by different line types (dashed, dotted and un-broken line types). Each control tube may be in fluid/liquid communication, in this example, with a respective one of the zone valves <NUM> in order to control actuation of the valve and its segments <NUM>, <NUM>.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> illustrating various modes of control of fluid/liquid flow paths via an irrigation column <NUM>.

In <FIG> all the zone valves <NUM> of column <NUM> are in non-actuated states. That is to say that all segments <NUM> of the zone valves are maintained in a closed state blocking the downstream end of each one of the drip segments located immediately upstream therefrom. And, all segments <NUM> of the zone valves are also maintained in a closed state blocking downstream flow from the pressurized conducting line <NUM> of the irrigation column <NUM> to respective drip line segments located downstream from each valve.

In <FIG> a lowermost zone valve <NUM> has been actuated to open by a control signal in the form of fluid/liquid pressure communicated via one of the control tubes to the valve, here the control tube marked by the 'dotted' line. The actuation of this zone valve is also marked in this figure by the two arrows extending alongside the 'dotted' control tube where it meets the valve. The opening of this zone valve forms a first flow path out of the drip line segment immediately upstream and a second flow path from conducting line <NUM> into the drip line segment immediately downstream of this valve.

Since the drip line segment (here the lower most segment), which is exposed from upstream to incoming fluid/liquid pressure from the conducting line; is closed at its downstream end (not shown) - the pressurized fluid/liquid entering this segment is urged to be emitted to the ambient environment via the emitters that are located along this drip segment as illustrated. As to the drip line segment located immediately upstream, since its upstream end remains closed to communication with conducting line <NUM>, even though its downstream end is open, no fluid/liquid is urged to be flushed downstream out of this segment's open end.

<FIG> illustrates the configuration explained with respect to <FIG>, however with the penultimate zone valve (i.e. the middle zone valve) also being activated to open. The activation of this zone valve to open is performed by a control signal in the form of fluid/liquid pressure communicated via one of the control tubes to the valve, here the control tube marked by the 'un-broken' line. The actuation of this zone valve is also marked in this figure by the two arrows extending alongside the 'un-broken' control tube where it meets the valve.

Since the drip line segment downstream to this middle valve and in communication from upstream with the middle valve - is still maintained open at its downstream end, fluid/liquid entering this drip segment is urged to be flushed downstream out of this drip line segment to perform a cleaning action of this segment by flushing debris/grit that may have accumulated therein e.g. during previous use.

Attention is drawn to <FIG> illustrating various sequences of irrigation that may be activated to occur.

In this example, all the drip line segments at the upper zone of the righthand field-strip <NUM> and/or irrigation strip <NUM> have been activated to perform a drip irrigation sequence, for example, in order to provide an amount of irrigation to this zone according to precision irrigation techniques or methods applied for determining the amount of irrigation required for this zone.

In the middle field-strip <NUM> and/or irrigation strip <NUM>, a possible activation is illustrated exemplifying that not necessarily all drip line segments of a certain zone may be activated simultaneously. In this example, in the upper most zone only one of the drip segments is irrigating, while the remaining drip segments of this zone are shut-off for irrigation and remain idle. Similar scenario is illustrated in the second, third and fourth zones of this field-strip <NUM> and/or irrigation strip <NUM>.

Provision of a required irrigation dose to a certain zone may therefore be provided in subsequent irrigation cycles where the drip segments that are presently idle may be activated to provide a dose of irrigation so that a given zone eventually receives its required dosage of irrigation and/or fertigation.

Also illustrated in this example is that two drip segments are here also activated to perform a flushing action in order to flush out debris or grip that possibly accumulated therein during previous irrigation cycles. When irrigation is performed using irrigation column embodiments such as those shown in <FIG> and <FIG>; such flushing action can be activated to occur in a drip line segment who's downstream end has been activated to be open; hence resulting in a drip line segment downstream that has been activated to perform a dripping action e.g. when using valves including two segments <NUM>, <NUM>.

Attention is drawn to <FIG>, illustrating a control bundle <NUM> including drip emitters <NUM> located at the ends of each control tube. Provision of such emitters <NUM> may be beneficial in mitigating a certain type of malfunction that may occur in control bundle <NUM> due to air trapped in the control tubes. Such air, if present within a control tube, will typically be urged out of the control tube via such emitter during use. In a non-binding example, such drip emitters <NUM> may have a fixed flow rate, for example falling within a range of about <NUM>-<NUM> liter/hour.

In embodiments including emitters at the ends of the control tubes, further monitoring of possible malfunctions in the control tubes may be possible. Such malfunctions may be e.g. breaches occurring in one or more tubes due to pests or the like, or e.g. blockages occurring in one or more tubes during use.

A flow sensor, such as sensor <NUM> within control device <NUM>, may assist in such monitoring by sensing an overall flow rate (OFR) consumed momentarily and/or over a certain time span, by actuator manifold <NUM>, which may then be compared (e.g. by column controller <NUM> or main controller <NUM> or any other controller associated to the irrigation system) to an expected flow rate (EFR) of the manifold due to a known activation pattern of actuators within actuator manifold <NUM>.

For example, if a certain activation pattern requires liquid commands to be channeled in a given actuator manifold <NUM> via two control tubes to their respective zone valves, then assuming emitters with flow rates of <NUM>/h are located at the ends of each control tube, the expected flow rate (EFR) of the given actuator manifold <NUM> is expected to be about <NUM>/h. If in these circumstances the overall flow rate (OFR) in the given actuator manifold <NUM> is sensed to be substantially different, e.g. <NUM>/h - this may indicate possible malfunction such as breach/rupture in one or more of the tubes of manifold <NUM> or bundle <NUM>.

In another example, if a controller (such as column controller <NUM> or main controller <NUM>) triggers a certain actuator within given manifold <NUM> to open, hence under the example above causing the EFR to rise by a delta of <NUM>/h, while the sensed OFR either substantially fails to rise or rises substantially more than <NUM>/h - then respective conclusions of blockage or breach in the activated tube may be monitored/reached.

In some embodiments, a smaller change than expected in flow rate in response to activation of a certain given actuator, may be interpreted as incomplete actuator operation and may initiate a retry process with higher energy for actuation of the given actuator. Higher changes (on activation) may be interpreted accordingly as leak/breach/rupture in a command tube, issuing an alert with directions to the location of the leaking command tube, e.g. for maintenance personnel.

Attention is drawn back to <FIG> to discuss additional examples of stand-alone monitoring abilities that may be present, where here flow meter <NUM> may be utilized for such monitoring. Flow meter <NUM> measuring the total flow rate channeled through the conducting line <NUM>, is expected each time a zone valve is activated or deactivated, to change in a magnitude generally similar e.g. to the expected nominal flow rate of the drip segment located immediately downstream of the valve and in communicating therewith.

Recording changes lower than nominal flow rate may be interpreted as incomplete operation of a zone valve and possibly initiate a retry process of activation of the valve. Higher changes in flow rate may be interpreted as leak in the drip segment or valve, possibly issuing an alert with direction to the specific zone valve for a maintenance personnel.

In at least certain embodiments, installation procedures may be devised easing and/or facilitating installation of at least certain irrigation systems.

In certain embodiments, the tubes of control bundle <NUM> may be gripped with evenly spaced clip members (not shown), possibly also used for hanging the bundle on wires extending along e.g. an irrigation strip. Tubes within control bundle <NUM> may further be coded, e.g. by color codes and/or number coding, generally identical to similar type coding on zone valves to which such tubes are designed to connect. Further, in at least certain embodiments, precise location of each zone valve may determined by high precision GPS, e.g. via mobile application utilized during installation of an irrigation system.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, "comprise" "include" and "have", and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb.

Furthermore, while the present application or technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and non-restrictive; the technology is thus not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Claim 1:
An irrigation system (<NUM>) for irrigating a field (<NUM>) divided into zones (<NUM>),
wherein the system (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of distinct drip line segments (<NUM>),
wherein at least a first drip line segment is configured to irrigate at least a portion of a first zone and at least one other second drip line segment is configured to irrigate at least a portion of a second zone, wherein the first drip line segment is located immediately upstream of the second drip line segment,
characterized in that
the system (<NUM>) is configured to open simultaneously a flow path out of the first drip line segment for flushing liquid, while opening a flow path into the second drip line segment for performing a drip irrigation sequence.