Patent ID: 12216096

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented as one would use/face the penetrometer as shown inFIG.2. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure and claimed invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

It is to be understood that the disclosed innovations may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range, and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges, and are also encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the scope of the present disclosure. All ranges and parameters, including but not limited to percentages, parts, and ratios, disclosed herein are understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges assumed and subsumed therein, and every number between the endpoints. For example, a stated range of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and all sub-ranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 1 to 6.1, or 2.3 to 9.4), and to each integer (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) contained within the range. In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. All combinations of method steps or process steps as used herein can be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified or clearly implied to the contrary by the context in which the referenced combination is made.

To the extent that the terms “includes” or “including” or “have” or “having” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A” or “B” or both “A” and “B”. When the Applicant intends to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” or similar structure will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to additionally mean “on” or “onto.” In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Referring toFIGS.1-2, a penetrometer10used in various aspects of the present disclosure typically has a support rod12, a left side handle16, a right side handle18, an intersection between the right side handle18and the left side handle16and attached to an end of the support rod12, a pressure gauge20located near the intersection on the end of the support rod12. The pressure gauge is typically above the intersection, but may alternatively be elsewhere along the support pole. The support rod12typically has a plurality of notches22typically evenly spaced along the support rod12, and a cone24located on an opposite end of the support rod12from the intersection and the pressure gauge20. The cone24, facilitates the insertion of the penetrometer10into the soil and keeps the leveling plate56from falling off the bottom of the support rod12during use. The right side handle18and the left side handle16are typically located in the same horizontal plane as one another and extend in opposite directions to one another. The handles are both typically at an angle of about 90 or exactly 90 degrees with the support rod12of a sufficient strength so that a human can put their weight on them to insert the penetrometer10into the ground. Both of the handles are correctly sized as to allow a human user to grasp them with their hands and allow easy manipulation of the penetrometer10. The support rod12typically includes a plurality of notches22, which are typically evenly spaced, but can be randomly spaced, located along its entire height. The notches22are typically spaced around three inches apart or four inches apart and are used to indicate the depth of the support rod12under the soil surface for accurate measurements. However, the notches22could potentially be spaced in any configuration that is convenient and useful to the user.

To determine the depth, the user pushes the penetrometer10downward into the soil until a notch22that indicates the desired soil depth lines up with the soil surface and/or a leveling plate resting on the soil surface. The pressure gauge20is attached to the penetrometer10at a point just above the intersection of the handles and the support rod12. The pressure gauge20may include a textured covering, such as a knurling texture, and may facilitate the frictional attachment of a ring clasp (FIG.8). The cover may be made of a hard rubber or plastic, but theoretically any sufficiently rigid material that can protect the meter could be used. A user should be able to face downward and easily view the pressure gauge20while they are using the penetrometer10. The pressure gauge20will typically give the penetration resistance of the soil in units of psi. Alternatively, the pressure gauge20may use units such as Kilopascal (Kpa) or Kilopound Force per square inch (Kpsi). The measured pressure together with the measured depth of the support rod12will allow for the calculation of the soil density at different depths below the soil surface. A user should insert the penetrometer10into the soil at a rate of about one inch per second. The pressure gauge20is typically centered on the overall penetrometer.

The penetrometer uses a pressure sensor system to measure soil compaction readings. The readings are then displayed on the pressure gauge. The pressure sensor system may be a direct force measurement system that engages the support pole. When the support pole is inserted into the soil, the surrounding soil presses against the support pole and thereby exerts a force on the direct force measurement system. The sensor may be a strain gauge, which measures the contraction of a spring element within the penetrometer pressure sensor system. The sensor may be a piezoelectric sensor that measures the force by a change in charge, or a capacitive sensor that measures the capacitance between two plates that are brought together as pressure is exerted on the support pole. The sensor may also be a fluid pressure sensor. The sensor may also be a pressure transducer or a pressure transmitter.

While the penetrometer10may be primarily intended for use in crop fields, it can be used in other applications. Testing compaction in orchards or in forestry are both useful endeavors for penetrometers, as soil compaction can affect trees similarly to field crops. Overly compacted soil is a common killer of even large trees. The penetrometer10can also be used in personal gardens of any size. Any situation where soil compaction will affect plant growth is a potential use case for the penetrometer10. Measuring soil compaction is useful even outside crop growth. The penetrometer system of the present disclosure could also be used to determine the effectiveness of swales or other water guiding land features.

In another aspect of the disclosure a penetrometer kit28(FIG.3) may utilize a mobile computing device attachment30to adapt a mobile computing device26such as a “smart” phone26to the penetrometer10of the present disclosure, a leveling plate56, and a monitor bar adapter60to attach a mobile computing device holder46to the inside of a vehicle, typically a tractor or other farming vehicle especially one used in tilling or seeding. The smart phone of the present disclosure is one type of mobile computing device that may be employed. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term “mobile computing device” is meant to include mobile phones (frequently referred to as smartphones) as well as other general purpose or application specific computing devices that may lack the phone functionality, such as portable media players, cameras, and global positioning system (GPS) devices, Skilled artisans will immediately recognize that certain mobile computing devices, such as IPADS, IPHONES® and IPOD TOUCH® devices developed by and available from Apple Corporation of Cupertino, Calif., as well as any one of a wide variety of devices based on the ANDROID® operating system developed by Google, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., fall within the intended definition of a mobile computing device. A great number of other mobile computing devices with similar or different operating systems, will also be applicable to the inventive subject matter, which is described at length below in connection with the description of the various figures. Mobile computing devices may include tablets or smart phones.

As shown inFIGS.3-9, the custom designed penetrometer and mobile computing device attachment system typically includes a ring clamp32to allow removable attachment of the system to an exterior perimeter surface of a pressure gauge20of the penetrometer10(FIG.7). The mobile computing device attachment system also typically is designed such that a user may simultaneously view the screen of the mobile computing device and the display, if any, of the pressure gauge of the penetrometer. A mobile computing device attachment system of the present disclosure typically includes a ring clamp32that is typically substantially circular with two outwardly extending flanges38opposite a ball joint40on one side and defining an opening41defined by the interior surface of the ring clamp32. As shown inFIGS.4A and4B, the ring clamp32may further include an embedded logo that is typically opposite the flanges38and adjacent the ball joint40on either both sides or the side that faces the user during use. As shown inFIG.4B, ball joint40may have a bored hole35therein, which typically is not functional, but saves on material costs when injection molding the device. As shown inFIG.3, the opening41of the ring clamp32is flanked on either side by pair of flanges38with a tightening hole. A thumb screw34passes through the tightening holes, and a threaded brass heat set insert is typically disposed in at least one of the ring clamp32tightening holes through which the thumb screw34passes. By turning the thumb screw34, the flanges38will be either pushed together by the threaded brass heat set insert as it advances along the thumb screw34or they will be allowed to spread out as the threaded brass heat set insert retreats along the thumb screw34and the restoring force of the ring clamp32forces the flanges38into their original position further apart thereby allowing for the clamp to engage the pressure gauge20exterior perimeter on the penetrometer10in a releasable manner. In this way the ring clamp32can be easily attached and removed from the pressure gauge20by hand and without the use of tools. Alternative fastening devices may be used instead of thumb screws. For example, nuts and bolts, clevis pins, cotter pins, screws, and pins may all be used to secure the flanges together. The fasteners may also be permanent fasteners so that the ring clamp cannot be removed by hand.

The inside surface of the ring clamp32may have a knurling texture, or other texture, to retain engagement with the pressure gauge20. The interior surface of the ring clamp32may have an elastomeric material thereon to facilitate engagement as well. Additionally, the outer surface of the ring clamp32may be differently shaped to correspond to the general shape of the exterior perimeter of the pressure gauge20. Exemplary shapes are shown inFIG.8, wherein the ring clamp32has a smooth circular shape or a hexagonal one. The ring clamps32may also include exterior padding along their outside surface and/or any other surface. The padding protects the rings clamps in case they are dropped or if they are hit or bumped in to when they are on a penetrometer. The padding partially absorbs the force of impacts and may be made out of rubber, plastic, leather, or any pliable, force absorbing material.

The mobile computing device attachment30further typically includes an adjustable midsection piece42with two ball sockets44. The adjustable midsection piece42is attached to the ball joint40of the ring clamp32as well as a ball joint40of the mobile computing device holder46. The adjustable midsection comprises two halves that can be brought together or distanced further apart. A tightener48can adjust the relative positions of the two halves. The two haves have shaped ends that form the ball sockets44. The ball sockets44close around the ball joints40, and tightening the tightener48will clamp the ball sockets44down on the ball joints40. The mobile computing device/phone holder typically includes a rectangular base50, and at least one upwardly extending side flange52and an upper upwardly extending flange53to hold a mobile computing device, typically a “smart” phone having a touch sensitive display in place. The at least one upwardly extending side flanges52are typically somewhat flexible, such that the user can bend the at least one upwardly extending side flange52with a small amount of force, but are resilient enough to retain their shape after insertion of the mobile computing device26into engagement with the holder. It is preferable that there are no flanges covering a portion of a mobile computing device where a charging cable or similar cable may be engaged. For a smart phone, the charging port is usually on the bottom side of the device, so the mobile computing device holder will not have a flange in that location.

In other embodiments of the disclosure, the mobile computing device attachment30uses one or more pivot joints instead of ball joints that allow for angular movement between different parts of the mobile computing device attachment30. In other embodiments, a variety of different types of joints may be used simultaneously. Any number of joints may be used in order to allow the mobile computing device holder to be positioned however a user wishes. Alternatively, the movement may be restricted to only select angles or ranges. In some embodiments, the adjustable midsection may not be present, or there may be multiple adjustable midsections attached in series to change the movement profile of the adjustable mobile computing device attachment.

To attach a smart phone to the mobile computing device holder, the user presses it in towards the base, pushing the at least one upwardly extending side flange52until it fits around the perimeter of the smart phone. Typically, the user will position the upper upwardly extending flange53so that it is reversed as inFIG.5and extends downwardly in relation to the upwardly extending side flanges52. Reversing the upper upwardly extending flange53allows the user to easily remove the phone from the phone holder since the pathway is unobstructed and also allows the smart device to take pictures without its camera becoming blocked by a flange53. The at least one upwardly extending side flange52can be readjusted so that it is further away from the base and from another upwardly extending side flange52. In this fashion, multiple sizes of smart devices can fit within the smart device holder. The upwardly extending side flange52can be seen inFIG.6in an extended position. Typically, the side flanges52are spring biased toward one another using a coil spring, a helical compression spring or other spring for supplying linear inward force.

The mobile computing device attachment30can be repositioned in a variety of ways in order to conform with user preferences. Typically, the mobile computing device attachment30is positioned so the device is centered in a radial direction from the support rod12and not covering the pressure gauge20such that a user can see both the pressure gauge20and the phone screen when the user is grasping both handles and looking down from above both the pressure gauge20and the phone screen. In another possible arrangement, shown inFIG.19, the mobile computing device26is positioned so that the pressure gauge20is visible from an onboard camera of the mobile computing device/smart phone26, enabling a user to view pressure measurements on the smart phone screen while working in an application. The view of the pressure gauge may be seen in the mobile application while the user is inputting the pressure measurements. A live picture of the pressure gauge could be positioned proximate to the data entry fields in the data entry screen while it is in use. A user could toggle this feature on and off. The smart device may be equipped with enhanced photo detection software, allowing the smart device to collect penetrometer10data without input from a user. In this case, a penetrometer10should be inserted into the soil at a rate of around one inch per second, to ensure that the smart device camera can accurately record the measurement displayed on the pressure gauge20, typically via video or via visual character recognition as discussed in more detail herein. The constant rate insertion may be assisted by a timer shown on the screen of the mobile computing device so that a user can more easily time their movements. The users could alternatively, click the photo button27on the screen to take a picture or screenshot of the penetrometer display through the smartphone camera at every notched interval on the rod of the penetrometer. This would substantially reduce the amount of manual data entry for the user. These photos could then be processed through a camera vision system and an image recognition software would identify and log the measurement at each depth.

In a potential embodiment, the mobile computing device attachment30is integrally attached to the penetrometer10, and cannot be removed by hand. This embodiment would use an integral ring clamp, or no ring clamp at all, with the adjustable midsection or the mobile computing device holder being attached to the penetrometer directly. The connection may be anywhere along the support pole or on either of the handles. Preferably, the connection is near the gauge so that the user may easily view both the gauge and the mobile computing device simultaneously. The connection may still be adjustable, so that the mobile computing device may be moved, or the connection may be stationary and the mobile computing device is in a set location.

In a potential embodiment, the mobile computing device attachment30could be a bolt or rod that extends horizontally from the penetrometer10at a 90° angle from the support rod12and is located at the intersection of the support rod12and the handles as discussed herein. The mobile computing device attachment30may possibly be in the form of a bolt that can screw into a hole located at the intersection and is long enough to allow for a removable connection with the mobile computing device holder46. The mobile computing device26and its related attachment mechanism could be attached to other areas of the penetrometer10as opposed to the pressure gauge20. Depending on the model of the penetrometer, the pressure gauge may not be positioned above the handles of the penetrometer and attachment of the mobile computing device attachment to the gauge may not be convenient or may affect the balance of the penetrometer. In this case, the mobile computing device may instead be attached elsewhere, such as to the support rod12or either of the handles.

A smartphone enhanced soil penetrometer kit28typically includes a leveling plate56that is placed along the support rod12and can slide up and down the rod surface. The leveling plate56is large enough that the support rod12passes through the leveling plate hole58located centrally in the leveling plate56and wherein the leveling plate hole58is large enough to accommodate the diameter of the support rod12but still small enough that the leveling plate56will catch on a cone24that is attached to a bottom end of the support rod12and will not slide off without user intervention. The size of the leveling plate may vary depending on the soil condition. For soils that are relatively flat, the leveling plate may be smaller. For more uneven soils, a larger leveling plate will better approximate the actual soil surface. To assist with usage of the leveling plate56, the notches22may be made to be wider, so that they are more visible against the rest of the support rod12. Alternatively, the notches22may be colored or the support rod12may be colored around the notches22. The colors may be painted on, or applied by similar means. The notches22may also have numbers located next to them indicating their depth in inches or an alternative measurement. The numbers are upside down in order to be viewed from above by a user of the penetrometer who is looking downwards towards the ground. The number may be painted on, or may be represented by stickers having a number printed on them or having a number shape. They are also visible from any side of the support rod12, typically by being printed multiple times around the exterior of the support rod12. The leveling plate56may also come with a variety of colors/patterns in order to visually differentiate it from the notches22or the rest of the support rod12. Conceivably there may be an illumination source within the penetrometer10that causes light to be transmitted out the “notches22” to illuminate the locations for measurement. The illumination source may be one or more light emitting diodes and the locations for the “notches22” constructed of a transparent material allowing transmission of light such as a plastic. Illumination may also be provided by a flashlight feature on the mobile computing device. The entire penetrometer10could conceivably be made of a material other than plastic, provided it had the strength and other features necessary to perform the soil compaction measurements. The penetrometer may be made out of metal, such as aluminum or steel. Also, the notches22might be replaced with a circumferential rim protraction with one or more notches22that allow the leveling plate56to pass over them into different heights/locations. This would not typically be desired due to the potential difficulty in movement of the leveling plate56to all the different heights needed, but could be employed nonetheless as one or more of the locations for measurements.

Crop production land is never perfectly level due to past tillage and leftover crop residue from previous years of crops. The mild deformities in the soil surface make finding the exact surface harder, and a user may place the penetrometer10at the incorrect depth because they were measuring in relation to their perceived surface level as opposed to the real surface level or the average surface level. Readings that are taken even a few inches off from the correct surface level can skew the data collected by the penetrometer10and significantly impact how a user's conclusions on how to till the field being tested. The leveling plate56placed along the support rod12helps show where the true surface of the soil is as the force of gravity will pull the leveling plate56as far as it can slide down the support rod until it hits an obstacle/the ground that can oppose it. The leveling plate56will come to rest on the true surface, which helps the user visualize it and thereby make more accurate readings relative to the surface and ensures their data will be a more realistic representation of their field's soil density. In addition, the leveling plate56can also keep the support rod12clean off dirt and other debris. The leveling plate56will slide down the support rod12when it is removed from the soil after testing and wipes off the debris. As the user may use notches22on the support rod12to read the depth, keeping these notches22clear of dirt will greatly assist the user in seeing where exactly the notches22are and whether it lines up with the leveling plate56or not. The hole of the leveling plate may have a seal. The seal helps the leveling plate stay in frictional contact with, and better clean, the support rod12. The hole may instead include prongs or tines that scrub the support pole12.

In a potential embodiment, the leveling plate may include a sensor to detect the notches on the support pole. The sensor allows the penetrometer to alert the user when the leveling plate has reached the correct notch, and thus, depth, without the user needing to visually identify it themselves. The sensor may be an optical sensor that detects the visual difference of the notches from the surrounding material of the support pole. When a notch is detected, an alarm may sound or a visual pop up may be displayed on the screen of the mobile computing device so that the user knows to pause inserting the penetrometer.

Instead of using solely a leveling plate56and notches22to determine the depth of the penetrometer10support pole in the soil, lidar sensors may be used instead of, or in addition to, the notches22. Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors are sometimes included on mobile computing devices or other handheld devices or could conceivably be included with the penetrometer itself. When the mobile computing device26or other device having one or more LIDAR sensor are held perpendicular to the ground while the penetrometer10is inserted into the soil, the LIDAR sensor measures the distance to the soil surface. The depth of the penetrometer10can then be calculated from the distance from the ground while inserted and the usual height of the phone above the ground when not in use. When a depth intended to be measured by the penetrometer is reached, the mobile computing device26may alert the user. The alert may be in the form of a pop up on the screen or possibly an audio cue. Because the lidar sensors can be very accurate, the leveling plate can be relatively small. In other penetrometer systems with a plate, the plate is very large and cumbersome, and may be around a foot long. The leveling plate of the present disclosure makes the penetrometer easier to move and will not hamper a user's movement. LIDAR sensors are also easier to use with a smaller leveling plate. A large leveling plate may block the LIDAR sensors from reaching the actual soil surface, and prevent it from getting an accurate soil depth reading. When larger leveling plates used in connection with penetrometers are employed, the larger leveling plates are also not fixed to the penetrometer, meaning the user must pick up and carry both the penetrometer and leveling plate separately between each measurement location. When LIDAR sensors are used in the systems of the present disclosure, the leveling plates of the system may be significantly smaller. The leveling plates in such instances typically would be symmetrically shaped across a line passing thought the support rod and typically would not have surface area greater than four square inches.

Ultrasonic sensors, which generally use the larger leveling plates, may also be used to measure the soil depth. However, it is preferable to use LIDAR sensors in the context of the present disclosure because they are generally more accurate than ultrasonic sensors. In another alternative embodiment, the penetrometer system may instead use GPS to determine its elevation or height above sea level in order to find the depth. As the penetrometer is pushed into the soil, the elevation will change. By comparing a new measured elevation to a previous measured elevation, the depth of the penetrometer10can be determined automatically by the software application or the mobile computing device. Tracking the penetrometer's elevation will require a sufficiently strong and accurate GPS system.

Another aspect of the penetrometer kit28is the monitor bar adapter60. The monitor bar adapter60includes a bar clamp to attach to a monitor bar, or similar attachment accepting structure, in a vehicle, such as, a tractor or combine. The monitor bar is typically a horizontally positioned bar in the interior of a tractor cabin or other farm vehicle cabin. The bar clamp has two non-unitary pieces, a securing side62and joint side64that are connected to one another through at least one bar clamp tightener66passing through the securing side62and the joint side64via a receiving hole. The bar clamp thumb screw34can be tightened by means of a hex key68. Both the securing side62and the joint side64have a bar interfacing surface shaped to conform with a standard monitor bar. To attach the monitor bar adaptor, a user starts by placing each side of the monitor bar adaptor on opposite sides of a bar while they are separated into two pieces, while lining up the receiving holes with at least one bar clamp thumb screw34. Once the one bar clamp tightener66is partially inserted into a receiving hole, the hex key68is used to turn the one bar clamp tightener66and tighten the bar clamp. The joint side64also typically includes an adapter ball joint70that interfaces with the adjustable midsection piece42and phone holder of the phone attachment. In this way a user can use the phone attachment on a penetrometer10or in a vehicle and modify the phone attachment to do so without the use of tools. The monitor bar adapter60also includes one or more spacers72. When joined together, the securing side62and the joint side64form a circular space through which the monitor bar passes through. The monitor bar may not perfectly fit, so the spacers72fit inside the space and around the monitor bar to make up the space. The monitor bar adapter60may also include adhesive strips74to better lock the smart device in the smart device holder.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the penetrometer may include an integrated computing system and the penetrometer system may not use, or only partially use, a separate mobile computing device. The penetrometer may include an integrated display, which displays the software application and may give the user access to other features of the integrated computing system. The display may be touch sensitive and allows the user to control the application and record data by physically touching the display. The penetrometer may not have a gauge separate from the display, and may instead show the pressure readings of the penetrometer alongside the software application on the display. Readings from other sensors on the penetrometer are also sent to the display. The estimated depth, moisture readings, temperature, and GPS coordinates can all be shown on the display simultaneously, or upon selection by a user. To record pressure measurements, the user first inserts the penetrometer into the soil to the desired depth. When the depth is reached, the penetrometer may have a pop up or other visual and/or auditory alert shown on the display or played by an onboard speaker. The current detected pressure can then be recorded by the user by pressing a button or display. In some embodiments, the recording may be done automatically when the penetrometer senses that it is at the predetermined depth where a measurement is prescribed. The penetrometer may have an internet or WIFI® connection to link the penetrometer to an external server. The software application, the survey data, or both may be located on the external server, or in computer memory onboard the penetrometer's integrated computing system.

The penetrometer10may have an onboard power system. Typically, the power system is one or more rechargeable or replaceable batteries. The penetrometer system may have solar panels to collect energy that may supplement the batteries or serve as the sole power supply for the penetrometer. Solar panels constantly replenish the energy used by the penetrometer integrated computing system or digital pressure gauge. If the penetrometer uses an external mobile computing device to record data, a charging cable may be connected the penetrometer to the mobile computing device so that the mobile computing device can recharge using the penetrometer's power supply. A charging cable may include with the penetrometer in a penetrometer kit, or it may be integrated with the penetrometer and can be extended from the penetrometer's casing. The battery life of the power supply typically lasts 12 to 24 hours. Because fields may vary in size and the farming organization may want to collect different numbers of data samples, the battery life should be long enough to power the penetrometer throughout the entire average data collection time period for at least a single field. An average field of 40 acres may take a user an hour to complete, but a user may have more fields to perform measurements in. A user could theoretically complete 380 acres worth of fields in a single day.

Most of the systems of the mobile computing device or the penetrometer will be connected using a cellular or WIFI® connection, for example. Exemplary computing systems used in connection with the methods and systems of the present invention can include one or more of the implementations of the technology described herein. A computing system can include one or more panel processors and peripherals, and a panel subsystem associated with an input device (which may correspond to a mobile computing input device). Peripherals can include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) or other types of memory or storage, watchdog timers, and the like. The panel subsystem can include, but is not limited to, one or more sense channels, channel scan logic and driver logic. The channel scan logic can access Random access memory, autonomously read data from the sense channels and provide control for the sense channels. In addition, channel scan logic can control driver logic to generate stimulation signals at various frequencies and phases that can be selectively applied to drive lines of a touch sensor panel. In some implementations, the panel subsystem, panel processor and peripherals can be integrated into one application specific Integrated circuit (ASIC).

A touch sensor panel can include a capacitive sensing medium having a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sense lines, although other sensing media also can be used. Each intersection of drive and sense lines can represent a capacitive sensing node and can be viewed as a picture element (pixel), which can be particularly useful when the touch sensor panel is viewed as capturing an “image” of touch. In other words, after the panel subsystem has determined whether a touch event has been detected at each touch sensor in the touch sensor panel, the pattern of touch sensors in the multi-touch panel at which a touch event occurred can be viewed as an “image” of touch (e.g., a pattern of fingers touching the panel). Each sense line of the touch sensor panel can drive the sense channel in the panel subsystem. The touch sensor panel can enable multi-touch gesture detection so that shapes can be generated and modified according to implementations of the technology.

The computing system of the mobile computing device or penetrometer also can include a host processor for receiving outputs from the penetrometor processor and performing actions based on the outputs that can include, but are not limited to, moving an object such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjusting control settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device coupled to the host device, answering a telephone call, placing a telephone call, terminating a telephone call, changing the volume or audio settings, storing information related to telephone communications, such as addresses, frequently dialed numbers, received calls, missed calls, logging onto a computer or a computer network, permitting authorized individuals access to restricted areas of the computer or computer network, loading a user profile associated with a user's preferred arrangement of the computer desktop, permitting access to web content, launching a particular program, encrypting or decoding a message, prompting the generation of a signal of any kind, and/or the like. The host processor also can perform additional functions that may not be related to the use of the penetrometer, and can be coupled to a program storage medium and a display device (which may correspond to the computing system) such as an LCD display for providing a user interface to a user of the device. The display device together with the touch sensor panel, when located partially or entirely under the touch sensor panel, can form a touchscreen.

One or more of the functions described throughout the above application can be performed by instructions (e.g., programming, software, firmware) stored in memory (e.g., one of the peripherals) and executed by the processor of the mobile computing device, or stored in the program storage and executed by the host processor. The instructions also can be stored and/or transported within any computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (hereinafter referred to as “instruction execution system”), such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the memory. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable storage medium” can be any medium that can contain or store the program of instructions for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system. The computer readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus or device, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portable optical disc such as CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, or DVE-RW, or flash memory such as compact flash cards, secured digital cards, USB memory devices, memory sticks, and the like.

In some embodiments, the mobile computing device has a graphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and gestures on the touch screen display. Executable instructions for performing the functions of the presently described methods and systems may be included in a computer readable storage medium or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors of the mobile computing device.

Building on the discussion above, in other words, aspects of the methods and systems of the present disclosure may be achieved, at least in part, by software stored on a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium or software modifications or updates to existing software residing in a non-transitory computer readable medium. Such software or software updates may be downloaded into a first non-transitory readable media of a controller (or locally associated with a controller or some other processor) typically prior to being installed in a mobile computing device or the penetrometer from a second non-transitory computer readable media located remote from the first non-transitory computer readable media, i.e., a server system.

To easily understand their field's compaction levels, a user can use a software application on the mobile computing device that displays satellite images of their fields along with a number of data points corresponding to areas in the field where penetrometer readings were taken (FIGS.10A-17B). A series of individual data points with associated GPS coordinates can be difficult for a user to interpret, and as a result it will be hard to discern how to best change their tillage tactics. A major obstacle for a user is that they may not always have an accurate idea of what section of their field or fields corresponds with the GPS coordinates of the individual data points. Creating an overall tillage recommendation map (FIG.18) that includes tillage recommendations for segments of the overall tillage recommendation map, where the segments are displayed based on the soil profile at different locations and the different tillage recommendations for the segment, can alleviate the problem by giving users a visual representation of where in their fields a particular kind of tillage must be employed.FIG.9shows the tillage recommendation map on the smartphone within a user's vehicle. A user views this map while driving the vehicle, which may be a tractor or other farming vehicle equipped with a tillage implement or possibly a cover crop seeder. The current location of the user in the vehicle is shown on the map, so that the user can see in real time what section of a field they are in from above and compare their location to where different tillage recommendations are. When the user passes to a region on the map with a new tillage recommendation, they can change out the settings from the tillage in real time while never needing to leave the field. If a tillage recommendation requires the use of a different implement, then the user can leave the field, replace the tiller/cultivator, and return to the marked region on the map and continue on. For example, a user may need to begin with a chisel plow, but switch to a disk plow in the same section of field later or in other parts of the field.

The application uses geographical information systems (GIS) software, such as the GOOGLE EARTH API®, to map data points to their corresponding locations on a satellite map. Alternatively, the application itself may be an API that may be added to other software.FIG.14shows how data points on a map will appear on the display of the application. Satellite maps can also help to show the user the topography of the field at all data points. If a group of data points are displaying a similar soil density profile, it could be explained as a result of a topographical feature of the area the group is in. For example, if the area is lower than the rest of the field, it could be prone to higher average saturation levels which would lead to an increased risk of creating compaction and thus lead to a large difference in compaction from its surrounding areas. Overly wet areas lead to increasing levels of compaction. Groupings of similar data points may also be explained by consistent use of farming vehicles in those areas. Farmers may use controlled traffic farming to limit repeated traffic passes to specific areas, thus minimizing the amount of a fields surface area that could be damaged by compaction. As long as the farmer knows the entrances/exits of the field, the regions of traffic cause compaction may be calculated and used by a controlled traffic system to plan routes through the field that minimize vehicle compaction.

It may be possible to take data from the systems of the present disclosure and geolocation information to automatically change the nature of the tillage being undertaken at a given location on a field during tilling such that when the user traverses over one segment of the overall tillage recommendation map into another based on the readings from the penetrometer the tillage settings on a piece of farm equipment may automatically adjust to make the appropriate tillage occur. This may be done through a real-time interface with the farming equipment or through the use of the application within the farming equipment itself and not on the mobile computing device or through transfer of the data from the mobile computing device to the farming equipment and/or tractor, for example, and the data used in real-time thereafter.

To access the software application, a user must have an account or create one if they currently do not. When a user enters the application for the first time, they will be prompted to make and account or log in to an existing account. Once, logged in, the application may remember that the user is logged in and the device that they are logged in with. This way, a user may not need to repeatedly log in when they access the application with a particular device. A single account may be linked with one or more mobile computing devices, and it may be able to be accessed simultaneously from multiple mobile computing devices. Each account has data stored therein. In particular, the application will have identifying data stored that helps the application verify a user's identity as well as aid them in account recovery if the account's log in credentials were lost. Information relating to farming organizations that the user has access to will also be stored. A user may only belong to a single farming organization, or they may be associated with several. Farming organizations themselves may restrict access to their data to select users as dictated by organization associations stored in their account. Affiliation with a farming organization may give user's access to particular crop fields managed by the farming organization as well as surveys done at those fields. Additionally, the account may have data for one or more penetrometers used by the user stored therein. The data for the penetrometers includes the brand or model of the penetrometer, as well has the physical characteristics of the penetrometer such as the number of notches. A user may change the settings related to the penetrometers by interacting with a link within their profile that leads to a probe configuration screen.

The application may instead be a browser-based application that a user accesses using an internet search browser. A user does not need to download an application onto a mobile computing device, and instead only needs an account and an internet or WIFI® connection to access the application web site. The supplication may also be located on a private server, such as a corporation's server or farming organization's server and accessible through an employee portal or similar system. A farming organization may subscribe to their own custom version of the application that is only able to be used by their own employees and that is kept separate from publicly available versions accessible through a web browser or downloadable application. Survey data relating to a farming organization's fields may be stored on their own server as well. Some versions of the software application, such as a custom version designed for a farming organization, may provide the estimated yield loss.

Users may also reset the password from their profile. Alternatively, a user may reset it by sending an email link in the case where they have forgotten or misplaced the password. A user may also reset the email address linked to the account. A user may optionally sign up for a subscription through the application. The user may be billed through the application or elsewhere. One or more features may be absent or limited for a user without a subscription. The application may provide a free trial, wherein a user may enjoy all features of the application during a limited period of time.

Within the software application, a user is able to navigate to different sections of the application by interacting with a link that appears as a visual icon on the screen of the mobile computing device of the user. The links may bring the user to a new screen, such as a user pressing a data point displayed on a map to bring up a data entry screen with the data listed for the data point that was selected. Alternatively, the selection of a link may create a pop up or menu that covers a portion of the screen of the mobile computing device. Pop ups and menus may have additional links or data fields that can be filled with data.

When opening the app for the first time, or any time thereafter, the user may be presented with the welcome screen. The welcome screen may be shown while the application loads. Following opening the application, the user will be presented with an organization screen82as shown inFIGS.10A-10B. The organization screen shows each farming organization that the user has saved data for, and which may be dictated by their account information or permissions from a farming organization. In the context of the present disclosure, a farming organization may be any individual farm or collective of farms or a company that owns multiple farming locations. The organizations may be business entities, individuals or groups of individuals or one or more farms, for example. Each organization84is displayed as a link that the user may interact with. The organizations may be the user's own farm or farms and/or a corporation or other organization.

Organizations may be added or deleted from the organization screen. If the application has been accessed for the first time, and the user has just created their account, there may be not be any organizations present. The user may be immediately prompted by the application to add an organization if there are none. From the organization screen82, the user may select an organization84in order to direct them to a field selection screen90. The field selection screen, as inFIG.11, displays each field92belonging to the selected organization as a interactable link presented on the display of the user's mobile computing device. The fields92may have had surveys performed for them. If the user enters the fields selection screen90and there are no fields to display, they will need to add one. A user may add or delete fields within the field selection screen. The fields may be limited by permissions given by the farming organization or the user's account settings. The user may be able to view fields saved that were added by another user. This allows multiple users associated with an organization to work simultaneously in recording data for a given field. The user may select a field82in order to display a survey screen94as inFIG.12. The survey screen shows each survey conducted previously at the selected field and gives the user the ability to create new ones. The user may add a survey or delete an existing one in the survey screen94. The surveys may be surveys that were created by the user, or they may have been conducted by a separate user associated with the same organization so that multiple users can monitor a particular field. A user can view past surveys by interacting with one of the surveys listed.

Whether the user selects an existing survey or creates a new one, they will be brought to a map screen99. The map screen shows a satellite map generated of the area in which the survey was taken (FIGS.14-16). Typically, the map is a top down view of the earth taken from a satellite and obtained from geographical information systems (GIS) software, such as GOOGLE EARTH PRO®, APPLE MAPS®, or ARC GIS®. The satellite image displayed is the most up to date version taken. For an existing survey, the map may the most updated version for when the survey was conducted, or it may still display the most up to date version for the current date in which the survey was accessed. The map screen shows the location of the user on the map or subsection of the map, as well as a number of soil compaction data entry points100corresponding to specific soil depths. The location of the user is marked with an icon or dot that is visually distinct from the background. The location of the user is also updated in real time so the user has an accurate understanding of where they are in their field and in relation to data entry points. The location icon of the user may be locked into the same location the map screen, so that the topographical map appears to move around in relation to the location of the user on the map screen99. Alternatively, the map stays stationary, and the location of the user moves. The user may center the map on the user location at any time by selection of a button. The user may be able to change the view point of the map screen99and thus what part of the field is shown on the display of the mobile computing device. A user may change the view of the map by interacting with a touch display of the mobile computing device.

An existing survey will display a map screen having a plurality of data entry points100spread around it. The data entry points denote spots in the field where a user has used the penetrometer10to collect soil pressure data. The application stores data relating to the pressure at multiple depths into the soil associated with each of the data entry points. A user may view the pressure data for a particular data entry point by interacting with that data entry point100. A pop up may appear that shows the depths and the pressure measurement collected at each. The survey screen also stores the information relating to the penetrometer used in the survey. The user will typically select the type of penetrometer they are using before they begin entering data entry points. The survey screen may also have multiple penetrometers stored if there were multiple types of penetrometers used or multiple users contributing to the survey with multiple penetrometers. The user may also select a particular depth to view. The selection may be done with a depth selection drop down menu, and will bring up a map for the selected depth and show data entry points associated with the selected depth. The user may select any data point and view the average pressure reading of each of the depth measurements at that point. Each data entry point displayed on the map will be associated with a particular measurement done in that spot at the selected depth. The data entry points will have a color that corresponds to the pressure measurement. The color may change at different depths, so a survey may have data entry points100that change their color between maps for each depth. The map may instead show only the average pressure value and color for each data entry point. This makes decision making and analysis easier because a farmer only has to look at a single map instead of multiple. Deciding to use a farming technique based on only a single map may lead to inaccuracies and suboptimal or harmful tillage or other soil treatments.

There are two tabs located above the main mapping screen, a view map tab102, and a data entry tab104. The view map tab displays the aforementioned satellite view of the field and the data entry points. A depth drop-down106menu below the view map tab102allows a user to view each of the data entry points at a specific depth with the appropriate color to indicate the compaction level. If a user selects four inches, they will be able to view the data entry points at four inches specifically. The data entry tab104will display the data entry screen105shown inFIG.15Band set a data entry point at the user's location on the satellite map. The data entry screen105displays data entry fields108corresponding to specific depths. The number of data entry fields108corresponds to the number of notches22on the penetrometer10being used for the survey. If the penetrometer10has four notches22, thus four measuring depths, then there should only be four data entry fields108for a user to fill. Typically, penetrometers have six to seven notches, so the application is able to accommodate seven or more data entry fields. The user takes their measurements, and inputs the measured value into the empty data entry fields using a standard mobile computing device keyboard. In a possible embodiment of the application, the user may also choose to lock in the value by selecting a keep value button located near to the data entry fields108. Once the user is finished entering values, they may press an enter button, which saves the recorded data and closes the data entry screen and sends the user back to the map screen. If the user closes data entry screen105the data in the data entry fields108may be lost. The user types the measured pressure into the data entry point using the onscreen keyboard. The data entry screen105may be displayed adjacent to the satellite map in certain embodiments wherein the smart device is positioned in a landscape mode. Alternatively, the mobile application78may use the camera and visual character recognition to automatically record the data of the soil compaction readings and eliminate the manual data entry of this information or at least limit the manual data entry to verification of data autonomously read using the mobile application78and the systems for visualizing and processing the images provided by one or more of the mobile computing devices. The satellite image will also show the users location on the map corresponding to their location in real life in real time using a visually distinct location icon as they are collecting measurements. This way a user can go to a region of a field where a specific data point was taken to observe any changes in person. The average of all data points may be displayed for a particular field, which may also be displayed next to the link or map for that particular field, helping users to quickly determine the field's overall compaction level. The average value may also be shown in a CSV file with the raw compaction data. The collected field data is stored on the smart device memory, although it could be stored on a database external to the smart device or within a computer server in the cloud or otherwise stored in a remote location. The mobile computing device or the penetrometer can communicate with the server through a wireless internet or WIFI® connection. Selecting a data entry point “dot” or other geolocation on a satellite map of a given survey screen displayed to a user will display past testing data for that particular location for a given time the location was measured or potentially all data over time in aggregate to the user. This data may be filtered as well based on depth or other parameters as well.

The application78further comprises a probe configuration screen110that is accessible to a user through their account. The user can use the probe configuration screen110to select from a number of penetrometer10configurations, possibly corresponding to known brands or models. A user may be prompted to select a particular brand and model stored within the application, and upon doing so, the application automatically creates a saved probe with the settings already made. A user may also enter custom values or edit an existing penetrometer10(FIG.17A). The probe configuration can be set in relation to the number of samples/number of notches22, interval between the notches22, and the probe resolution. New probes can be added to and deleted from the application78(FIG.17B), such as if the user purchases a new penetrometer10, or makes modifications to an existing one. The penetrometer10settings are saved in the individual accounts so that a user may view and edit them while they are logged in. This also allows the user to have certain penetrometer10settings active regardless of what field and what organization84they have selected. A user may also select which penetrometer to use for different organizations. For example, a user could collect sample using penetrometer A for organization A, and collect sample using penetrometer B for organization B. Certain fields under a particular organization may also be tested with a different penetrometer as well. Perhaps an organization wants to collect measurements at field A every 3 inches, whereas field B and C only need to be measured every 4 inches.

The individual data points are color coded as a fast and easy way to convey soil density information to the user. The color is typically selected to be similar to the colors shown on the pressure gauge for different pressure/penetration resistance ranges. The pressure gauge20typically uses a standardized 0 to 300 psi range and displays green for a pressure range of 0-200 psi, yellow for 200-250 psi, orange 250-299 psi, and anything over 299 psi is red showing that there is likely to be significant crop yield loss due to compaction restricting root growth and action will need to be taken by the farmer to mitigate it. This reading assumes moderately saturated soil. The mobile application may adjust the color-coding scale for the moisture content of the soil if the soil is not moderately saturated, but this feature may not be employed. Alternatively, if the soil is not fully saturated, the color coding associated for a given data set may be adjusted based on moisture content of the soil, which adjusts the scaling based on the current estimated moisture content for the location/area. The color-coding range typically extends from 0 psi to about 900 psi as a typical range for a gauge on a digital penetrometer. An alternative penetrometer, which uses load cells, may have an unlimited scale, although they most commonly measure between 0 to 800 psi. The range of color from green to yellow is considered a good soil density. The colors shown are not just specifically red, green, and yellow. Data points can be shown in a gradient between green and yellow or yellow and red as well. This gives the user another way to visualize where on the density scale the soil falls without having to look deeper at the individual data points themselves. A point that is orange will represent soil that is not as dense as a red point but will be denser than a yellow point. This graduated visual representation is not necessary, but is typically preferred over just having the points set to only exact colors as it will skew the user's perception of the data collected. As discussed above, the color scaling can also be adjusted to reflect differences due to temperature and moisture content. The standardized soil pressure range of 0 to 300 psi is based on completely saturated soil and, as discussed, the systems of the present disclosure will not perfectly accurately measure the compaction of soil with a different moisture or temperature. For example, if soil is drier, it will appear to be more compacted. However, as discussed, the application can change the colors to show if the compaction level is still acceptable in the current conditions. The color scale may be shifted by changing its center point within the application or otherwise. Soil moisture data can be obtained through precipitation data, which may be collected from local weather data and possibly obtained from a publicly available weather database.

Alternatively, the color scale may be directly changed by the user. Instead of being presented with three options, corresponding to dry, moderately saturated, and fully saturated, the user may have a sliding scale that adjusts the colors according to their needs. The user may set dry to yellow, for example, and the other moisture levels are changed automatically or manually to compensate. The scale may be changed before a survey is taken, or at any point during or after the survey is taken. The color scale is not locked once a survey begins. A user may want to change the colors so that they may better understand the information or better present it to others. Different surveys may use different color scales as set by a user.

Rather than having a color scale based around a mid-point value shown on the pressure gauge, the colors are based off of the pressure values only. A yellow region would be 150 psi, for example, and not both the mid-point for a 0-900 psi gauge and 0-300 psi gauge. As such, values over a certain value, typically 400 psi, are typically colored the same. Red is the optimal color to represent the extreme values of compaction over 400 psi, representing areas needing the most tillage.

The application is able use interpolation to predict the compaction levels in areas of the field between measured data entry points. This allows the user to get an estimate for the entirety of their field without having to measure every square in of their field. The user can get accurate measurements using less time and man power, which is especially important if a field is being managed by a small number of people or even a single person. The systems of the present disclosure approximate the value of a potential new data entry point by comparing one or more data entry points around it. It then estimates the value for the potential point by linear interpolation, gaussian interpolations such as kriging, or other interpolation methods. The interpolation may be performed by the mobile computing device or penetrometer, or the calculations may be performed by the server after the measured data is communicated. The interpolation becomes more accurate as the number of data entry points increases. For example, if a user only takes a single data entry point, the system will not be able to compare it to any other are of the field, and the same values from the single data entry point may be assigned to any potential estimated data entry point. The interpolation is accurate enough to form a satisfactory soil tillage treatment prescription with relatively few data points. Ideally, accurate result may be obtained with less than one sample taken per acre. A user may create a new data point without physically measuring by selecting any region on the map screen and having the application perform calculations to assign the pressure values. The estimated pressure may be the estimated average pressure of each depth at a single point or a subset of the depths at a single point. A user may also view estimated values for a single depth. A user may also be able to enter a coordinate, and receive the estimated pressure values for the area of the field corresponding to the coordinate. Estimated values are assigned a color like the true measured values, and may also be gradients between those colors as well. The application may also suggest and identify additional geographical locations to take additional measurements to provide greater accuracy for the overall map using the interpolation systems.

The application may make use of artificial intelligence (AI) to calculate interpolated values as well as give feedback as to the accuracy of interpolated, measured, and average pressure values. For example, a subsection of a field may have a lot of variances in its pressure values, so interpolation may not be as accurate because there could be vastly different values located directly next to one another. The AI is able to detect the fluctuations and alert the user to perform additional measurements so that the accuracy of the interpolated points and true measured points can be better understood. The AI may make suggestions on precise locations in which to perform measurements as well as the number of measurements to make. As data is collected, the AI may update its suggestions in response to changes in data accuracy. The AI may also show a value corresponding to the level of accuracy for all or a subset of the measurements, or for any region of a field. The level of accuracy may be given in the form of a percentage, and may be accompanied by a color-coded system to communicate it better. 100% could be green for example. The AI may also show a user an expected increase in accuracy due to undertaking suggested actions. A measurement in a certain point in the field may increase the accuracy of the field measurements by 10%.

It is important to collect data and create maps for multiple different depths as the soil may have fluctuating densities only a short space apart. Only collecting readings for the top layer tells the user nothing about how the soil is further down, and as a result, a user may not realize that the crop growth could be affected by changes in the soil deeper below the surface. As an example, a particular data entry point may be green at 4 inches, orange at 8 inches, and red at12and below, indicating that the soil becomes more compacted the further down it goes. If a group of data points in a similar region are all having similar color profiles, then the soil density profile is likely similar throughout the region the data entry points were taken in. This is an indicator that the user may need specialized equipment to handle the problem rows/locations within the field to be tilled or amended.

To use the penetrometer10and its associated software application, the user will typically first collect data measurements. As shown inFIG.2, the user holds the penetrometer10by the right side handle18and left side handle16and orients it as vertically as possible with the cone24directed downwards into the soil so that there are as little errors in measuring the depth as possible. The user presses the support rod12straight downward until the soil surface and the leveling plate56line up with the notch22that corresponds to the first desired depth measurement to be taken. The user opens the data entry screen in the application78, which collects the coordinates of the ongoing measurement, and then the user inputs the pressure reading from the pressure gauge20into the correct data entry field in the data entry screen105. This may be done manually or automatically by pressing a physical switch such as a thumb switch on the handle connected via a wireless signal such as a BLUETOOTH® or other connection or by activating a location on the touch screen of the mobile computing device to indicate to the device to record the reading on the pressure gauge.

After the data for the first depth has been inputted into the database of the present application, the user once again presses the support rod12into the soil until the surface and the leveling plate56line up with the next/subsequent desired depth, which is typically an equal increment of the first measurement, but can be different. The user repeats the recording procedure until data has been collected for each of the desired depths at each location within a field to be tested. When the user is finished with readings at a given location, they extract the support rod12out of the soil and move the penetrometer10to the next point of interest. The user then follows the measurement procedure used on the previous point again. The user takes readings at as many points as needed to get an accurate map of the soil density profile for their particular field. Typically, more locations in a given field yield better results for adjustment of how a farmer operates in their fields.

In the case that the smart device is equipped with enhanced photo detection software, the measurement process might be modified. In particular, the user positions the phone holder above the pressure gauge20of the penetrometer10such that the camera of the smart device can clearly view the pressure gauge20. The user then pushes the penetrometer10downward into the soil at a constant rate of 1 inch per second to allow the camera of the smart device to accurately record the readings shown on the pressure gauge20. The image recognition software captures the reading shown on the dial and transfers the data to the software application directly. The software application will then fill out the data entry fields corresponding to the measured depth with the captured pressure data. Alternatively, the user may press a button or section of the touch sensitive display on the mobile computing device to have the mobile computing device record the measurement on the dial with the camera. In this case, the user presses the penetrometer to the desired depth, clicks the button or display section, the data is automatically entered into the software application, and the user may continue inserting the penetrometer. The user may be presented with a timer on the screen of the mobile computing device that helps them time the rate of insertion. As an example, a penetrometer10with a 24 inch long central support rod12would take 24 seconds in order to measure the entire depth range. Penetrometers are most commonly about 24 inches long, so they will need 24 seconds to be fully inserted into the soil. A visual cue may be displayed on the screen of the smart device to assist the user in maintaining a proper insertion speed. In this situation, data across the entire depth and/or at the predetermined depths might be recorded.

Multiple users may be able to view field data saved under a particular organization whose data they are authorized to view and access. The ability to allow plurality of different users to access data for the same field allows a user testing the soil compaction with the mobile computing device integrated with a penetrometer system to work in tandem with another user in a tractor or other farming vehicle who is tilling or treating the field to provide custom soil treatment to the field that minimizes over-tilling and soil erosion while adequately tilling compacted soil portions of the field for optimum planting and plant growth. A first user collects soil readings ahead of the second user. A second user is able to view a new reading made by the first user in real time and apply the proper tillage to the specific area. Here, collecting data and tilling can be done at the same time. Many users can take soil compaction readings at different locations within a field during the same timeframe using a plurality of the penetrometer systems of the present disclosure taking soil readings as a group and covering a large area together and completing soil measurements for the whole field in considerably less time. The multiple users accessing the same database using the mobile computing systems and applications of the present disclosure can quickly jointly work to create sufficient numbers of readings throughout the field or a given geographic area to complete a variable soil prescription. This can be done before or simultaneously with the tilling of the field so long as there are an adequate number of data readings for a given segment/surface area of the field prior to tilling beginning/occurring at any given location. Users may view recorded data in real time in order to perform other soil treatments as well. A user operating a vehicle may apply cover crops or soil treatment chemicals as directed.

The raw data collected may be available in the software application78in spreadsheet form. In such a configuration the data is typically organized by sample number or location on one axis and by the soil depth on a second axis, and displays the pressure reading at each depth of the sample location. An average of the data can be shown which can correspond to the average of pressures at a certain depth across all samples, or just the average pressure measurements across all depths or a grouping of different depths at a particular sample location.

A comma-separated value (csv) file containing all of the compaction data for a particular survey can be shared through the application78to be processed by other applications and systems from third parties or manually reviewed and analyzed by one or more users. Much like the data entry points, the compaction data in the csv file may be color coded to further indicate the compaction level. To share the data with other computing systems, while on the survey screen98, the user of the mobile application78of the present disclosure can export a csv file and thereafter transmit the data to another system. The exporting may be done by selecting an option in a dropdown menu, or the user may swipe the screen of the mobile computing device26in order to bring up an exporting option. The transmission of the data or subset of the data taken and/or managed and processed by the mobile application78of the present disclosure and any storage system(s) associated therewith may be through any wired or wireless signal transmission system such as a cellular or WIFI® system. These files can then be imported into GIS software systems such as GOOGLE EARTH PRO®, QGIS® (an open-source cross-platform desktop geographic information system (GIS) application78that supports viewing, editing, printing, and analysis of geospatial data), or ARCGIS® or ARCGIS PRO®, which works in two dimensions and three-dimensions for cartography and visualization, and includes machine learning (ML). This allows for more sophisticated analysis outside the confines of the software application78. Each sample has a number associated with it, and the corresponding data entry points on the map display can display this sample number to form a legend to easily navigate to specific points of interest to the user.

After the user collects their data and creates a soil density profile map using the systems and the mobile application78of the present disclosure, the user or users can formulate a variable rate soil prescription.FIG.18shows a possible soil prescription for a user to follow. The soil prescription provides the user with a graphical representation of automatic recommendations of how to till a given segment of the field analyzed, or whether to till at all, in every area/segment of the crop production field. A user may develop a soil prescription/plan manually through analysis of their collected data and experience, and/or they could create a shapefile to highlight specific regions of their field that need specific treatments. As discussed above, the geolocation of particular tillage levels needed may be integrated into or transmitted to a farming vehicle such as a tractor or a tilling implementing system consisting of a tractor and a tillage implement, which may be an automatic height adjusting cultivator. In such instances the farming vehicle will independently use the data to change the tilling based on the geographical location of the tillage implement and/or tractor while the field is being traversed. Users can more easily avoid common issues such as over tilling certain regions of their field, leading to permanent erosion damage. Another potential issue is the tendency of soil to become less compact and gain a more uniform density as it goes deeper. The prescription can indicate to the user that they should only till the top layers or that their current tilling method is responsible for the difference and should be corrected. The software application and the prescription can also help a user catch other issues such as lighter colored soils that are low on organic matter. Tilling soil that is low in organic matter will typically make the soil compaction levels worse, so the systems of the present disclosure may include a built-in way to detect areas with low organic matter and alert the user so that the user does not accidentally damage their soil quality. Satellite images may be visually examined with light soil typically being lower in organic matter than darker soil when imaged from space. The user can follow the soil prescription to adjust their farming practices and improve soil quality. A user may use various types of tillage, but they may also use other methods. A farmer can apply cover crops to reduce erosion as well as add helpful nutrients to the soil, inhibit weed growth, and other beneficial effects. In many cases, applying cover crops are better than tillage. The variable rate soil prescription helps identify what regions of a field to apply cover crops. A user may also apply different chemicals to the soil. For example, a farmer may use humic acid to improve soil structure and fertility.

The variable rate soil prescription or plans produced using the systems of the present disclosure can be tailored to the individual user. It will change field to field and is dependent on what specific tillage implement(s) and other farming equipment the user has access to. A possible implementation uses a tillage system that automatically adjusts its depth to account for the soil prescription. An exemplary system that might be used in conjunction with the penetrometer10systems of the present disclosure is the JOHN DEERE® TRUSET® system or any other systems that allows the tillage implements to be automatically adjusted, typically by automatically adjusting the depth, down-pressure, gang angle, basket down pressure, fore/aft and/or side-to-side tilt from the cab and on-the-go a matter of only a few seconds, typically six seconds or less. Such automatically and dynamically adjusting systems can accept the penetrometer10data and automatically raise and lower the tillage implements in use. The soil prescription/plan can change if the user does not own or could not obtain such an automatically implementing system to be used in conjunction with the penetrometer10systems of the present disclosure. Instead of using an automatically and dynamically adjustable tillage farm implement system, a user could alternatively implement a soil prescription or plan produced using the systems of the present disclosure by tilling and viewing a compaction map produced using the systems of the present disclosure on a mobile computing device26capable of visually displaying a geographical map of the soil prescription plan and a geolocation of the device and farm implement on the geographical map with the tillage plan displayed thereon. An example is shown inFIG.9using the monitor bar adapter60. A variable rate soil prescription also typically includes consideration of soil texture, leftover residue from previous crops, and physical subsurface structure of the soil to be as accurate and useful as possible.

As discussed herein previously, accurate soil data will require accounting for the moisture of the soil as well as the soil type. Dryer soil will appear to be more compacted, for example. Sandy soils can appear to be more compacted because they are drier and well drained. Clays also appear to be highly compacted. The software application78will use the moisture profile while mapping. This way it will be able to more accurately portray the soil compaction gradients and better predict compaction in areas that have not been directly measured. Data on soil moisture levels can be obtained from public information automatically by the software application78or by manual activation within the mobile application78by the user or by exporting the data from the systems of the present disclosure to be processed by third party software. Soil moisture data may be obtained from sources such as the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS). Soil type data may be obtained public sources of information such as the US Geological Survey (USGS). Information from public sources may be overlaid onto compaction maps to further assist the user in understanding their field's soil structure. The soil saturation levels can then be input into the system, typically in the add survey screen98or the edit survey screen98. Alternatively, the penetrometer10may include an onboard or separate moisture sensing means that transmits moisture data directly to the device on which the software app is running, either serially or wirelessly. This moisture information can also be simultaneously recorded along with the pressure data for adjustment of the pressure data in real-time or later. A user may instead enter moisture data manually.

Other factors that affect the readings of a penetrometer10include the temperature of the soil and the penetrometer10itself. The ground will typically freeze around 32° Fahrenheit, preventing a user from obtaining accurate results if the user attempts to measure soil data too early in the year or too late. If the user has an idea of the frost value of their field at a particular time, they can more accurately determine a soil prescription/plan in colder weather, even if they are collecting data at a colder time of year. A frost value estimate can be obtained from a publicly available database or reports. The software application78can alert the user directly if publicly available frost value estimate data is available for use and integration by the systems of the present disclosure. Alternatively, the air and/or soil temperature can be measured by a thermometer onboard the penetrometer10or on an external device. The data would then be transmitted serially or wirelessly, or possibly manually entered into the software application78by the user.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the software application78may save historical data from a given field. This allows the user to compare a particular point in a field with the same or similarly located point from one or more previous years. A user can then judge whether the conditions in that section of field are getting worse or improving. If a user utilized a particular tillage method to try to improve a section of field, but the historical data shows no improvement or degradation, the user can determine if they need to change tactics or to be aware of other factors contributing to the decline. The user could also take pictures of these locations and save them to have a visual comparison to the section of field later.