Abstract: Described herein are soil probes designed to measure the moisture content of soil. Certain soil probes described herein involve capacitive sensing and comprise a pair of conductive layers (e.g., the top and bottom layers) of a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB). To reduce variability and enhance the signal of soil moisture measurements, conductive inserts may be interposed between the soil and the PCB, so that the conductive inserts are in physical contact with the soil and are electrically coupled with the conductive layers of the PCB. Probes described herein can leverage the inexpensive nature of PCB-based moisture sensors with the corrosion resistance and/or mechanical strength of conductive inserts. The probe may be enclosed inside a housing to prevent intrusion of water, dust, and/or other contaminants.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a controllable irrigation and environment monitoring system, devices, and applications, are described. The irrigation system may use a valve on each spray head which may allow each spray head of the irrigation system to be independently controlled. The spray radius and the water flow of each of the spray heads may be individually adjusted. The irrigation system may include sensors which provide feedback and the system may individually adjust each of the spray heads of the irrigation system and may adjust the watering schedule, water flow, and spray radius based on the sensor feedback. The irrigation system may be automated and self-managed and may adjust watering schedules according to an algorithm. The algorithm may use data collected by the system and also may use user-defined parameters such as local watering restrictions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a controllable irrigation and environment monitoring system, devices, and applications, are described. The irrigation system may use a valve on each spray head which may allow each spray head of the irrigation system to be independently controlled. The spray radius and the water flow of each of the spray heads may be individually adjusted. The irrigation system may include sensors which provide feedback and the system may individually adjust each of the spray heads of the irrigation system and may adjust the watering schedule, water flow, and spray radius based on the sensor feedback. The irrigation system may be automated and self-managed and may adjust watering schedules according to an algorithm. The algorithm may use data collected by the system and also may use user-defined parameters such as local watering restrictions.