Disclosed embodiments can provide a system and method for controlling irrigation schedules for a sprinkler system for at least one irrigation zone. The embodiments include automatically updating irrigation schedules based at least in part on watering restriction data from a water authority, such as a water utility authority, and water usage data for a property including the at least one irrigation zone.

A system may include sensor equipment including one or more sensors disposed on a parcel of land, watering equipment disposed on the parcel and configured to selectively apply water to the parcel, and a gateway configured to provide for communication with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment. The gateway may interface between a first network and a second network. The first network may include at least the watering equipment and the sensor equipment. An operator may be enabled to wirelessly communicate with the gateway via the second network. At least one component of the watering equipment or the sensor equipment may be an adaptive component.

A user terminal may be configured to communicate with a gateway. The gateway may be configured to communicate with sensor equipment including one or more sensors and watering equipment via a first network. The gateway may also be configured to communicate with the user terminal via a second network. The user terminal may include processing circuitry that is configured to provide a remote interface for communication with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment via the gateway.

Some embodiments provide systems for use in controlling irrigation, comprising: an irrigation controller configured to couple with one or more valves at a site and to control activation and deactivation of the one or more valves in accordance with an irrigation schedule stored in the irrigation controller; a wireless adapter directly communicationally coupled through a direct wired connection with the irrigation controller; and a network adapter wirelessly coupled over a point-to-point wireless communication path with the wireless adapter, wherein the network adapter is configured to further couple through a direct wired connection with a local router configured to provide communication over a distributed network to a remote server; wherein the wireless adapter is configured to poll the irrigation controller to acquire and locally store status information; and the wireless adapter is configured to communicate, over the point-to-point wireless channel, the status information to the server.

Some embodiments provide a system and method for interfacing with an irrigation controller based on rainfall, the system comprising: an interface unit including a housing and a control unit within the housing and configured to: cause an interruption of one or more watering schedules executed by the irrigation controller, which is separate from the interface unit, based on signaling received from a rain sensor including hygroscopic material, when a sensed expansion of the hygroscopic material is above a set rainfall accumulation threshold parameter, the rain sensor being separate from the interface unit and the hygroscopic material being configured to expand in response to being contacted by the rainfall and to contract in response to an absence of the rainfall; and remove the interruption after a completion of a predetermined interval of time after a sensed contraction of the hygroscopic material indicative of a rainfall stop.

Described herein are several embodiments relating to modular irrigation controllers. In many implementations, the irrigation controllers are modular in that various functional components of the irrigation controller are implemented in removable modules that when inserted into position within the controller, expand the capabilities of the controller. Also described are various different types of expansion modules that may be coupled to the modular controller, having as variety of functions and features, as well as related methods of use and configuration of these modules in the controller. In some embodiments, a serial communication bus is provided between a control unit of a modular irrigation controller and an expansion module.

An emitter forms a flow path that runs to a discharge part from a water collecting part for receiving an irrigation liquid in a tube. The flow path includes a flow rate control part which includes: an end surface including a concave inclined surface that faces a film for receiving the pressure of the liquid inside the tube; a hole that opens at the center of the flow volume control part and connects to the discharge part; and a groove crossing the inclined surface and running to the hole. When the film adheres to the inclined surface as a result of the pressure of the irrigation liquid inside the tube, the flow volume of the irrigation liquid inside the emitter is controlled so as to be a volume that can pass through the groove.

Methods, systems, and devices are described for controlling a sprinkler system, including an apparatus for sprinkler system control that includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable by the processor to receive operation instructions for the sprinkler system from a source that is separate from a control panel of the sprinkler system, and operate valves of the sprinkler system independent of instructions from the control panel.

A cultivation device for watering plants is provided. The cultivation device includes a light source configured to irradiate a plant and a processor. The processor calculates an amount of water contained in the plant based on reflection light of the light reflected by the plant in a certain measurement period, and irrigates the plant with a predetermined amount of water according to the calculated amount of water contained in the plant.

The present invention provides an improved valve assembly and valve controller for controlling the movement of fluid for irrigation. In according with a preferred embodiment, the present invention teaches a system and method for monitoring the status of a valve assembly and for providing “proof of placement” for selected applicants. According to further preferred embodiments, the present invention includes a valve assembly including a valve controller for applying an electric current to a latch valve thereby switching the latch valve from a first flow state to a second flow state. According to a further preferred embodiment, the valve assembly of the present invention preferably further includes a state/current detector which preferably measures the active current being applied to the latch valve and outputs the measured waveform for analysis.