Research and Development of Laser-Beam Automatic Grade-Control System on High-Speed Subsurface Drainage Equipment

Abstract

Subsurface drainage methods and materials technologies were modernized more through innovative research and development between 1960 and 1975 than during the previous 100 years. Original research conducted by ASABE Member agricultural engineers who were employed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and worked cooperatively with other ARS scientists and technicians plus scientists at The Ohio State University developed the prototype materials and equipment to test the new drainage technology. High-speed installation of plastic subsurface drains with plow-type equipment was made possible and practical in the late 1960s with the adoption of coilable corrugated-wall polyethylene plastic tubing. However, manual control of depth and grade by the operator of the drain plow at speeds of 35 to 50 m/min was not sufficiently accurate or practical. A laser-beam automatic grade-control system was designed and developed to meet the specific requirements of high-speed plow-type draintube installation equipment. The first use of the laser in agriculture was reported to be in the installation of plastic drain tubing with plow and/or trencher equipment. Through cooperative field trial demonstration projects with university extension specialists and industry representatives, the new technology was transferred to industry for final development and marketing. A laser-plane system, rather than the laser-line prototype tested, was developed by the industry cooperators to project a beacon of laser light (a laser plane) over an entire field. Laser-plane technology subsequently applied in precision land grading for surface irrigation vastly improved irrigation efficiency and saved untold millions of acre-feet of irrigation water worldwide. From this agricultural engineering beginning, laser technology expanded rapidly into many engineering agricultural and non-agricultural fields, including surveying, land leveling and grading, construction (highways and buildings), and military tasks. The laser-beam and laser-plane systems are considered the engineering standard method today for alignment and guidance applications.