Systems and methods for predictive irrigation system maintenance

Abstract

A predictive maintenance system includes an irrigation system including a plurality of components and configured to irrigate a farming area. The predictive maintenance system includes a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a condition of at least one component of the plurality of components of the irrigation system based on network power quality, a processor, and a memory. The sensor is disposed at a center pivot of the irrigation system or at a main disconnect of a utility. The memory includes instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the predictive maintenance system to receive the sensed signal, determine changes in the condition of the at least one component, and predict an unexpected downtime of the at least one component based on predetermined data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A predictive maintenance system for an irrigation system, the predictive maintenance system comprising:
 an irrigation system configured to irrigate a farming area and including a plurality of components;   a sensor disposed at a main disconnect of a utility, the sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a condition of at least one component of the plurality of components of the irrigation system based on network power quality;   a processor; and   a memory, including instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor cause the predictive maintenance system to:
 receive the sensed signal; 
 determine changes in the condition of the at least one component; and 
 predict an unexpected downtime of the at least one component based on predetermined data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of an encoder, a pressure sensor, a flow meter, a current sensor, a power sensor, a voltage sensor, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of components of the irrigation system includes a pump, a pivot, a tower, an end tower, a corner tower, an air compressor, an endgun, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the predictive maintenance system to:
 predict a maintenance requirement of the at least one component based on predetermined data;   transmit an indication of the predicted maintenance requirement to a user device for display; and   display, on a display of the user device, the indication of the predicted maintenance requirement.   
     
     
         5 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the predictive maintenance system to:
 display, on a display of a user device, the predicted unexpected downtime of the at least one component.   
     
     
         6 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein determining changes in the condition of the at least one component includes comparing the sensed signal to predetermined data. 
     
     
         7 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the predictive maintenance system to receive data from a weather station, a field soil moisture sensor, a terrain and soil map, a temperature sensor, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the predictive maintenance system to:
 refine the determined changes in the condition of the at least one component based on the received data; and   refine the prediction of the maintenance requirement of the at least one component based on the refined determined changes.   
     
     
         9 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the predictive maintenance system to display on a display the refined prediction of the maintenance requirement. 
     
     
         10 . The predictive maintenance system of  claim 1 , wherein the prediction is based on comparing a power sensed by the sensor to an expected power based on at least one of a soil moisture directly measured, a soil moisture inferred from weather data from the field and/or regional weather stations, a topographical map, a soil map, a motor RPM, a gearbox ratio, a tower weight, a span weight, an operating condition of the at least one component, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for predictive maintenance for an irrigation system, the computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving a signal, sensed by a sensor disposed at a main disconnect of a utility, indicative of a condition of at least one component of a plurality of components of an irrigation system based on network power quality, the irrigation system configured to irrigate a farming area and including the plurality of components;   determining changes in the condition of the at least one component; and   predicting an unexpected downtime of the at least one component based on predetermined data.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes an encoder, a pressure sensor, a flow meter, a current sensor, a power sensor, a voltage sensor, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of components of the irrigation system includes a pump, a pivot, a tower, an end tower, a corner tower, an air compressor, an endgun, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 predicting a maintenance requirement of the at least one component based on predetermined data;   transmitting an indication of the predicted maintenance requirement, to a user device for display; and   displaying, on a display of the user device, the indication of the predicted maintenance requirement.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 displaying, on a display of a user device, the predicted unexpected downtime of the at least one component.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein determining changes in the condition of the at least one component includes comparing the sensed signal to predetermined data. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving data from a weather station, a field soil moisture sensor, a terrain and soil map, a temperature sensor, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 refining the determined changes in the condition of the at least one component based on the received data;   refining the prediction of the maintenance requirement of the at least one component based on the refined determined changes; and   displaying, on a display, the refined prediction of the maintenance requirement.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the prediction is based on comparing a power sensed by the sensor to an expected power based on a soil moisture directly measured, a soil moisture inferred from weather data from the field and/or regional weather stations, a topographical map, a soil map, a motor RPM, a gearbox ratio, a tower weight, a span weight, an operating condition of the at least one component, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for predictive maintenance for an irrigation system, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal, sensed by a sensor disposed at a main disconnect of a utility, indicative of a condition of at least one component of a plurality of components of an irrigation system based on network power quality, the irrigation system configured to irrigate a farming area and including the plurality of components;   determining changes in the condition of the at least one component; and   predicting an unexpected downtime of the at least one component based on predetermined data.