Ai-assisted in-situ nutrient sensing system for agriculture
This AI-assisted system uses hydrogel-enhanced sensors for real-time soil nutrient monitoring, optimizing fertilizer use and crop quality. It includes a mobile robotic gateway for data collection, eliminating the need for constant network connectivity.
Overview
The AI-Assisted In-Situ Nutrient Sensing System is designed to revolutionize agricultural monitoring by providing a low-cost, field-ready solution for real-time soil nutrient analysis. This system leverages a dense array of hydrogel-enhanced solid-state ion-selective electrode (ISE) sensors to continuously measure crucial soil nutrients such as nitrate, ammonium, and potassium. By offering immediate insights into soil conditions without the need for extraction or lab work, this solution facilitates optimal fertilizer application and crop quality assurance.
Technical specifications
- Hydrogel-enhanced sensors: These sensors are embedded in the soil, providing continuous, real-time measurements of essential nutrients.
- Self-calibrating system: Each sensor node features a mixed-signal front end that self-calibrates and compresses sensor data, facilitating efficient data transmission.
- LoRa communication: Data is transmitted via LoRa, a low-power wide-area network protocol, reducing the need for constant connectivity.
- Robotic data collection: A mobile robotic gateway collects buffered sensor data, eliminating the need for permanent infrastructure such as cellular towers.
- Integration capabilities: The system can integrate with drone-based hyperspectral and thermal imaging for comprehensive crop growth optimization.
Technology readiness level
Currently at TRL 5, this system has been validated in relevant environments and is undergoing further testing. Planned developments include finalizing sensor housing, conducting farm pilots, and expanding field tests to ensure reliability and effectiveness in diverse agricultural settings.
About University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an R1 public research university with strengths spanning engineering, earth sciences, cognitive science, public health, and business. Signature units include the FedEx Institute of Technology, the Center for Earthquake Research and Information focused on the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and the Institute for Intelligent Systems working at the intersection of AI, learning, and cognitive modeling. Faculty secure competitive funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Defense, alongside partnerships with regional industry. The University of Memphis Research Foundation and UMRF Research Park facilitate technology transfer, startup formation, and corporate collaborations. Application domains where the university is particularly active include logistics and supply chain, seismic hazard assessment, cybersecurity, intelligent tutoring and learning technologies, health analytics, and advanced manufacturing.
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