IMPROVEMENT OF A COMBINED IRRIGATION SYSTEM BASED ON REMOTE CONTROL OF SPRINKLING MACHINES

The article is devoted to eliminating the main operational drawback of the technological process of semi-stationary sprinkler systems, which lies in the manual switching of irrigation nozzles. For this purpose, a comparative analysis of existing technical solutions for remote irrigation control was conducted, revealing that radio control is currently the most promising and economically feasible approach. The development of an automated irrigation control system (AICS) based on radio transmission was carried out taking into account the key criteria, including a data exchange rate of no more than 1 second, a stable communication range of at least 2000 meters, and the capacity to manage no fewer than 200 devices from one control unit. Based on the described criteria, a structural layout of the AICS was developed, consisting of a control unit and receiver nodes. The control unit includes a programming and command transmission module mounted on the central tower. A receiver node comprises a control module with a battery pack, fixed on a support tripod, and an electromagnetic valve replaceable with a disc shutter. The component base for the control module was selected, including a microcontroller, radio module, display, keyboard, and antenna. An electromechanical relay for switching the power circuit of the solenoid valve is additionally installed in the receiver node. The operating algorithm of the AICS, involving the sequential switching of sprinklers, is described. It is implemented by transmitting commands from the control unit to a specific receiver module to open or close the water supply regulating valve. The developed system provides autonomy for at least 150 days with a signal transmission range of up to 6000 meters. Modernizing semi-stationary systems with the AICS does not require high capital costs due to the adaptability of its design solutions, while significantly reducing labor input compared to manual switching.