Abstract

A ground based remote Sensing System for use in conjunc tion with agricultural irrigation Systems. The ground based remote Sensing System includes a Sensor package mounted to a carriage for movement along a track attached to the agricultural irrigation System. The track is triangular in croSS Section and includes Springs between abutting Sections. So that travel of the carriage along the track will not be compromised by misalignment between the abutting Sec tions. The Sensor package is mounted to the carriage by a mount which acts to ensure that the Sensor package remains in a predetermined orientation with respect to the agricul tural crop from which data is being gathered. The mount also includes an inclinometer to permit correction of agricultural data gathering errors due to misalignment of the Sensor package with respect to the agricultural crop. The ground based remote Sensing System also includes conducting rails to transmit energy from a speed control circuit to the carriage motor. The output voltage, and thus the Speed of the carriage, of the Speed control circuit is variable. A traverse direction control circuit reverses the direction of the carriage as it reaches either end of the track So that the traverse direction control circuit and the Speed control circuit col lectively move the carriage continuously back and forth along the track. AS the Sensor package, mounted to the carriage, moves back and forth, it gathers agricultural crop data which can then be downloaded to a computer for processing and analysis.