Agricultural Distributor Dew Forecasting Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current field sprayers face challenges in determining optimal application times for plant protection products due to uncertainties in dew formation and its impact on spray distribution, leading to reduced effectiveness and potential over-saturation of plants, especially under varying weather conditions.

Innovation Solution

An electronic computing system equipped with a forecasting tool that uses past, current, and predicted weather data to calculate the degree of moisture coverage on plants, allowing for real-time adjustments in spray application rates and concentrations, and providing warnings when dew levels exceed safe limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If spraying is carried out in the evening, at night or in the morning when humidity is high, then spray application can be performed, but dew forms on plants causing excessive moisture coverage that dilutes the spray mixture and reduces effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespray application capabilityVSAvoidspray effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurement of dew formation on plants before spray application begins. The sensor device detects the actual dew amount on plant surfaces, and the computer uses this advance information to calculate appropriate spray parameters, preventing the problem of applying spray when dew levels are already too high.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors dew formation during the spraying operation using sensor devices that measure moisture coverage on plants. This feedback information is fed back to the computer, which automatically adjusts spray parameters in real-time to maintain optimal application rates despite changing dew conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If spraying is delayed to avoid dew formation, then spray effectiveness is maintained, but optimal application time windows are lost and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespray effectivenessVSAvoidapplication timing flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts spray parameters based on real-time dew measurements rather than following fixed schedules. The computer continuously adjusts application rates and concentrations according to current moisture conditions, enabling flexible operation during previously unsuitable time windows while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If spray application rate is increased to compensate for dew dilution, then coverage is improved, but plant over-saturation occurs and active substance loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespray coverageVSAvoidplant over-saturation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes spray parameters (application rate, concentration, volume per hectare) based on measured dew levels. When dew is detected, the computer calculates adjusted parameters that compensate for the additional moisture without exceeding plant absorption capacity, preventing over-saturation while maintaining adequate coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies spray with locally adapted parameters based on actual dew conditions in each specific area. The sensor device measures dew formation at the actual location, and the computer adjusts spray parameters accordingly, ensuring each area receives the precise amount needed without uniform over-application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If conventional spray application is used without dew consideration, then application speed is maintained, but mixing ratio specifications are violated and active substance effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication speedVSAvoidmixing ratio accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2574235B1Agricultural distributor

Publication Date: 2014.09.10 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG

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AI summary

The agricultural distribution machine has a dosing element that supplies material, particularly crop by liquid in adjustable quantities or adjustable concentrations. A computer (2) has an electronic computing system (1) for determining the humidity degree of coverage of plants on the agricultural surfaces by a program with forecasting tool under consideration of previous or actual or predicted weather data (3). The program is stored in a storage of the computer. An expected dew coverage is calculated by the program. The calculated data is utilized for adjustment of spraying quantity.