METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND / OR REGULATING AN AGRICULTURAL SPREADER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling and / or regulating an agricultural spreading machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In the field of agriculture, a wide variety of trailed, mounted, and / or self-propelled agricultural machinery are known. These include, among others, spreading machines designed to apply or distribute material onto agricultural land via distribution devices. Such spreading machines can be configured, for example, as seed drills for applying, distributing, and / or depositing granular material, particularly seeds and / or fertilizer, or as field sprayers for applying a spray solution. Depending on the requirements, the spray solutions can be fertilizers, plant protection products, pesticides, and / or herbicides, and are intended for application to crops and / or to wild vegetation, especially weeds.

[0003] Modern agricultural spreading machines are predominantly automated in current practice and operated using satellite-based position information of the machine and / or the field. It is common practice for the spreading elements of such machines to be controlled and / or regulated based on provided, retrievable, and / or recordable information and / or data. To operate such spreading machines as efficiently and / or easily as possible, so-called section control systems have become established, in which the spreading elements can be controlled and / or regulated in groups, in particular by activating and / or deactivating them. The numerous spreading elements typically arranged on a boom are divided into different sections along the boom.Based on the position information of the spreading machine and / or the working area, and provided information on the spreading machine's configuration, the control system assigned to the spreading machine recognizes, for example, which sections of the spreader, in particular spreading elements, are located above already treated areas or outside the outer boundaries of the working area to be treated and / or processed during application. Furthermore, the control system is configured to control and / or regulate the sections of the spreader, in particular spreading elements, with particularly high precision, especially nozzle-wise and / or by means of switching commands independent of the amount of material being spread, in such a way that the application of the spread material onto already treated areas and / or outside the outer boundary, and thus outside the working area, is at least virtually prevented.One such agricultural spreading machine is described, for example, in publication US 6 216 614 B1.

[0004] Furthermore, distribution machines and / or methods are known from publications WO 2012 / 142396 A1 and WO 00 / 23937 A1, which are also suitable for applying the distributed material to the usable area as required, in particular based on location and / or area specificity, using provided application maps. Such application maps contain at least one initial electronic data set in which the required quantities of distributed material, in particular based on location and / or area specificity, are stored. The initial data set, in particular the application map, is usually generated and / or provided by an operator of the distribution machine or an external service provider. Subsequently, the initial data set, in particular the application map, is read and / or retrieved by a central and / or mobile computing unit before and / or during application.The required quantities of material to be distributed can be specified or stored according to the needs and / or application, either for specific areas or at specific points. In distribution machines and / or processes of this type, it is provided that such stored quantities of material are processed accordingly by a control and / or regulation system assigned to the distribution machine and / or adjusted at the respective distribution elements of the machine.

[0005] Such a method is also disclosed in publication US 2020 / 281110 A1.

[0006] With the described spreading machines and / or methods, the amount of material applied that can be set along the current working width of the spreading machine cannot yet accommodate the relatively high resolution or number of different application rates stored and / or retrievable on the first data set, particularly the application map. As a rule, the number of application rates stored on the first data set exceeds the maximum variation and / or spread of the application rates that can be set and / or applied along the current working width of the spreading machine. In other words, existing agricultural spreading machines typically have only a limited number of setpoint receivers, particularly control units, for processing and / or receiving different setting parameters, especially application rates.Thus, in many situations, the material being spread is applied within the field or along the current working width with a quantity that differs from the intended amount. Points and / or sections along the field are particularly problematic, especially those for which no or almost no material is intended, but which lie within the current working width of the spreading machine, while material is still to be applied elsewhere along that working width.

[0007] In contrast, the control system, particularly independent of the setpoint receivers, can use section control, specifically the application rate-independent switching commands, to control, activate, and / or deactivate a larger number or at least nearly every section, and especially every spreading element. Thus, while section control, and especially the application rate-independent switching commands, allows at least nearly every section or spreading element to be switched on and / or off, it does not allow for the control and / or variation of their individual application rates. Furthermore, it is currently not possible to control, activate, and / or deactivate individual sections, and especially spreading elements, based on the initial data set, particularly the application map, or the application rates stored therein.

[0008] In many situations, the application result could be further improved if the information based on the first data set, in particular the application map, could also be used for section control, especially for control independent of the amount of material being spread. The object underlying the invention is therefore to provide a method that further improves the application accuracy and thus the efficiency and / or yields of existing spreading machines and / or methods in a particularly simple manner.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0010] The invention utilizes the fact that the at least one first data set of an application map comprises all the information required to generate at least one second data set for operating the distribution machine, in particular for activating or deactivating distribution elements. Preferably, by converting the first data set, field-internal application areas are generated along the, in particular electronically mapped, working area within which the material to be distributed is to be applied by the distribution machine. In other words, a kind of inverted field boundary map is preferably generated and / or simulated for controlling and / or regulating, in particular activating or deactivating, the distribution elements, whose field boundaries extend around the individual application areas to be applied on the working area instead of around the actual, in particular outer, field boundary of the working area.This means that, particularly through the application rate-independent section control, all sections, especially spreading elements, are deactivated that are outside such application areas during application. This has the advantage that application or...

[0011] Application to areas where, according to the first data set or application map, no distribution material is planned, is at least almost entirely ruled out.

[0012] The conversion of the first data set and / or the generation of the second data set can preferably be performed at least partially on the mobile computing unit of the distribution machine and / or the central computing unit of the operator and / or the service provider. Particularly preferably, the conversion and / or generation can also be performed entirely on an operating and / or display device assigned to the distribution machine, in particular an operator terminal.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, when converting the first data set or generating the second data set, an application area, in particular of several application areas, is generated and / or simulated around at least one location-based point or at least a partial area, on or within which a quantity of material being distributed exceeds a defined limit value, in particular is greater than zero, as shown on the first data set, in particular the application map. The quantity of material being distributed is preferably stored on the application map in an area-related or time-related unit of measurement, for example liters per hectare or liters per minute or the like, and / or can be retrieved from it.Accordingly, areas of the usable area that fall below the defined limit, in particular those with a stored and / or retrievable quantity of distributed material equal to zero, are excluded from the application areas and are therefore not intended for application with distributed material. Alternatively or additionally, switching commands for the distribution machine that are independent of the quantity of distributed material are generated, which are based on the second data set, in particular the application areas. The switching commands are preferably generated and / or prepared by the central computer unit. Particularly preferably, the switching commands can be generated on the mobile computer unit, in particular the operating and / or display device of the type of an operator terminal, of the distribution machine. Instead of the information and / or data for adjusting setting parameters such as setpoints or...The application rates of the individual boom sections, particularly the distribution elements, preferably only the information for switching on and / or off or activating and / or deactivating the boom sections, particularly the distribution elements, can thus be transmitted within the control system of the spreading machine with a particularly low transmission size. In other words, the information and / or data that can be generated from the first data set are converted into quantity-independent switching commands, in particular activation and / or deactivation commands of the boom sections or distribution elements. Furthermore, such switching commands can be processed by a particularly large number of receivers, in particular nozzle-wise, within the spreading machine, which generally exceeds the number of setpoint receivers and / or adjustment devices of the spreading machine's conveying system for adjusting the amount of material dispensed.

[0014] According to the invention, the terms "material quantity-independent switching commands" or "material quantity-independent section control" refer to the simple switching on or off, or activation or deactivation, of sections or distribution elements. With such switching commands, no parameterizations and / or settings regarding the material quantity are made at the individual sections or distribution elements.

[0015] In a further development of the method according to the invention, the application areas are each formed from or by at least one point, in particular a georeferenced coordinate, and at least one dimension and / or extent specification, in particular a radius or the like. Preferably, such application areas are represented and / or simulated by surfaces that are at least substantially round, in particular circular or oval, the center or midpoint of which is formed by the at least one point, in particular the coordinate. The converted, in particular second, data set thus requires a particularly small data and / or transmission size for representing or simulating the application areas and thus for generating the switching commands independent of the quantity of distributed material, and therefore requires a particularly small effort for evaluation and / or calculation operations by the control system, in particular the computer unit.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, the application area can also be formed or simulated by a large number of points within the perimeter, particularly in the form of a point cloud or similar representation. It is also specifically intended that such application areas be represented by tabular information.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the application areas are projected and / or generated onto at least one individual plant or a plurality of adjacent individual plants stored on the first data set, in particular the application map. The application areas stored on the second data set thus encompass only those areas of the cultivated area on which, according to the first data set, in particular the application map, individual plants, in particular crops and / or weeds, are located. A second data set implemented in this way is particularly well suited for at least nearly pinpoint application of the material, especially for the treatment of individual plants.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the second data set is retrieved on a control and / or regulation system assigned to the distribution machine, in particular a mobile operating and / or display device. Alternatively or additionally, the distribution machine, in particular at least one distribution element arranged on the distribution machine, is controlled and / or regulated by means of the control and / or regulation system based on the second data set, in particular the application areas and / or the switching commands independent of the amount of material being distributed. The respective partial widths, in particular distribution elements, are preferably activated or deactivated based on the switching commands independent of the amount of material being distributed, so that the material being distributed is only applied via the activated partial widths, in particular distribution elements.

[0019] The distribution machine is particularly preferably designed as an agricultural field sprayer, wherein the distribution elements are preferably designed as spray nozzles and / or valves.

[0020] Further details of the invention can be found in the description of the example and the drawings. The drawings show Fig. 1 a schematic top view of an agricultural area; Fig. 2 A a schematic representation of an electronic application map based on the agricultural area. Fig.1 ; Fig. 2B the application card from Fig.2A in a further schematic view; Fig. 3A a first variant according to the invention of delimited application areas in a schematic view; Fig. 3A a second variant according to the invention of delimited application areas in a schematic view; and Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a flowchart of the method according to the invention.

[0021] An example of agricultural land area N in a schematic top view is shown in the Fig.1 The following is shown. Such a view of the cultivated area N can be acquired and / or provided, for example, by means of satellite imagery, a flying device, in particular a drone, and / or by means of image acquisition devices, which are, for example, arranged on a piece of agricultural machinery or a spray boom. The cultivated area N shown here is intended for an agricultural application such as weed control, in particular by individual plant treatment, using a spreading machine 10 designed as a field sprayer. Within the cultivated area N, a large number of plants P of the type of wild growth, in particular weeds, can be seen. Outside the cultivated area N and immediately in front of the outer field boundary 20, a schematically depicted field sprayer 10 can also be seen, which is designed as an example as an implement and coupled to an agricultural tractor Z.Depending on the type of application, the distribution machine 10 can alternatively be designed as an agricultural seeding or spreading device and / or be towed or self-propelled.

[0022] The illustrated field sprayer 10 comprises a storage tank 11 and a spray boom 12 arranged behind it in the direction of travel F. A material to be distributed is provided and / or retained within the storage tank 11, which, for the application shown as an example, is designed as a spray liquid. Here, the spray liquid is designed as a weed control agent, in particular a herbicide, although alternatively, fertilizers and / or plant protection products or the like are conceivable for other applications. Furthermore, granular material to be distributed, for example, seeds and / or fertilizer, is also conceivable instead of the spray liquid. The field sprayer 10 also comprises a fluid-conducting conveying system (not shown in the figures), in particular with at least one pump, at least one valve and / or at least one conveying line, and a plurality of distribution elements designed as spray nozzles.The distribution elements, in particular spray nozzles, which are also not shown in the figures, are coupled to the reservoir 11 via the fluid-conducting conveying system and are subdivided into several sections below and / or along the spray boom 12. Furthermore, the distribution elements, in particular spray nozzles, are designed to apply the material to be distributed, in particular the spray liquid, as required to the cultivated area N and / or the plants P.

[0023] Furthermore, the spreading machine 10 is assigned a control and / or regulation system 200 with at least one mobile and / or central computing unit, in particular in the form of an operator terminal, job computer and / or a personal computer or the like. The control and / or regulation system 200 is designed to control and / or regulate the spreading machine 10, in particular the distribution elements, and thus the application of the material being spread during its passage over the working area N, based on at least one provided initial data set and on satellite-based position information of the spreading machine 10 and / or the working area N. For this purpose, the control and / or regulation system 200 is assigned a plurality of setpoint receivers, in particular control units, each of which in turn is assigned to a plurality of section widths with distribution elements.The setpoint receivers are designed to receive and / or retrieve various setting parameters, in particular specified distribution quantities 30, and to control and / or regulate or adjust the respective assigned partial widths, in particular distribution elements, on the basis of the setting parameters, in particular distribution quantities 30.

[0024] For this purpose, the electronic first data set, in particular the application map, as exemplified in the Fig.2A presented, provided. The first data set, in particular the application map, is based on the previously recorded usable area N, as shown in Fig.1 The first data set, in particular the application map, contains an electronic representation of the area N to be treated and / or cultivated, as well as the required quantities of the applied material 30, in particular location-based and / or sub-area-specific. Instead of the actual plants P, the required quantities 30 of the applied material, in particular the spray solution, are represented and / or stored at the corresponding positions. Based on these quantities, the respective target values ​​for the distribution elements during the pass and / or application are determined by the control system 200. A broken or dashed line is symbolically shown along the actual field boundary 20 of the area N, representing an electronic field boundary 21, which is also stored on the first electronic data set, in particular the application map.Alternatively, at least one additional electronic data set can be provided, which includes the electronic field boundary 21. Furthermore, the electronic field boundary 21 can also be set manually, for example, by driving along the actual field boundary 20. Based on such field boundaries 21, the control system 200, in particular by means of section control, is configured to control the respective sections, in particular spreading elements, by means of switching commands independent of the amount of material being spread, and thus to activate or deactivate them as required. Due to the simpler processing and / or the lower transmission parameters of such material-quantity-independent switching commands, at least almost every section, in particular every spreading element, can thus be controlled individually and at least almost independently of one another.

[0025] Alternatively or additionally to the field boundary 21, the control and / or regulation system 200 can, based on the position information and / or the configuration of the spreading machine 10, detect areas of the usable area N already treated with material during the pass or application and retrieve and / or take this information into account after changing the tramline and / or lane. The control and / or regulation system 200 is also configured to deactivate sections, in particular spreading elements, that are located within or above areas already treated, and thus block or prevent application via the corresponding sections, in particular spreading elements.

[0026] The partial widths, in particular distribution elements, are controlled by the control and / or regulation system 200 during application in such a way that application of already applied areas and / or outside the field boundary 21 is at least almost completely excluded.

[0027] It should be explicitly noted that existing agricultural spreading machines 10 typically have a limited number of setpoint receivers, particularly control units, for receiving various setting parameters, especially the amount of material to be spread. The number of setpoint receivers, particularly control units, is generally exceeded by the number of actual sections of the spreading machine 10. In contrast, the control system 200 can control a higher number, or at least almost every section, particularly every spreading element, by means of switching commands independent of the amount of material being spread, and in particular independently of the setpoint receivers.Thus, the section widths, in particular distribution elements, can be switched on and / or off by the control and / or regulation system 200 with higher precision than different quantities of distributed material can be set via the respective setpoint receivers on the section widths, in particular distribution elements.

[0028] The Fig.2B Figure 1 shows the first electronic data set in an alternative schematic representation. The usable area N and the required quantities of spreadable material 31, particularly those specific to a location and / or sub-area, are stored and / or retrievable in grid form and / or according to the type of individual zones. Within a grid or zone, the required quantity of spreadable material 31 is shown, which is indicated and / or marked, for example, by an area-related quantity value of "0" or "50". A "0" within a grid means that no spreadable material should be applied within that sub-area, while within grids or zones indicated and / or marked with "50", a quantity of spreadable material of 50 liters per hectare should be applied, for example. Alternatively or additionally, other quantities of spreadable material and / or other units of measurement, such as time-related units, are also conceivable.

[0029] Consequently, for the partial widths, in particular the distribution elements, the corresponding quantities of material to be distributed are taken from the application map, in particular from Fig.2A and / or 2B, retrieved and / or posted. It should be explicitly noted again that the following are in Fig.2A and 2B The application cards shown as examples are simplified schematic representations, which may be depicted or represented differently in practice.

[0030] At the respective section widths, in particular the distribution elements, the application map specifies and / or sets the quantities of material 30, 31 within and / or above which the respective section width, in particular the respective distribution element, is currently located in the respective application situation. Since a common setpoint receiver is usually assigned to the entire working width of the spreading machine 10 or to several sections, situations can arise during application in which the current working width of the spreading machine 10 or the sections of a common setpoint receiver are at any given time within or above differently specified quantities of material 30, 31.For example, at least one first section, in particular a first distribution element, can be located above a plant P during application, while at least one second section, in particular a second distribution element, is horizontally spaced from the plant P and thus there is no need for material to be applied via the second section, in particular the second distribution element. Due to the common setpoint receiver of the sections, in particular distribution elements, only one of the different material quantities 30, 31 is set at the corresponding sections, in particular distribution elements, despite the different specified quantities of material.

[0031] In order to achieve and / or ensure that the distributed material is applied almost exclusively only in and / or on those areas of the usable area N, in particular plants P, where there is actually a need for distributed material, the first data set, in particular the application map, is, according to the invention, converted into at least one electronic second data set, as exemplified in the Figuren 3A and 3Bshown, converted. Alternatively or additionally, at least one second data set is generated according to the invention based on the first data set, in particular the application map. The second data set comprises or forms, alternatively or additionally to the required, in particular location-based and / or sub-area-specific, quantities of distributed material, a plurality of separately, in particular delimited, application areas 40 to be applied. Such application areas 40 correspond to the areas along the usable area where an application of distributed material, in particular spray liquid, is actually intended. Areas and / or sub-areas where no distributed material is intended or for which no specific quantity of distributed material 30, 31 is stored are not included by such application areas 40.

[0032] By converting the first data set and / or by generating the second data set, the application areas 40 are each formed and / or simulated around at least one location-based point 41 or at least a sub-area on or within which a quantity of distributed material 30, 31 exceeds a defined limit value, in particular is greater than zero, as shown on the first data set, in particular the application map. In other words, such application areas 40 are each projected and / or generated onto at least one individual plant P or a plurality of, in particular closely adjacent, individual plants P stored on the first data set, in particular the application map.

[0033] Different variants are conceivable for mapping and / or simulating the application areas 40.

[0034] The Fig.3A Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the second data set according to the invention, which is represented and / or simulated here in the manner of an inverted field boundary map. The electronic outer field boundary 21 required for executing the section control or for the quantity-independent switching of the sections, in particular distribution elements, is ignored and / or removed here. Instead, the application areas 40 are each enclosed by an internal field boundary 22, so that a kind of inverted field boundary map is simulated and / or generated. The control system is configured to process and / or take into account such internal field boundaries 22 in the manner of and / or similar to the outer field boundary 21.

[0035] In the Fig.3B A second embodiment of the second data set according to the invention is shown, which is represented and / or simulated in the manner of a georeferenced point map. The application areas 40 are formed in particular by at least one point 41, especially a georeferenced coordinate, and at least one size and / or extent specification, especially a radius R. Alternatively, such application areas 40 can also be formed and / or simulated by other geometries, for example by angular or polygonal shapes.

[0036] It should be explicitly noted that such embodiments are not to be understood solely as illustrated. Rather, such application areas 40 can be stored in electronic form, in particular in text-based and / or tabular form. Specifically, it is provided that in tabular application areas 40, each georeferenced point 41 is assigned a radius R. Alternatively or additionally, each georeferenced point 41 can also be assigned a specific quantity of distributed material 30, 31.

[0037] The following description of the method's functionality applies to both the embodiment in Fig.3A as well as in Fig.3B .

[0038] As soon as the second data record is converted from the first data record or alternatively or additionally generated, it is retrieved on the assigned control and / or regulation system 200, in particular a mobile operating and / or display device of the distribution machine 10.

[0039] Furthermore, the second data set is used to generate the material quantity-independent switching commands for the distribution machine 10, in particular for activating and / or deactivating the partial widths, especially the distribution elements, so that the distribution machine 10, in particular at least one distribution element arranged on the distribution machine 10, can be controlled and / or regulated during the application by means of the control and / or regulation system 200 on the basis of the second data set, in particular the application areas 40 and / or the material quantity-independent switching commands.

[0040] The control system 200 is therefore specifically designed to control the section widths and / or distribution elements during application in such a way that the material being spread is applied by the spreading machine 10 at least almost exclusively within the application areas 40 and / or in the immediate vicinity of the application areas 40. Section widths, in particular distribution elements, which during application are located outside the application areas 40, are not affected. Fig.3 The application areas 40 shown are deactivated by the control and / or regulation system 200, in particular regardless of the respective setpoint receiver of the specified quantities of distributed material 30, 31. Conversely, the distributed material is only released via the partial width(s) whose distribution element(s) are located within and / or above the application areas 40 during application.

[0041] The Fig.4 Figure 1 shows a schematic flowchart according to the invention of a method for controlling and / or regulating an agricultural distribution machine 10, in particular a field sprayer, which is designed to apply material to an agricultural area N.

[0042] The method according to the invention is initiated by the step: 100) providing at least one electronic first data set, in particular an application map, in which the usable area N to be treated and / or processed and required quantities of distributed material 30, 31, in particular location-based and / or sub-area-specific, are stored.

[0043] The following step is then performed: 110) Reading and / or retrieving the first data record, in particular the application map, on a mobile and / or central computing unit.

[0044] After the first electronic data record, in particular the application map, has been read and / or retrieved, one of the following steps is performed: 120) Converting the first data set, in particular the application map, into at least one second electronic data set; or 121) Generating the at least one second data set on the basis of the first data set, in particular the application map.

[0045] The conversion of the first data set, in particular the application map, or the generation of the second data set can alternatively or additionally be supplemented or replaced by at least one of the following: 122) Generating and / or simulating an application area 40, in particular several application areas 40, to define at least one location-based point 41 or at least a partial area on or within which, on the first data set, in particular the application map, a quantity of distributed material 30, 31 exceeds a defined limit, in particular is greater than zero; and / or 123) Generating switching commands for the distribution machine 10 that are independent of the quantity of distributed material and are based on the second data set, in particular the application areas 40.

[0046] After the second data set and / or the distribution quantity-independent switching commands have been generated and / or made available, at least one of the following steps can be carried out alternatively or additionally: 130) Retrieving the second data set on a control and / or regulation system 200 assigned to the distribution machine 10, in particular a mobile operating and / or display device; and / or 131) Controlling and / or regulating the distribution machine 10, in particular at least one distribution element arranged on the distribution machine 10, by means of the control and / or regulation system 200 on the basis of the second data set, in particular the application areas 40 and / or the switching commands independent of the quantity of distributed material. Bezugszeichenliste

[0047] 10 Agricultural spreading machine, field sprayer 11 Storage container 12 Spray boom 20 Actual field boundary 21 Electronic outer field boundary 22 Internal field boundary 30 Amount of material applied, point-resolved 31 Amount of material applied, partial area-resolved 40 Application area 41 Point, center of the application area 200 Tax and / or control system F Direction of travel N Agricultural land PP Plant R Radius of application area ZZ Tractor

Claims

1. Method for open-loop and / or closed-loop control of an agricultural distribution machine (10), in particular a field sprayer, which is designed to apply distribution material to an agricultural area (N), comprising the steps of: - providing at least one application map in which the area (N) to be treated and / or worked and required distribution material quantities (30, 31) are stored in a location-based and / or partial-area-specific manner; and - reading and / or retrieving the application map on a mobile and / or central computer unit; characterized by the step of: - converting the application map into at least one electronic second data set; or - generating at least one second data set on the basis of the application map; the second data set comprising and / or depicting, alternatively or in addition to the required distribution material quantities (30, 31), a plurality of separate, preferably delimited application regions (40) in which application is to take place, and the distribution material being applied by the distribution machine (10) preferably at least almost exclusively within the application regions (40) and / or in the vicinity of the application regions (40).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, when converting the first data set or when generating the second data set, at least one of the following steps is carried out: - generating and / or simulating an application region (40), in particular a plurality of application regions (40), around at least one location-based point (41) or at least one partial area, at or within which, in the first data set, in particular the application map, a distribution material quantity (30, 31) exceeds a defined limit value, in particular is greater than zero; and / or - generating switching commands for the distribution machine (10) which are independent of the distribution material quantity and are based on the second data set, in particular the application regions (40).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the application regions (40) are each formed from or by at least one point (41), in particular a georeferenced coordinate, and at least one size and / or extent specification, in particular a radius (R).

4. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the application regions (40) are each projected and / or generated on at least one individual plant stored in the first data set, in particular the application map, or on a plurality of adjacent individual plants.

5. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one of the following steps: - retrieving the second data set on an open-loop and / or closed-loop control system (200) associated with the distribution machine (10), in particular a mobile operating and / or display means; and / or - controlling the distribution machine (10), in particular at least one distribution element arranged on the distribution machine (10), in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner by means of the open-loop and / or closed-loop control system (200) on the basis of the second data set, in particular on the basis of the application regions (40) and / or the switching commands independent of the distribution material quantity.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the distribution machine (10) comprises a plurality of distribution elements which are each assigned in groups to one of a plurality of partial widths of the distribution machine (10), the distribution material being released via the partial width or partial widths whose distribution element or distribution elements are located within and / or above the application regions (40) during application.

7. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distribution machine (10) is designed as an agricultural field sprayer.