Agricultural Nozzle Actuation for Spray Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spray systems face challenges in ensuring the quality of application due to various factors affecting spray conditions, such as airflow, nozzle tip size, application rate, target location, weather, and vehicle movement, which can lead to inconsistent distribution of agricultural products.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural system comprising nozzle assemblies and actuators that can move between positions, coupled with sensing systems and a computing system to identify targets and adjust nozzle activation times based on captured data from target sensors and condition sensors, ensuring accurate alignment and application of agricultural products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If spray nozzles are used to disperse agricultural product onto the field, then agricultural product application is achieved, but spray quality becomes inconsistent due to various factors affecting spray conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of nozzle positions and spray parameters based on real-time sensor data. The system continuously monitors spray conditions and automatically modifies nozzle operation to maintain optimal spray quality despite varying environmental and operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs sensors to monitor spray conditions and feeds this information back to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts nozzle positions, spray rates, and other parameters to compensate for conditions such as wind, terrain, and vehicle movement, thereby maintaining consistent spray quality.
2Measurement precision
If nozzle assemblies are positioned fixedly, then device complexity is reduced, but spray accuracy deteriorates due to inability to adapt to target location and spray conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms fixed nozzle assemblies into dynamically adjustable components. Nozzles can be positioned and oriented in real-time based on target location and spray conditions, enabling precise application while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs nozzle assemblies that can perform multiple functions: they can be positioned at different locations, oriented at various angles, and adjusted for different spray patterns. This multi-functionality allows a single nozzle system to handle diverse application scenarios without requiring multiple specialized components.
3Manufacturing precision
If spray operation is performed without real-time monitoring, then device complexity is minimized, but application quality deteriorates due to unmonitored spray conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that continuously monitor spray conditions such as airflow, pressure, and environmental factors. This feedback information is processed by the control system to make real-time adjustments, ensuring high application quality while keeping the monitoring system integrated and efficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment based on sensor data. The monitoring system serves the spray operation by automatically detecting conditions and triggering appropriate responses, eliminating the need for external monitoring and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural system can include a product application system including one or more nozzle assemblies an actuator configured to move the one or more nozzle assemblies between a first position and a second position. A target sensor can be configured to capture data indicative of one or more features within a field. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the product application system and the target sensor. The computing system can be configured to identify a target within the field based on the data from the target sensor, determine a nozzle activation time defined by a period between capturing of the data from the target sensor and a nozzle spray fan aligning with the target, and activate the actuator to move the one or more nozzle assemblies between the first position and the second position based on the nozzle activation time deviating from a defined nozzle time range.