Abstract: A sensor system for collecting data regarding sub-surface material characteristics may include a multitude of sensor nodes, a data gateway, and a controller. Each sensor node may include a power supply and a communication device and the multitude of sensor nodes may include sensors distributed between underground sensor nodes and/or partially-exposed sensor nodes to collect data regarding sub-surface material characteristics. The data gateway may be coupled with any combination of the sensor nodes through wireless transmission data pathways and may receive and store at least some of the data collected by the one or more sensors. The controller may receive the data generated by the one or more sensors from the data gateway and display at least a portion of the data.

Abstract: A sensor probe for underground soil measurement is provided. The sensor probe includes one or more first sensor circuits, one or more second sensor circuits, a power supply, and a processor. The processor is configured to control at least one of the one or more first sensor circuits or the one or more second sensor circuits. One or more of the first sensor circuits include an oscillator configured to generate a periodic wave, and a transmitter configured to transmit one or more signals. One or more of the second sensor circuits includes an oscillator configured to generate a periodic wave, and a probe element configured to receive the one or more signals via at least one of the transmitter of the one or more first sensor circuits or a transmitter of one or more additional first sensor circuits of an additional sensor probe.

Abstract: A sensor system for collecting data regarding sub-surface material characteristics may include a multitude of sensor nodes, a data gateway, and a controller. Each sensor node may include a power supply and a communication device and the multitude of sensor nodes may include sensors distributed between underground sensor nodes and/or partially-exposed sensor nodes to collect data regarding sub-surface material characteristics. The data gateway may be coupled with any combination of the sensor nodes through wireless transmission data pathways and may receive and store at least some of the data collected by the one or more sensors. The controller may receive the data generated by the one or more sensors from the data gateway and display at least a portion of the data.

Abstract: A sensor system for collecting data regarding sub-surface material characteristics may include a multitude of sensor nodes, a data gateway, and a controller. Each sensor node may include a power supply and a communication device and the multitude of sensor nodes may include sensors distributed between underground sensor nodes and/or partially-exposed sensor nodes to collect data regarding sub-surface material characteristics. The data gateway may be coupled with any combination of the sensor nodes through wireless transmission data pathways and may receive and store at least some of the data collected by the one or more sensors. The controller may receive the data generated by the one or more sensors from the data gateway and display at least a portion of the data.

Abstract: A system for collecting data associated with one or more sub-surface characteristics of a material is provided. The system may include a plurality of sensor nodes configured to collect data regarding the one or more sub-surface material characteristics and transmit the collected data to a data gateway. The data gateway may be configured to receive the collected data from the plurality of sensor nodes and store the collected data in memory. The system may also include a controller configured to receive the collected data from the data gateway via a network. The controller may be further configured to display data associated with the one or more sub-surface material characteristics.

Abstract: A sensor probe for underground soil measurement is provided. The sensor probe includes one or more first sensor circuits, one or more second sensor circuits, a power supply, and a processor. The processor is configured to control at least one of the one or more first sensor circuits or the one or more second sensor circuits. One or more of the first sensor circuits include an oscillator configured to generate a periodic wave, and a transmitter configured to transmit one or more signals. One or more of the second sensor circuits includes an oscillator configured to generate a periodic wave, and a probe element configured to receive the one or more signals via at least one of the transmitter of the one or more first sensor circuits or a transmitter of one or more additional first sensor circuits of an additional sensor probe.

Abstract: A self-monitoring and self-controlling smart irrigation system is provided. The smart irrigation system may include a plurality of tower control units, which tower control units include one or more processors, one or more memory units, and communication circuitry. The tower control units may be configured to determine one or more operational conditions of the smart irrigation system, to communicate to other tower control units the operational conditions, and to make adjustments based on the operational conditions. The tower control units may be configured for expedient and efficient replacement and maintenance in that they may be readily detachable from the smart irrigation system.

Abstract: A system for collecting data associated with one or more sub-surface characteristics of a material is provided. The system may include a plurality of sensor nodes configured to collect data regarding the one or more sub-surface material characteristics and transmit the collected data to a data gateway. The data gateway may be configured to receive the collected data from the plurality of sensor nodes and store the collected data in memory. The system may also include a controller configured to receive the collected data from the data gateway via a network. The controller may be further configured to display data associated with the one or more sub-surface material characteristics.

Abstract: An electric circuit for remotely starting and controlling the direction of a center pivot irrigation system comprises a first transformer, a second transformer, a first relay, a second relay, a third relay, and a fourth relay. The first transformer is coupled to a voltage source with a first voltage and may step the first voltage down to a second voltage. The second transformer is coupled to the first transformer, receiving a third voltage and stepping the third voltage up to a fourth voltage. The first relay may include contacts that are open when the irrigation system is started remotely. The second relay may include contacts that are closed when the irrigation system is started remotely. The third relay may include contacts that are closed momentarily to drive the system in a first direction. The fourth relay may include contacts that are closed momentarily to drive the system in a second direction.

Abstract: An electric circuit for remotely starting and controlling the direction of a center pivot irrigation system comprises a first transformer, a second transformer, a first relay, a second relay, a third relay, and a fourth relay. The first transformer is coupled to a voltage source with a first voltage and may step the first voltage down to a second voltage. The second transformer is coupled to the first transformer, receiving a third voltage and stepping the third voltage up to a fourth voltage. The first relay may include contacts that are open when the irrigation system is started remotely. The second relay may include contacts that are closed when the irrigation system is started remotely. The third relay may include contacts that are closed momentarily to drive the system in a first direction. The fourth relay may include contacts that are closed momentarily to drive the system in a second direction.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for targeting a geometric feature (12) in a medical implant (14) located in a patient (16), such as a transverse bore (12) in an intramedullary nail (14) implanted in a femur (18) of a patient (16). The system (10) includes one or more emitters (20), one or more receptors (22), and a processor (24). The emitter(s) emits at least one of an acoustic field, a magnetic field, an electric field, or an electromagnetic field that will be altered by the geometric feature (12), and the receptor(s) (22) detects the altered field and generates a signal (26) responsive to the altered field. The processor receives the signal and generates a representation of the altered field.