Intelligent control of agricultural irrigation system based on wireless sensor and actuator networks

Optimizing water usage is the primary objective of intelligent and eco-friendly agricultural irrigation systems. In irrigation systems, the flow and pressure of water is usually regulated by controlling the position of the valve. The proportioning electronic actuator accepts a signal from the control system and moves the valve to allow the valve to partially open or close. Varying speed of pump motor can also control the usage of water. The integration of wireless sensor and actuator networks (WSANs) into irrigation management promises to overcome the excessive watering problem while providing additional functionality. This paper presents a case study on the use of WSAN for irrigation activities and investigates the application of fuzzy logic based valve aperture control. The results show that the proposed strategy can be effective in water flow control.