Crop Row Spray Control for Faster Weed Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural spraying devices face a conflict between detecting plant rows and identifying weeds effectively, as high-resolution images for weed detection limit operating speed due to increased image processing time and geometric distance constraints, affecting the accuracy and speed of crop protection chemical application.
Innovation Solution
The method involves monitoring a field section using an optical and/or infrared detection unit, identifying plant rows, defining plant and weed regions, and applying a spray based on a plant value determined in a specified evaluation portion, allowing for increased operating speed by parallel processing of image sizes and optimizing reaction paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-resolution images are used for weed detection, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time increases and operating speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitored field section is divided into multiple evaluation portions, with only selected portions being processed for weed detection. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high measurement precision in the selected portions while reducing overall processing time and increasing operating speed by not processing the entire field section at full resolution.
2Measurement precision
If the length of the monitored field section is increased, then plant row detection quality is improved, but the reaction time for spray application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The monitored field section is divided into multiple evaluation portions along the direction of travel. By selecting only certain evaluation portions for detailed processing, the system maintains adequate plant row detection quality while reducing the total processing time and increasing the geometric distance between detection and spray application points.
Solution Approach 2:
Plant rows are identified in advance across the entire monitored field section, and this information is stored for later use. During spray application, the system only needs to process selected evaluation portions using the pre-identified plant row information, which reduces real-time processing time while maintaining detection quality.
3Loss of time
If the geometric distance between camera and nozzle is increased, then reaction time is improved, but image resolution for weed detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes only selected evaluation portions of the monitored field section at high resolution, while other portions are processed at lower resolution or skipped. This allows the camera to be positioned at a greater geometric distance from the nozzle (improving reaction time) while maintaining sufficient image resolution in the selected evaluation portions for accurate weed detection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the maximum traveling and operating speed of agricultural spraying devices by reducing processing time and increasing reaction paths, enabling efficient and accurate application of crop protection chemicals without the need for plant classification.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring a field section of the field having plants, with the aid of an optical and/or infrared detection unit
Implementation Method 2
monitoring a field section of the field having plants, with the aid of an optical and/or infrared detection unit
Data Source
AI summary
A method for applying a spray to a field using an agricultural spraying device. The method includes: monitoring a field section of the field having plants, using an optical and/or infrared detection unit; identifying at least one row of plants in the monitored field section using a processing unit; using the processing unit, defining a plant region including the at least one identified row of plants in a specified evaluation portion of the monitored field section, using the at least one identified row of plants and a weed region different from the plant region; ascertaining a plant value of the weed region in the specified evaluation portion of the monitored field section using the processing unit; and applying the spray to the weed region of the specified evaluation portion as a function of the ascertained plant value, using spray nozzles of the agricultural spraying device.