Data collection system for irrigation systems

Abstract

The technology described herein provides a dual machine irrigation system. The first machine is primarily an irrigation machine and the second machine is primarily a sensor machine, though it may also distribute liquids. The irrigation machine includes an irrigation span and can include multiple irrigation spans. The sensor machine includes a sensor span and can include multiple sensor spans. The sensor span gathers data that is used to optimize the liquid deployment from the irrigation span. In an aspect, both the irrigation span and the sensor span follow the same path of travel through a field, but at different times. The sensor span is separate from the irrigation span and includes a plurality of environmental sensors that gather data on the field, the field environment, and any crops that may be in the field. The ability of the sensor span to provide real-time data allows for optimization of liquid deployments.