Abstract: A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

Abstract: A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

Abstract: A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field.

Abstract: An embodiment includes dividing a map into a first grid comprising a first plurality of cells with a first resolution and into a second grid comprising a second plurality of cells with a second resolution; determining that, because an initial portion of a key of a first cell of the second grid comprises a key of a first cell of the first grid, the first cell of the first grid comprises the first cell of the second grid; storing the first and the second grid in memories of distributed servers, wherein the first cell of the first grid and the first cell of the second grid are stored in a same one of the distributed servers or are stored in neighboring ones of the distributed servers; and directing respective processors of the distributed servers to perform a parallel search of the first grid and the second grid using the keys.

Abstract: An imaging system and use thereof for large-area monitoring with very high temporal resolution are provided. In one aspect, an imaging system includes a camera equipped with curved optics having a field of view of from about 0.01 miles to about 1.5 miles; and interchangeable light filters positioned in front of the camera configured to change one or more of an intensity and an amplitude of light captured by the imaging system. The curved optics may include a hemispherical mirror configured to reflect an image of objects in front of the mirror, and the camera may be positioned facing a reflective surface of the hemispherical mirror so as to capture the image reflected in the hemispherical mirror. Alternatively, the curved optics may include a fisheye lens mounted to the camera. An imaging network of the present imaging systems and a method for use thereof for thermal monitoring are also provided.

Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.

Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.

Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.

Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.

Abstract: An imaging system and use thereof for large-area monitoring with very high temporal resolution are provided. In one aspect, an imaging system includes a camera equipped with curved optics having a field of view of from about 0.01 miles to about 1.5 miles; and interchangeable light filters positioned in front of the camera configured to change one or more of an intensity and an amplitude of light captured by the imaging system. The curved optics may include a hemispherical mirror configured to reflect an image of objects in front of the mirror, and the camera may be positioned facing a reflective surface of the hemispherical mirror so as to capture the image reflected in the hemispherical mirror. Alternatively, the curved optics may include a fisheye lens mounted to the camera. An imaging network of the present imaging systems and a method for use thereof for thermal monitoring are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a spectrometer apparatus comprising a mobile device including an integrated camera, having a camera lens and an image sensor. The camera lens is located within a body of the mobile device that comprises a detachable housing coupled to the body of the mobile device. The detachable housing includes a first end and a second end opposed to the first end. The first end includes an optical input and the second end includes an opening that is substantially aligned with the camera lens. An optical spectrometer device is located within the housing and optically coupled to both the optical input at the first end of the housing and the camera lens at the second end of the housing. The optical spectrometer device receives a target image from the optical input and generates a spectral image that is received by the image sensor via the camera lens.

Abstract: An automated irrigation control comprising crop sensor physically attached to a crop and a light sensitive sensor having a photo-detector for monitoring light intensity of a crop, an irrigation conduit extending along the span of the irrigation zone and adapted to carry fluid, with one or more controllable valves and sensors, growth sensors placed in close proximity of the crop sensors, a computer control system, an irrigation controller, and a communications link between the computer control system, the one or more crop sensor, the three or more growth sensors, and the irrigation controller.

Abstract: A segmented variable drip irrigation system, comprised of a first horizontally disposed conduit and a second horizontally disposed conduit encompassing the first horizontally disposed conduit. The first horizontally disposed conduit passes through a forward end section, a middle section and exits through a rear end section of the second horizontally disposed conduit. The second horizontally disposed conduit contains a drain mounted to its end, at least one flow control valve and a plurality of drip emitters connected to the second horizontally disposed conduit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for deploying infrastructures for variable rate water distribution systems. Embodiments of the present invention can afford users with the ability to control water distribution as well as modify existing infrastructures to meet dynamic target water distribution area demands. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may be used to provide users with accessibility to components for expedited servicing, modification, etc.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for a variable rate water distribution system. Embodiments of the present invention can afford users with the ability to variably deliver water to portions of the variable rate water distribution system. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention provide users with the ability to flush portions of the variable rate water distribution system.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of optical sensors located along at least one pipe segment of a rotating arm that pivots around an irrigation area of a field, the plurality of optical sensors continuously monitors soil and vegetation conditions and transmits sensed data to a central computer, and a plurality of in-ground sensors scattered in the irrigation area of the field, the plurality of in-ground sensors continuously monitors soil conditions and transmits sensed data to a plurality of gateway devices located in the rotating arm, the plurality of gateway devices transmits data from the plurality of in-ground sensors to the central computer where data from the plurality of optical sensors and the plurality of in-ground sensors is integrated with external data to determine water and fertilizer needs based on which an irrigation schedule is created.

Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.

Abstract: An irrigation system is provided and includes a main irrigation line, one or more lateral driplines, each lateral dripline being divided into zones and including a plurality of emitters at each zone and a plurality of controllable valves disposed along each of the one or more lateral driplines at zone borders. Each one of the plurality of controllable valves is actuatable to activate corresponding emitters in the associated zone in a zone by zone cycle and each one of the plurality of emitters is replaceable to vary an amount of deliverable fluid by the zone by zone cycle.

Abstract: A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station.

Abstract: A method of operating a drip irrigation system is provided and includes providing drip irrigation lines aside a diverter line with T-junctions interleaved between adjacent ones of the drip irrigation lines and each T-junction including a three-way line coupled to the diverter line, a check valve operably disposable between the three-way line and a downstream end of an upstream one of the drip irrigation lines to permit fluid flow in only a forward direction and a controllable valve operably disposable between the three-way line and an upstream end of a downstream one of the drip irrigation lines.