Agricultural Sprayer Height Sensing for Variable-Duty Application Uniformity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spray systems struggle to maintain uniform application rates of agricultural products across varying terrain and vehicle speeds, leading to inefficiencies and non-uniform distribution.
Innovation Solution
A spray system with a height sensor and processor-controlled variable duty cycle for valves, adjusting the duty cycle based on the measured height of the spray boom to maintain consistent application rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spray boom height is varied to adapt to different terrain, then the system can operate on varied terrain, but the application rate becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty cycle of the spray valves in real-time based on height sensor feedback. When the spray boom height changes due to terrain variations, the controller modifies the valve duty cycle to compensate and maintain uniform application rates, transforming a static spray system into a dynamic one that adapts to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates height sensors that continuously monitor the spray boom height and feed this information back to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to adjust the valve duty cycle, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures uniform application rates despite terrain variations.
2Productivity
If the vehicle speed is changed to improve productivity, then more acres can be covered, but the application rate becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty cycle based on vehicle speed changes. When the vehicle accelerates or decelerates, the controller modifies the valve duty cycle to maintain consistent application rates, allowing the system to optimize productivity without sacrificing application uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives feedback on vehicle speed (from GPS or other speed sensors) and adjusts the valve duty cycle accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that application rates remain uniform even when vehicle speed varies to optimize productivity.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed duty cycle is used for simplicity, then the system is easier to control, but it cannot maintain uniform application rates on varied terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically monitoring height sensor feedback and modifying the duty cycle without requiring manual intervention. This automated self-service approach maintains application rate uniformity while keeping the user interface simple and easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically changes the duty cycle parameter in response to height sensor feedback. This automated parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain uniform application rates on varied terrain while keeping the operation simple for the user, as the controller manages the complexity of parameter changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A spray system includes an agricultural vehicle; a spray boom attached to the agricultural vehicle; a tank storing a liquid agricultural product; spray nozzles disposed on the spray boom; fluid lines fluidly coupling the tank to a respective spray nozzle; valves fluidly coupled to a respective fluid line and having open and closed states; a height sensor disposed on the spray boom; and processor(s) in communication with the valves and the height sensor, the processor(s) configured to cause the valves to transition between the open state and the closed state at a frequency and a variable duty cycle, the variable duty cycle based at least in part on a measured height of the spray boom.