Systems and methods for plant and crop management and protection
View Patent ↗A self-sustaining protective structure is provided for agricultural applications and other settings. Structures and systems of the present disclosure are contemplated as comprising various features including configurable solar panels, sensors, control systems, pest collection and management systems, and other features. The systems are provided to respond to one or more environmental conditions and to deploy and utilize various features based on the environmental conditions.
1 . A self-contained system for shading and environmental conditions management, the self-contained system comprising:
a base operable to be provided at least partially within a substrate, wherein the base includes an anchor member operable to secure the system to the substrate and the anchor member includes a moisture sensor;
a central support member comprising a height fully telescopically retractable into the base, such that a narrowing of the central support member occurs from the base along the height, wherein the telescopic retractability is effectuated electronically;
a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of retractable and expandable photovoltaic elements provided at or proximal to an upper portion of the central support member, wherein the photovoltaic elements are operable to provide protection for agriculture, to produce electrical energy, and to at least partially retract into at least one of the central support member and the base;
a fluid storage vessel disposed within the central support member configured to receive and house collected precipitation;
a pest mitigation system disposed within the central support member, comprising an attractor element and a trap element, wherein the attractor element comprises an ultraviolet light in electrical communication with the photovoltaic array;
a sensor operable to determine at least one of: ambient air temperature, humidity, moisture content of the substrate, light intensity, precipitation type, precipitation rate, barometric pressure, and wind speed;
a controller operable to receive information from the sensor and operable to at least one of retract and expand a photovoltaic element of the photovoltaic array;
a lid operable to seal the base after at least the central support member, photovoltaic array, pest mitigation system, sensor, controller, and rechargeable battery module are retracted into the base; and
a rechargeable battery pack operable to convey power to at least one of the photovoltaic array, the sensor, the pest mitigation system, and the controller,
wherein the rechargeable battery module is further operable to receive current from the photovoltaic array, and
wherein the system comprises at least one of machine learning and artificial intelligence features operable to operate anticipatory actions, estimate crop survival, optimize yield, or control pests.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic array comprises a plurality of overlapping photovoltaic panels that are individually outwardly extendable, retractable, and configurable with respect to at least one of one another and the central support member, wherein at least one of the panels comprise a V-shape.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic array comprises a motorized track member operable to retract and extend the photovoltaic array as a whole or individual panels thereof.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to automatically extend at least one photovoltaic panel member to provide at least one of shade and shelter to the surrounding area in response to information received from the sensor relating to changes in at least one of light intensity, ambient air temperature, precipitation type, precipitation rate, barometric pressure, and wind speed.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a temperature sensor in operational communication with the controller to automatically open the lid and extend components of the system.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an outlet operationally engaged with the fluid storage vessel to selectively distribute collected fluids.
7 . A self-contained system for shading and environmental conditions management, the self-contained system comprising:
a base, wherein the base is provided at least partially within a substrate and includes an anchor member operable to secure the system to the substrate and the anchor member includes a moisture sensor;
a central support member comprising a height fully telescopically retractable into the base, such that a narrowing of the central support member occurs from the base along the height, wherein the telescopic retractability is effectuated electronically;
a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of retractable and expandable photovoltaic elements provided at or proximal to an upper portion of the central support member, wherein the photovoltaic elements are operable to provide protection for agriculture, to produce electrical energy, and to at least partially retract into at least one of the central support member and the base;
a storage vessel disposed within the central support member configured to receive and house collected precipitation;
a pest mitigation system disposed within the central support member, comprising an attractor element and a trap element;
a sensor operable to determine temperature and at least one of: humidity, moisture content of the substrate, light intensity, precipitation type, precipitation rate, barometric pressure, and wind speed;
a controller operable to receive information from the sensor and operable to at least one of retract and expand a photovoltaic element of the photovoltaic array;
a rechargeable battery module operable to convey power to at least one of the photovoltaic array, the sensor, and the controller, wherein the rechargeable battery module is further operable to receive current from the photovoltaic array; and
a lid operable to seal the base after at least the central support member, photovoltaic array, sensor, controller, and rechargeable battery module are retracted into the base, wherein the system comprises at least one of machine learning and artificial intelligence features operable to operate anticipatory actions, estimate crop survival, or optimize yield.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the attractor element comprises an ultraviolet light in electrical communication with the photovoltaic array, and wherein the ultraviolet light is operable to be maintained in an active state for an extended period of time.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the photovoltaic array comprises a plurality of overlapping photovoltaic panels that are individually outwardly extendable, retractable, and configurable with respect to at least one of one another and the central support member, wherein at least one of the panels is configurable into a V-shape.
10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the photovoltaic array comprises a motorized track member operable to retract and extend the photovoltaic array as a whole or individual panels thereof.
11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is operable to automatically extend at least one photovoltaic panel member to provide at least one of shade and shelter to the surrounding area in response to information received from the sensor relating to at least one of light intensity, ambient air temperature, precipitation type, precipitation rate, barometric pressure, and windspeed.
12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the lid comprises a temperature sensor in operational communication with the controller to automatically selectively open the lid and extend components of the system.
13 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising an outlet operationally engaged with the fluid storage vessel to selectively distribute collected fluids.
14 . A self-contained system for shading and environmental conditions management, the self-contained system comprising:
a base provided at least partially within a substrate, wherein the base includes an anchor member operable to secure the system to the substrate and the anchor member includes a moisture sensor;
a central support member comprising a height fully telescopically retractable into the base, such that a narrowing of the central support member occurs from the base along the height, wherein the telescopic retractability is effectuated electronically;
a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of retractable and expandable photovoltaic elements provided at or proximal to an upper portion of the central support member, wherein the photovoltaic elements are operable to provide protection for agriculture, to produce electrical energy, and to at least partially retract into at least one of the central support member and the base;
a fluid storage vessel disposed within the central support member configured to receive and house collected precipitation;
a pest mitigation system disposed within the central support member, comprising an attractor element and a trap element, wherein the attractor element comprises an ultraviolet light;
a sensor operable to determine at least one of: ambient air temperature, humidity, moisture content of the substrate, light intensity, precipitation type, precipitation rate, barometric pressure, and wind speed;
a controller operable to receive information from the sensor and operable to at least one of retract and expand a photovoltaic element of the photovoltaic array;
a rechargeable battery operable to convey power to at least one of the photovoltaic array, the sensor, the pest mitigation system, and the controller, wherein the rechargeable battery is further operable to receive current from the photovoltaic array; and
a lid operable to seal the base after at least the central support member, photovoltaic array, pest mitigation system, sensor, controller, and rechargeable battery module are retracted into the base,
wherein the system comprises a controller operable to execute anticipatory actions, estimate crop survival, optimize yield, or control pests.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor is operable to determine ambient temperature and at least one of humidity, moisture content of the substrate, light intensity, precipitation type, precipitation rate, barometric pressure, and wind speed.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the photovoltaic array comprises a plurality of overlapping photovoltaic panels that are individually outwardly extendable, retractable, and configurable with respect to at least one of one another and the central support member, wherein at least one of the panels comprises a V-shape.
17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the photovoltaic array comprises a motorized track member operable to retract and extend the photovoltaic array as a whole or individual panels thereof.
18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is operable to automatically extend at least one photovoltaic panel member to provide at least one of shade and shelter to the surrounding area in response to information received from the sensor relating to at least one of light intensity, ambient air temperature, precipitation type, precipitation rate, barometric pressure, and wind speed, and wherein the system is operable to collect and gather data related to its own operations then learn to initiate and control at least one of further functions and actions based on past responses to external stimuli and information received from the sensor.
19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the lid comprises a temperature sensor in operational communication with the controller to automatically selectively open the lid and extend components of the system, and wherein the system is operable to collect and gather data related to its own operations then learn to initiate and control at least one of further functions and actions based on past responses to external stimuli and information received from the sensor.
20 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising an outlet operationally engaged with the fluid storage vessel to selectively distribute collected fluids.