WO2019215485A1

WO2019215485A1 - An intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2019215485A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/056989
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dr. Dillip Kumar GHOSE; Sandeep Samantaray
Original assignee: Ghose Dr Dillip Kumar; Sandeep Samantaray
Priority date: 2018-05-11
Filing date: 2018-09-13
Publication date: 2019-11-14

Abstract

The present invention provides an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus and method thereof. The apparatus includes a topographic analyzer configured to monitor a plurality of topographical parameters, environmental parameters and historical environmental statistics of the predetermined area, a fluid detector adapted to be detachably couple to the apparatus and configured to survey each sub-area to detect streams of underground fluid flown within the each sub-area of the predetermined area; a controller configured to process data obtained from the survey to locate at least one point of operation within at least one sub-area of the predetermined area; a driving means to automatically drive the apparatus from the current location to the at least one point of operation to excavate ground at the point of operation; an actuator for activating at least one drilling shaft having a holding end and a drilling end to excavate the ground at the at least one point of operation; a communication module configured to receive empirical data from the operations of fluid detectors.

Description

AN INTELLIGENT AND A SELF-LEARNING FLUID DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF

FI ELD OF TH E I NVENTI ON

The present invention generally relates to the field of underground fluid detection and in particularly relates to an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus and method thereof.

BACKGROUN D OF TH E I NVENTI ON

Groundwater is water located under the Earth's surface. It is considered to be the most precious of all geologic resources due to the fact that m illions of people are dependent upon it for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes. Groundwater occurs naturally in the pores and fractures of rock and sediment. Although Water contained in some m aterials is largely im m obile, water contained in other materials is capable of m igration in response to a pressure gradient. Such reservoirs of groundwater are generally known as aquifers.

Groundwater in most aquifers has a slow rate of natural m ovement, generally less than about 4 cm/hr. The m igration of groundwater is of interest for many reasons. For exam ple, geohydrologists study the azim uth (compass direction) of the m igration and its speed because they provide information on the subterranean formation itself. But it is in the environmental area that determ ination of the azim uth of groundwater m igration is probably m ost critical. Groundwater provides the largest source of usable water storage— accounting for a substantial twenty percent of the world's fresh water supply. Groundwater is subsurface water that fully saturates pores or fractures in soil and rock form ations. For example, a unit of water-bearing permeable rock, or unconsolidated sediment, is called an aquifer when the rock formation can yield a usable quantity of water. Aquifers are replenished by the seepage of precipitation that falls on the land above the aquifer but also can be artificially replenished. However, since groundwater is out of sight, locating usable subsurface water is difficult. I n developing countries— or other regions where water is scarce and where irrigation is essential for crops— accurately finding, managing, and preserving groundwater resources is important to avoid costly drilling work. Furtherm ore, when the groundwater is to be used for drinking water, it is important to identify groundwater of low salinity. Shortage in drinking water supply is an acute global problem . Some of this shortage is caused by extensive leakage of drinking water from water supply system s. There is no good current solution for detecting underground water that is based on I nternet of Things.

I n one solution, a device and a method to determ ine is provided to determ ine whether a water leakage has occurred in ground by m eans of Doppler radar. The device comprises a radar em itting unit for em itting electromagnetic waves into the ground, a receiver unit for receiving signals reflected from a fluctuating water surface, a signal processing unit which band pass filters the received signal to obtain a signal that only comprises the Doppler shifted frequencies, creates a measure of the derivative of the reflected signal and, in a decision processor, compares this measure with a threshold value corresponding to the signal value of the background. If the measure of the derivative exceeds said threshold value a leakage is considered to have occurred.

I n another solution, a system is provided for m apping a depth of an aquifer and determ ining the presence and salinity of water from the aquifer and methods for using the making/using the sam e includes a central processor. One or m ore horizontal loop transm itters can be coupled to the central processor, wherein said one or m ore horizontal loop transm itters produce a first half-sine pulse of magnetic field at a first pulse duration for measuring the resistivity of a ground surface. The one or more horizontal loop transm itters can produce a second sequence of half sine pulses at a second frequency for creating an excitation field for magnetic resonance sounding. A m ulti-turn receiver loop antenna can also be coupled to the central processor, wherein said m ulti-turn receiver loop antenna receives an induced magnetic field from said one or more horizontal loop transm itters that is representative of the depth of an aquifer and the salinity of the water.

System s have been developed in light of these problem s that employ wireless com m unication methodologies, such as the global system for mobile com m unications (GSM) , satellite, and radio frequency com m unication methodologies. Such system s, however, are typically too expensive to deploy for groundwater monitoring, as sets of data are only required periodically. Moreover, such systems require significant electrical power and m any groundwater monitoring wells are located in areas with little or no access to electrical power. There are many designs of groundwater monitoring system s well known in the art, however, considerable shortcom ings rem ain.

A need exists for an improved method and system to locate groundwater accurately and to determ ine the depth, quantity, and quality of the groundwater. A need exists for m echanisms to identify hydrologic and geologic features important to the planning and managem ent of the water resource.

SUM MARY OF TH E I NVENTI ON

The present invention generally relates to the field of underground fluid detection and in particularly relates to an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus and method thereof. I n particularly, the present invention relates to a smart device that is used for detecting underground water.

I n an implementation, an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a user interface configured to receive an input from a user to detect presence of the fluid within a predeterm ined geographical area of a digital map; a topographic analyzer configured to monitor a plurality of topographical param eters, environmental param eters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area, wherein the topographic analyzer is configured to divide the predeterm ined geographical area into a plurality of sub-areas based on at least the plurality of topographical parameters, environm ental parameters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area; a fluid detector adapted to be detachably couple to the apparatus and configured to survey each sub-area to detect streams of underground fluid flown within the each sub-area of the predeterm ined area; a controller configured to process data obtained from the survey to locate at least one point of operation within at least one sub-area of the predeterm ined area; driving means to autom atically drive the apparatus from the current location to the at least one point of operation to excavate ground at the point of operation ; an actuator for activating at least one drilling shaft having a holding end and a drilling end to excavate the ground at the at least one point of operation, wherein the at least one drilling shaft is adapted to include at least three sensors disposed at the drilling end, wherein a first sensor monitors thickness of the particles in a surrounding environment, a second sensor monitors temperature and hum idity in the surrounding environment and a third sensor detects the distance between the drilling end and the at least one stream of the underground fluid; a com m unication module configured to receive em pirical data from the operations of other fluid detectors, wherein the controller is configured to manipulate operations of the actuator based on the outputs of the first, second and third sensors and em pirical data.

I n another implementation, a m ethod for detecting a fluid using an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus is provided. The m ethod includes receiving an input from a user to detect presence of the fluid within a predeterm ined geographical area of a digital m ap; monitoring a plurality of topographical param eters, environmental param eters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area, wherein the topographic analyzer is configured to divide the predeterm ined geographical area into a plurality of sub-areas based on at least the plurality of topographical parameters, environm ental parameters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area; surveying each sub-area to detect streams of underground fluid flown within the each sub-area of the predeterm ined area; processing data obtained from the survey to locate at least one point of operation within at least one sub-area of the predeterm ined area; driving the apparatus from the current location to the at least one point of operation to excavate ground at the point of operation ; activating at least one drilling shaft having a holding end and a drilling end to excavate the ground at the at least one point of operation, wherein the at least one drilling shaft is adapted to include at least three sensors disposed at the drilling end, wherein a first sensor monitors thickness of the particles in a surrounding environment, a second sensor monitors tem perature and hum idity in the surrounding environment and a third sensor detects the distance between the drilling end and the at least one stream of the underground fluid; receiving em pirical data from the operations of other fluid detectors, wherein the controller is configured to m anipulate operations of the actuator based on the outputs of the first, second and third sensors and empirical data.

It is an object of the invention to detect the location and extent of a fluid, especially, water in a perm eable underground stratum containing said fluid.

A specific aspect of the invention is the provisioning of at least one drilling shaft that is adapted to include at least three sensors disposed at the drilling end, wherein a first sensor monitors thickness of the particles in a surrounding environment, a second sensor m onitors temperature and hum idity in the surrounding environment and a third sensor detects the distance between the drilling end and the at least one stream of the underground fluid;

It is another object of the present invention to implement loT (I nternet of Everything) and l oE (I nternet of Everything) and cloud computing for detecting underground water.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a m ore particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered lim iting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRI EF D ESCRI PTI ON OF FI GU RES These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accom panying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus in accordance with an embodim ent of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a flow chart of a m ethod detecting a fluid using an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus in accordance with an embodim ent of the present invention ; and

Figure 3 illustrates a typical hardware configuration of a computer system , which is representative of a hardware environm ent for practicing the present invention.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and m ay not have been necessarily been drawn to scale. For exam ple, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prom inent steps involved to help to im prove understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in term s of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional sym bols, and the drawings m ay show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

D ETAI LED D ESCRI PTI ON :

For the purpose of prom oting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be m ade to the embodim ent illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no lim itation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system , and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

Reference throughout this specification to“an aspect”, “another aspect” or sim ilar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another em bodim ent” and sim ilar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the sam e embodiment.

The term s "com prises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or m ethod that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but m ay include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Sim ilarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises...a" does not, without m ore constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-system s or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as com monly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system , m ethods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be lim iting.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a block diagram an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus in accordance with an em bodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a user interface 102 configured to receive an input from a user to detect presence of the fluid within a predeterm ined geographical area of a digital map. The predeterm ined geographical area m ay be automatically determ ined using a location determ ining unit 104 or m ay be entered by the user. A topographic analyzer 106 is configured to m onitor a plurality of topographical parameters, environm ental param eters and historical environm ental statistics of the predeterm ined area, wherein the topographic analyzer is configured to divide the predeterm ined geographical area into a plurality of sub-areas based on at least the plurality of topographical parameters, environm ental parameters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area. The environmental param eters include one or m ore of tem perature level, hum idity level, light intensity level, soil moisture level, rainfall level and others. The topographical parameters include one or m ore of "slope", "confinem ent", "soil quality”, nearby regions, type of area including hills, plains, dessert etc. The historical environmental statistics include details pertaining to temperature level, rainfall level, m oisture level and others as monitored and stored previously over a [period of time in the cloud database. The apparatus 100 further includes a fluid detector 108 adapted to be detachably couple to the apparatus 100 and configured to survey each sub-area to detect streams of underground fluid flown within the each sub-area of the predeterm ined area. I n an implementation, the fluid detector 108 uses electrolytic tracers detect and determ ine vertical fluid flow rates survey.

I n an implementation, the fluid detector 1 08 m akes use of radioisotope tracers to determ ine flow velocity and direction. I n an im plementation, the fluid detector 108 makes use of therm istors and hot wire anemometers. I n another implementation, the fluid detector 108 m akes use of the Doppler shift in reflected electromagnetic signals to determ ine whether there detect streams of underground fluid (water) flown within the each sub-area of the predeterm ined area. The Doppler shift of frequencies/wavelengths is a phenomenon that em erges when signals are reflected against a moving target. If the signals are em itted towards a target that is m oving relative the position from which the signals was em itted, the wavelengths of the reflected signals will be altered relative the em itted signals. By utilizing this phenom enon it becomes possible to determ ine whether a target is moving by means of em itting signals and detecting the reflected signals. If the wavelengths have become shorter com pared to the wavelength of the em itted signals the target is moving towards the em itting source while longer wavelengths corresponds to the fact that the target is moving away from the signal source. Doppler radar is used to detect amount levels. The principle for this amount level detection resides on the fact that the water level is not constant, instead it will change over the course of long time periods, time periods of the order of m inutes, because of water flow into and out of the system . By letting signals reflect on the water surface during a long tim e it is possible to add up the contributions to determ ine whether a Doppler shift has occurred. This is an expensive and tim e consum ing method.

The apparatus 100 further includes a controller 1 10 configured to process data obtained from the survey to locate at least one point of operation within at least one sub-area of the predeterm ined area. The controller 1 10 is em bedded with suitable processing routines for processing the data obtained from the survey. A driving means 1 12 is provided to autom atically drive the apparatus 100 from the current location to the at least one point of operation to excavate ground at the point of operation. The driving means 1 12 m ay include a propulsion device to move the apparatus 100 to the point of operation. The propulsion device m ay include a motor and propeller at one end of the apparatus 100 that propels the apparatus 100 in a forward and/or backward direction when at the point of operation. The propulsion device may be powered using solar energy or may be powered through a tether to the controller 1 1 0 or other powering device. The propulsion device may include a recessed propeller with an electric m otor and/or m ultiple propellers or impellers. The propulsion device may be battery powered, and may be configured to propel the apparatus 1 00 at the point of operation, but m ay also include other propulsion m echanisms, or m ovement m echanisms, that allow the apparatus 100 to be propelled in partially fluid ground, or dry grounds. For example, the driving means 1 1 2 m ay additionally include wheels or treads coupled to the apparatus 100. I n partially filled partially fluid ground, or dry grounds, the wheels or treads may be engaged to propel the apparatus 100 through the point of operation when the apparatus 1 00 ceases being fully suspended in liquid. Any of the propulsion mechanisms or components may be controlled remotely by a user using a control device.

The apparatus 100 further includes an actuator 1 14 for activating at least one drilling shaft 1 16 having a holding end and a drilling end to excavate the ground at the at least one point of operation, wherein the at least one drilling shaft 1 16 is adapted to include at least three sensors 1 18 disposed at the drilling end, wherein a first sensor monitors thickness of the particles in a surrounding environment, a second sensor m onitors temperature and hum idity in the surrounding environment and a third sensor detects the distance between the drilling end and the at least one stream of the underground fluid. The drilling shaft 1 16 includes a drilling head having a drill bit and a coil inductor concentric with the drill bit, the coil inductor being adapted to generate an electromagnetic field near the drilling head, generating an electromagnetic field while moving the drilling head to excavate the ground until the light em itter of the plug is turned on by the electromagnetic field; visually aligning the drill bit with the light em itted by the light em itter through the sem i-transparent m em brane.

A com m unication module 120 is further provided to receive empirical data from the operations of other fluid detectors 108, wherein the controller 1 10 is configured to m anipulate operations of the actuator based on the outputs of the first, second and third sensors 1 1 8 and em pirical data.

I n an em bodim ent, the fluid is water. I n another em bodiment, the fluid is oil. I n an embodiment, the drilling end of the drilling shaft 1 16 com prises a fourth sensor 1 18 for capturing an image or a video at the drilling end of the drilling shaft 1 16. The fourth sensor 1 1 8 includes a cam era. The sensors are collectively referred as 1 18

I n an em bodim ent, the fluid detector 108 is configured to measure at least under-ground electric field and magnetic field within the sub area to determ ine availability of the stream of underground fluid.

I n an embodiment, the fluid detector 1 08 is supported on a pedestal coupled to at least one group of interlinked fans.

I n an embodiment, the fluid detector 108, the controller 1 10 is configured to manipulate height of the fluid detector 108 relative to the ground.

I n an embodiment, the fluid detector 1 08, the at least one drilling shaft 1 16 comprises a first channel for supplying power to at least one sensor, and a second channel for lifting debris from the drilling end.

I n an embodiment, the apparatus 100 further comprising a distance locator 122 module configured to identify a travel path between a current location of the device and location of the point of operation within at least one sub area of the predeterm ined area.

I n an embodiment, a first motor m echanically is coupled to the drilling shaft 1 16 to impart vertical motion and a second motor mechanically coupled to the drilling shaft 1 15 to impart rotational m otion.

I n an em bodiment, the apparatus 100 includes a water level sensing device having a simple, solar-powered sensor and com m unication m odule that gathers information about the level of water in a borehole-style water well and sends the information to a database that a homeowner can access via a computer, handheld device, or smart phone. The water level sensor tracks the level of water in the well, how it changes over time, the pace of recharge (water replenishment from the groundwater source) , and can be program med to send alerts to interested parties when user-predeterm ined thresholds are reached. The water level sensor and a website enable a well owner to use water m indfully within safe yield, and can help prevent costly water or well shortages, equipment failures, or other emergencies.

The present invention provides significant advantages, including : ( 1 ) the ability to remotely record groundwater data; (2) the ability to rem otely program settings for groundwater m onitoring sensors; (3) providing a groundwater monitoring device that requires little or no maintenance for a period of months or years; and (4) providing a groundwater m onitoring device that can be concealed from view of unauthorized personnel.

The apparatus 1 00 further includes a plurality of additional sensors configured to capture real time inform ation relating to one or more of temperature level, Hum idity level, Light intensity level, soil moisture level in said one or more agricultural areas to be m onitored. The sensors used include a DHT-22 based sensor device. The cloud database 108 is configured to provide real time information relating to status of rain fall level, wind speed level, atmospheric pressure level. The cloud database may also provide information relating to other environment param eters that may be relevant for purposes of detection. A processing device is further provided to compare real time inform ation relating to one or more of tem perature level, hum idity level, light intensity level, soil m oisture level, rain fall level, wind speed level, atmospheric pressure level in said one or more agricultural areas to be monitored with corresponding pre-stored threshold levels.

Referring to Figure 2, a method for detecting a fluid using an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus is provided. The method 200 includes step 202 of receiving an input from a user to detect presence of the fluid within a predeterm ined geographical area of a digital map; step 204 of monitoring a plurality of topographical parameters, environmental parameters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area, wherein the topographic analyzer is configured to divide the predeterm ined geographical area into a plurality of sub-areas based on at least the plurality of topographical param eters, environm ental parameters and historical environm ental statistics of the predeterm ined area; step 206 surveying each sub-area to detect streams of underground fluid flown within the each sub-area of the predeterm ined area; step 208 of processing data obtained from the survey to locate at least one point of operation within at least one sub-area of the predeterm ined area; step 210 of driving the apparatus from the current location to the at least one point of operation to excavate ground at the point of operation; step 212 of activating at least one drilling shaft having a holding end and a drilling end to excavate the ground at the at least one point of operation, wherein the at least one drilling shaft is adapted to include at least three sensors disposed at the drilling end, wherein a first sensor m onitors thickness of the particles in a surrounding environment, a second sensor m onitors tem perature and hum idity in the surrounding environm ent and a third sensor detects the distance between the drilling end and the at least one stream of the underground fluid; step 214 of receiving empirical data from the operations of other fluid detectors, wherein the controller is configured to manipulate operations of the actuator based on the outputs of the first, second and third sensors and em pirical data.

I n an implementation, the m ethod 200 further com prises at least one of: capturing an image or a video at the drilling end of the shaft using a fourth sensor; measuring at least under-ground electric field and magnetic field within the sub area to determ ine availability of the stream of underground fluid; manipulating height of the fluid detector relative to the ground; and identifying a travel path between a current location of the device and location of the point of operation within at least one sub area of the predeterm ined area; and wherein the fluid is water.

Referring to Figu re 3 , a typical hardware configuration of a com puter system , which is representative of a hardware environment for practicing the present invention, is illustrated. The computer system 300 can include a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the com puter system 300 to perform any one or more of the methods disclosed. The computer system 300 may operate as a standalone device or m ay be connected, e.g. , using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

I n a networked deployment, the computer system 300 may operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user com puter in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environm ent. The computer system 300 can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personal computer (PC) , a tablet PC, a personal digital assistant (PDA) , a mobile device, a palmtop com puter, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a com m unications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system , a camera, a scanner, a facsim ile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that m achine. Further, while a single computer system 300 is illustrated, the term "system" shall also be taken to include any collection of system s or sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or m ultiple sets, of instructions to perform one or m ore computer actions.

The computer system 300 may include a processor 302 e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) , a graphics processing unit (GPU) , or both. The processor 302 may be a com ponent in a variety of systems. For example, the processor m ay be part of a standard personal computer or a workstation. The processor 302 may be one or more general processors, digital signal processors, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, servers, networks, digital circuits, analog circuits, combinations thereof, or other now known or later developed devices for analyzing and processing data. The processor 302 may implement a software program, such as code generated manually ( i . e. , programmed).

The computer system 300 may include a memory 304, such as a memory 304 that can communicate via a bus 308. The memory 304 may be a main memory, a static memory, or a dynamic memory. The memory 304 may include, but is not limited to computer readable storage media such as various types of volatile and non-volatile storage media, including but not limited to random access memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable read-only memory, flash memory, magnetic tape or disk, optical media and the like. In one example, the memory 304 includes a cache or random access memory for the processor 302. In alternative examples, the memory 304 is separate from the processor 302, such as a cache memory of a processor, the system memory, or other memory. The memory 304 may be an external storage device or database for storing data. Examples include a hard drive, compact disc ("CD"), digital video disc ("DVD"), memory card, memory stick, floppy disc, universal serial bus ("USB") memory device, or any other device operative to store data. The memory 304 is operable to store instructions executable by the processor 302. The actions, acts or tasks illustrated in the figures or described may be performed by the programmed processor 302 executing the instructions stored in the memory 304. The actions, acts or tasks are independent of the particular type of instructions set, storage media, processor or processing strategy and may be performed by software, hardware, integrated circuits, firm-ware, micro-code and the like, operating alone or in combination. Likewise, processing strategies may include multiprocessing, multitasking, parallel processing and the like.

As shown, the computer system 300 may or may not further include a display unit 310, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED) , a flat panel display, a solid state display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) , a projector, a printer or other now known or later developed display device for outputting determ ined information. The display 310 m ay act as an interface for the user to see the actioning of the processor 302, or specifically as an interface with the software stored in the memory 304 or in the drive unit 316.

Additionally, the computer system 300 m ay include an input device 312 configured to allow a user to interact with any of the com ponents of system 300. The input device 312 may be a num ber pad, a keyboard, or a cursor control device, such as a mouse, or a joystick, touch screen display, remote control or any other device operative to interact with the com puter system 300.

The computer system 300 may also include a disk or optical drive unit 316. The disk drive unit 616 m ay include a computer-readable medium 322 in which one or more sets of instructions 324, e.g. software, can be em bedded. Further, the instructions 324 may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described. I n a particular example, the instructions 324 may reside completely, or at least partially, within the m em ory 304 or within the processor 302 during execution by the computer system 300. The memory 304 and the processor 302 also may include computer-readable media as discussed above.

The present invention contem plates a com puter-readable medium that includes instructions 324 or receives and executes instructions 324 responsive to a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network 326 can com m unicate voice, video, audio, images or any other data over the network 326. Further, the instructions 324 may be transm itted or received over the network326 via a com m unication port or interface 320 or using a bus 308. The com m unication port or interface 320 m ay be a part of the processor 302 or may be a separate component. The com m unication port 320 may be created in software or may be a physical connection in hardware. The com m unication port 320 may be configured to connect with a network 326, external media, the display 310, or any other components in system 300 or com binations thereof. The connection with the network 326 may be a physical connection, such as a wired Ethernet connection or may be established wirelessly as discussed later. Likewise, the additional connections with other components of the system 300 may be physical connections or m ay be established wirelessly. The network 326 m ay alternatively be directly connected to the bus 308.

The network 326 may include wired networks, wireless networks, Ethernet AVB networks, or combinations thereof. The wireless network m ay be a cellular telephone network, an 802.1 1 , 802.16, 802.20, 802.1 Q or WiMax network. Further, the network 326 may be a public network, such as the I nternet, a private network, such as an intranet, or combinations thereof, and m ay utilize a variety of networking protocols now available or later developed including, but not lim ited to TCP/I P hased networking protocols.

I n an alternative example, dedicated hardware im plementations, such as application specific integrated circuits, program mable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement various parts of the system 300.

Applications that m ay include the system s can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer system s. One or more examples described m ay im plement actions using two or more specific interconnected hardware m odules or devices with related control and data signals that can be com m unicated between and through the m odules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encom passes software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

The system described may be implemented by software programs executable by a com puter system . Further, in a non-lim ited example, im plem entations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to im plement various parts of the system .

The system is not lim ited to operation with any particular standards and protocols. For example, standards for I nternet and other packet switched network transm ission (e.g., TCP/I P, UDP/I P, HTML and HTTP) may be used. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same actions. Accordingly, replacem ent standards and protocols having the same or sim ilar actions as those disclosed are considered equivalents thereof.

The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of em bodim ents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be com bined into a single actional element. Alternatively, certain elem ents may be split into m ultiple actional elements. Elements from one em bodiment may be added to another embodiment. For exam ple, orders of processes described herein may be changed and are not lim ited to the m anner described herein. Moreover, the actions of any flow diagram need not be implemented in the order shown ; nor do all of the acts necessarily need to be performed. Also, those acts that are not dependent on other acts may be performed in parallel with the other acts. The scope of em bodiments is by no means lim ited by these specific examples. Num erous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of em bodiments is at least as broad as given by the following claims.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) that m ay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or becom e more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component of any or all the claim s.

Claims

We claim :

1 . An intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus com prising :

a user interface configured to receive an input from a user to detect presence of the fluid within a predeterm ined geographical area of a digital map;

a topographic analyzer configured to m onitor a plurality of topographical parameters, environmental param eters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area, wherein the topographic analyzer is configured to divide the predeterm ined geographical area into a plurality of sub-areas based on at least the plurality of topographical parameters, environmental parameters and historical environm ental statistics of the predeterm ined area;

a fluid detector adapted to be detachably couple to the apparatus and configured to survey each sub-area to detect stream s of underground fluid flown within the each sub-area of the predeterm ined area;

a controller configured to process data obtained from the survey to locate at least one point of operation within at least one sub-area of the predeterm ined area; driving means to automatically drive the apparatus from the current location to the at least one point of operation to excavate ground at the point of operation; an actuator for activating at least one drilling shaft having a holding end and a drilling end to excavate the ground at the at least one point of operation, wherein the at least one drilling shaft is adapted to include at least three sensors disposed at the drilling end, wherein a first sensor monitors thickness of the particles in a surrounding environment, a second sensor monitors tem perature and hum idity in the surrounding environment and a third sensor detects the distance between the drilling end and the at least one stream of the underground fluid;

a com m unication module configured to receive empirical data from the operations of other fluid detectors, and wherein the controller is configured to manipulate operations of the actuator based on the outputs of the first, second and third sensors and em pirical data.

2. The intelligent and self-learning fluid detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water and drilling end of the drilling shaft com prises a fourth sensor for capturing an image or a video at the drilling end of the shaft.

3. The intelligent and self-learning fluid detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid detectoris configured to m easure at least under-ground electric field and m agnetic field within the sub area to determ ine availability of the stream of underground fluid.

4. The intelligent and self-learning fluid detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid detector is supported on a pedestal coupled to at least one group of interlinked fans.

5. The intelligent and self-learning fluid detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to m anipulate height of the fluid detector relative to the ground.

6. The intelligent and self-learning fluid detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one drilling shaft comprises a first channel for supplying power to at least one sensor, and a second channel for lifting debris from the drilling end.

7. The intelligent and self-learning fluid detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further com prising a distance locator module configured to identify a travel path between a current location of the device and location of the point of operation within at least one sub area of the predeterm ined area.

8. The intelligent and self-learning fluid detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a first motor m echanically coupled to the drilling shaft to impart vertical motion and a second motor mechanically coupled to the drilling shaft to impart rotational motion.

9. A method for detecting a fluid using an intelligent and a self-learning fluid detection apparatus, said m ethod comprising :

receiving an input from a user to detect presence of the fluid within a predeterm ined geographical area of a digital map;

monitoring a plurality of topographical param eters, environm ental parameters and historical environm ental statistics of the predeterm ined area, wherein the topographic analyzer is configured to divide the predeterm ined geographical area into a plurality of sub-areas based on at least the plurality of topographical param eters, environmental param eters and historical environmental statistics of the predeterm ined area;

surveying each sub-area to detect streams of underground fluid flown within the each sub-area of the predeterm ined area;

processing data obtained from the survey to locate at least one point of operation within at least one sub-area of the predeterm ined area;

driving the apparatus from the current location to the at least one point of operation to excavate ground at the point of operation;

activating at least one drilling shaft having a holding end and a drilling end to excavate the ground at the at least one point of operation, wherein the at least one drilling shaft is adapted to include at least three sensors disposed at the drilling end, wherein a first sensor monitors thickness of the particles in a surrounding environment, a second sensor m onitors temperature and hum idity in the surrounding environment and a third sensor detects the distance between the drilling end and the at least one stream of the underground fluid;

receiving em pirical data from the operations of other fluid detectors, wherein the controller is configured to manipulate operations of the actuator based on the outputs of the first, second and third sensors and empirical data.

10. The method as claim ed in claim 9, wherein the method comprises at least one of: capturing an image or a video at the drilling end of the shaft using a fourth sensor; m easuring at least under-ground electric field and magnetic field within the sub area to determ ine availability of the stream of underground fluid;

m anipulating height of the fluid detector relative to the ground;

identifying a travel path between a current location of the device and location of the point of operation within at least one sub area of the predeterm ined area; and wherein the fluid is water.