G05D7/0617

Methods and systems for use in controlling irrigation

Some embodiments provide systems and methods of controlling irrigation, comprising: communicating an assumption broadcast from a first irrigation controller to each of a plurality of other irrigation controllers defining assumed states of control elements, wherein the control elements are shared with one or more of the first irrigation controller and the other irrigation controllers; determining whether a reply is received from one or more of the other irrigation controllers in reply to the assumption broadcast; identifying, from the reply, a correction to a state corresponding to a first control element; updating state information corresponding to the first control element in response to the identifying the correction; and communicating a subsequent notification from the first irrigation controller to each of the plurality of other irrigation controllers of the irrigation system, where the subsequent notification comprises the updated state information corresponding to the first control element.

FLOW REGIME IDENTIFICATION APPARATUS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS
20170220050 · 2017-08-03 ·

In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to determine proximity to fluid flow regime transition zones at a location in an internal fluid flow based on weighting function values in a continuous parameter space associated with the location, and physical parameter values associated with the fluid flow at the location that are determined by at least one of measurement or simulation. Further activity may include operating a controlled device based on the proximity to a selected one of fluid flow regimes defined by the fluid flow regime transition zones. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Subsea production system with multiple location master control station system

A subsea production system for producing fluids from a subsea well in a subsea field. The production system includes a production facility and a production umbilical connecting the subsea well with the production facility. The production system also includes a control system for controlling production from the subsea well. The control system includes a first redundant master control station system (redundant MCS) at a first location, the redundant MCS capable of controlling production from the subsea well. The control system also includes a second redundant MCS at a second location, the second redundant MCS capable of controlling production from the subsea well. The redundant MCSs are synchronized to keep the same electronic data at both locations and to prevent conflicts in control signals from the redundant MCSs.

System for fluid processing networks

This invention relates to a method of monitoring a fluid processing network having a plurality of fluid processing regions including the steps of: receiving measured current parameter values at known points of the network; determining from the measured current parameter values regions of the network that are active, all other regions being deemed inactive; subtracting inactive regions of the network from a model of the fluid processing network to provide a current active network model; determining current parameter values of the current active network at least at points remote from the known points, the parameter values at said remote points being determined using the measured current parameter values and the current active network model; based on the current parameter values, determining if one or more pre-specified boundaries are breached; and performing a predetermined action if one or more said boundaries are breached.

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FAUCET CONTROL
20170268208 · 2017-09-21 ·

A faucet system for providing adjustable water flow is provided. The system includes hot and cold water valves operable to respectively control a flow of hot and cold water, a sensor pad with substantially continuous sensing axes, and a controller in communication with the sensor pad and operatively connected to the hot and cold water valves. The controller processes user gestures detected using the sensor pad to determine a selected flow temperature or a selected flow magnitude from a substantially continuous range of possible values, and operate the hot and cold water valves to attain the selected flow temperature or the selected flow magnitude. A method is also provided for operating the same, along with a kit for retrofitting existing faucet assemblies in order to form a faucet system.

WATER FLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for controlling water flow in a water distribution system (e.g., irrigation system). In an irrigation system, an interrupt controller may receive control signals from an irrigation controller and data from sensors disposed in the irrigation system, and modify operations of components in the irrigation system based on the sensor data. Based on the analysis, the operation of the irrigation system may be interrupted or modified to optimize the supply of water. The interruption of the irrigation system may be controlled by shutting off the water supply to the entire irrigation system.

Method and devices for equalizing a group of consumers in a fluid transport system

For the purpose of balancing (S3) a group of consumers in a fluid transport system in which each consumer is configured with a motorized regulating valve for the purpose of regulating the flow through the consumer, characteristic data for the consumer is saved (S2) which determines a valve position of the corresponding regulating valve for the target throughput through each consumer. A momentary total throughput through the group of consumers is determined (S32) by means of a common throughput sensor, and based on the momentary total throughput and a sum of the desired target throughputs through the consumers, a balancing factor is determined (S34). By setting (S31) the valve positions of the corresponding regulating valves based on the characteristic data and the balancing factor, a dynamic balancing of the consumers is carried out.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND IMPROVING OPERATION OF SPRAY TOOL
20170259288 · 2017-09-14 ·

A system includes a manual tool data system having a manual tool data monitoring system configured to monitor one or more manual tools, a manual tool data acquisition system configured to acquire data corresponding to one or more operational parameters of the one or more manual tools, a manual tool data analysis system configured to analyze the data acquired by the manual tool data acquisition system, and a manual tool messaging system configured to generate messages based on the data analyzed by the manual tool data analysis system.

DISBURSEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE
20210403163 · 2021-12-30 ·

A disbursement system for a UAV is provided. The disbursement system may include a plurality of disbursement nozzles operable to dispense an agricultural product at variable flowrates, a flow controller responsive to instructions and operable to regulate a volume of the agricultural product dispensed by the disbursement nozzles, and a control system. The control system may include a plurality of sensors operable to monitor a plurality of flight parameters and a processing unit configured to model an effect of the plurality of flight parameters on first flow control instructions corresponding to a prescription coverage of the agricultural product and calculate and output modulated flow control instructions to the flow controller. The control system may modulate the first control instructions to change a flowrate of one or more of the plurality of disbursement nozzles to achieve an actual coverage of the agricultural product that is closer to the prescription coverage.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING VELOCITY PROFILE MEASUREMENTS IN RECOVERING BITUMEN FROM A COARSE TAILINGS LINE
20210382505 · 2021-12-09 ·

The present invention provides techniques for recovering hydrocarbon fluids in a process flow, including recovering bitumen from a coarse tailings line. The apparatus includes a signal processor that responds to signaling containing information about the presence of a hydrocarbon fluid in a process flow; and determines corresponding signaling to control the diversion of the hydrocarbon fluid from the process flow remaining based on the signaling received. The hydrocarbon fluid may be bitumen, including bitumen flowing in a course tailings line. The signal processor receives the signaling from a velocity profile meter having sensors arranged around a circumference of a process pipe containing information about a fluid flow velocity at various levels or heights within the process pipe, including a wrap-around velocity profile meter having multiple sensing arrays located radially at a top position of 0°, a bottom position of 180°, and intermediate positions 45°, 90° and 135°.