Crop Recognition Control for Selective Spraying and Hoeing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural operating devices fail to account for the irregular and non-homogeneous distribution of plant leaves, leading to inefficient spraying and hoeing treatments, resulting in wasted agronomic products and environmental damage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with recognition means to identify vegetable elements' position and volume, using optical detectors and processing units to adjust operating members in real-time, optimizing treatment delivery based on spatial-temporal disposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If operating members are driven continuously without considering plantation conformation, then the operating device can maintain simple continuous operation, but treatment efficiency decreases and agronomic product is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The operating members are transformed from continuous static operation to dynamic selective operation. The control unit receives real-time spatial data from optical detectors and dynamically activates only those operating members positioned to treat detected vegetable elements, converting the system from a static continuous spray/hoe pattern to a dynamic selective pattern that adapts to the actual plantation conformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment application is changed from uniform global application to localized selective application. Each operating member's activation is determined by its specific spatial relationship to detected vegetable elements, ensuring that treatment is applied only where needed based on local plantation conditions rather than uniformly across all zones.
2Productivity
If sprayer operates in constant non-programmed manner, then operation is simple and continuous, but spraying efficiency decreases and environmental damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A feedback loop is established where optical detectors continuously scan the plantation, identify vegetable elements and their spatial positions, transmit this information to the control unit, which then activates appropriate spray nozzles. This closed-loop system replaces the open-loop constant spraying mode, using real-time spatial information feedback to dynamically control spray application and prevent environmental harm from unnecessary spraying.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of vegetable elements before treatment application. The optical detectors scan and map the plantation conformation in advance, allowing the control unit to pre-determine which operating members should be activated, ensuring treatment is applied only to areas that require it before any agronomic product is released.
3Manufacturing precision
If hoeing device does not account for row position, then operation is simple and continuous, but hoeing precision decreases and rows are not properly treated
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical system for determining row positions and hoeing timing is replaced with an optical detection and electronic control system. Optical detectors capture spatial information about vegetable element positions, the control unit processes this data to determine precise hoeing locations, and electronic signals activate the appropriate operating members, replacing purely mechanical continuous operation with sensor-based precision control.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus (10) for recognizing one or more vegetable elements (O) of a plantation (P), provided with connection means (14) configured to connect to an operating device (15, 115) having a plurality of operating members (19, 20, 119) and adjustment means (25, 26, 126, 127) to drive the operating members (19, 20, 119). The apparatus (10) also comprises recognition means (29) configured to recognize the vegetable elements (O), and a control unit (27) connected to said recognition means (29) and configured to selectively command the adjustment means (25, 26, 126, 127) as a function of the relative position between the one or more vegetable elements (O) and the operating members (19, 20, 119).