Agricultural system control and feedback loop

Abstract

Agricultural systems have increased in complexity to allow farmers to control the environmental factors impacting a crop. By analyzing data from a plurality, and preferably a large number, of operations, a particular objective for a particular plan may be developed for a particular crop. The equipment at a particular site may then monitor the crop and be controlled by a device, such as an on-site hub, to operate equipment in a manner associated with the particular plan and objective.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server, comprising:
 a processor, comprising logic circuitry and a memory;   a communication interface; and   wherein the processor:
 receives a first signal from a plant monitoring component monitoring at least one dynamic attribute of a plant; 
 accesses a growth plan associated with an objective and crop; 
 determines the first signal indicates an out-of-tolerance state from the growth plan; 
 selects a first control component configured to impact the at least one dynamic attribute monitored by the plant monitoring component; 
 selects a first modification signal in accordance with a first rule, wherein the first rule is selected in accordance with the objective and crop; and 
 signals the first control component with the first modification signal to cause the first control component, upon receiving the first modification signal, to alter operation in accordance with the first modification signal and to cause the dynamic attribute to be in compliance with the growth plan. 
   
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the processor, upon signaling the first control component, receives a second signal from the plant monitoring component. 
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 2 , wherein the processor, upon receiving the second signal, determines whether the second modification signal at least reduced the out-of-tolerance state. 
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 3 , wherein the processor, upon receiving the second signal and determining the second modification signal did not reduce the out-of-tolerance state:
 selects a second modification signal in accordance with a second rule, wherein the second rule is selected in accordance with the objective and crop; and   signals the control component with the second modification signal to cause the control component, upon receiving the second modification signal, to alter operation in accordance with the second modification signal.   
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 3 , wherein the processor, upon receiving the second signal determining the modification signal did not reduce the out-of-tolerance state:
 selects a second modification signal in accordance with a second rule, wherein the second rule is selected in accordance with the objective and crop; and   signals a second control component comprising the second modification signal to cause the second control component, upon receiving the second modification signal, to alter operation in accordance with the second modification signal.   
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the first rule is derived from an analysis of a plurality of observations of prior crops comprising dynamic attributes and a result attribute. 
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 6 , wherein the analysis comprises a multi-dimensional correlation whereby at least one result attribute is determined to be impacted by at least one dynamic attribute. 
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic attribute is determined in accordance with the objective. 
     
     
         9 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the operational parameter further selected in accordance with an operational parameter of at least one control component affecting the crop time to maturity. 
     
     
         10 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the growth plan comprises at least one rule comprising a value of the dynamic attribute to be in compliance with the growth plan. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first signal from a plant monitoring component monitoring at least one dynamic attribute of a plant;   accessing a growth plan associated with an objective and crop;   determining the first signal indicates an out-of-tolerance state from the growth plan;   selecting a first control component configured to impact the at least one dynamic attribute monitored by the plant monitoring component;   selecting a first modification signal in accordance with a first rule, wherein the first rule is selected in accordance with the objective and crop; and   signaling the first control component with the first modification signal to cause the first control component, upon receiving the first modification signal, to alter operation in accordance with the first modification signal and to cause the dynamic attribute to be in compliance with the growth plan.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first rule is derived from an analysis of a plurality of observations of prior crops comprising dynamic attributes and a result attribute. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the analysis comprises a multi-dimensional correlation whereby at least one result attribute is determined to be impacted by at least one dynamic attribute. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, upon signaling the first control component, receiving a second signal from the plant monitoring component. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, upon receiving the second signal, determining whether the second modification signal at least reduced the out-of-tolerance state. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a first server; the first server comprising:
 a first processor, comprising logic circuitry and memory; 
 a first communication interface; and 
   a second server, the second server comprising:
 a second processor, comprising logic circuitry and memory; 
 a second communication interface; and 
   wherein the first processor, analyzes a plurality of observations of prior crops comprising dynamic attributes and a result attribute and derives a growth plan comprising at least one rule;   wherein the second processor:
 receives a first signal from a plant monitoring component monitoring at least one dynamic attribute of a plant; 
 accesses a growth plan associated with an objective and crop; 
 determines the first signal indicates an out-of-tolerance state from the growth plan; 
 selects a first control component configured to impact the at least one dynamic attribute monitored by the plant monitoring component; 
 selects a first modification signal in accordance with the first rule; and 
 signals the first control component with the first modification signal to cause the first control component, upon receiving the first modification signal, to alter operation in accordance with the first modification signal and to cause the dynamic attribute to be in compliance with the growth plan. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the analysis comprises a multi-dimensional correlation whereby at least one result attribute is determined to be impacted by at least one dynamic attribute. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first server, via the first communication interface, communicates with the second server, via the second communication interface. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the second processor, upon signaling the first control component, receives a second signal from the plant monitoring component. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second processor, upon receiving the second signal, determines whether the second modification signal at least reduced the out-of-tolerance state.