US Patent 10018611 Soil compaction system and method

The invention relates to a method of, and system for, obtaining an indication of the soil strength of soil over which a compactor roller travels. The method includes determining the depth to which a drum of the compactor roller penetrates into and depresses the soil when the compactor roller travels over a soil surface. The system includes a compactor roller, a measuring arrangement and a processor which is operatively connected to the measuring arrangement and which is configured to process data received from the measuring arrangement. The measuring arrangement includes an inertial measurement unit which is operatively connected to the compactor roller, wherein the arrangement is configured to obtain an indication of the soil strength of soil over which the compactor roller travels during operation, by determining the depth to which the drum penetrates into and depresses the soil over which it travels.