Modular Weed Control System for High-Speed Rail Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rail vehicles equipped for weed control are limited by slow speeds due to long computation times required for weed recognition, making them inflexible and inefficient for high-speed operations.
Innovation Solution
A modular system for weed control comprising a control and monitoring module, a herbicide and mixing module, and a camera module, where the camera module is positioned ahead of the nozzle rod to generate weed signals, allowing for real-time processing and herbicide application at higher speeds, with the system being modular and adaptable for different configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera system is used for weed recognition, then weed control can be achieved, but the rail vehicle is limited to slow speeds due to long computation times
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module is positioned at a distance in front of the control unit to capture images of weeds before the rail vehicle reaches them. This preliminary action allows the control unit to process the images and determine weed locations in advance, enabling herbicide application at higher speeds without missing the target weeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into spatially separated modules: the camera module is positioned ahead of the control unit and nozzle rod. This segmentation allows the camera to capture images at a distance, providing the control unit with sufficient time to process the data and generate control signals for targeted herbicide application, thereby resolving the speed-computation time contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If a camera system with long computation time is used, then accurate weed recognition is achieved, but the system becomes inflexible for high-speed operations
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the camera module ahead of the control unit, the system performs weed detection in advance. This preliminary action allows accurate image processing and weed identification to be completed before the vehicle reaches the weeds, enabling the system to adapt to higher speeds while maintaining recognition accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a spatial dimension by positioning the camera at a distance in front of the control unit. This dimensional separation creates time buffer that allows accurate computation to occur in advance, making the system adaptable to various speeds including high-speed operations.
3Device complexity
If the camera module is positioned close to the nozzle rod, then the system structure is compact, but there is insufficient time for processing at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module is positioned at a distance in front of the nozzle rod, allowing it to capture weed images before the vehicle reaches that location. This preliminary action provides the control unit with sufficient time to process the images and generate control signals, preventing time loss at high speeds while maintaining a manageable system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the camera module and nozzle rod into separate spatial locations along the direction of motion. This segmentation creates a time buffer that allows image processing to occur in advance, resolving the conflict between structural compactness and sufficient processing time at high speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a modular system for weed control for a rail vehicle. The modular system has a control unit for producing control signals for controlling valves and miners in a separate herbicide and mixing module and for producing a second set of control signals for controlling valves of a nozzle rod. The herbicide and mixing module has a container for holding different herbicides and electrical connection elements for connections to the control unit. Furthermore, a nozzle rod is present, which is fitted with a nozzle set, in order to spray herbicides of the herbicide and mixing module. In addition, a camera module is present, which produces a weed signal in response to the detection of a weed, in order to control the spraying of the herbicides. The camera module is at such a distance from the nozzle rod that, despite high speed, there is sufficient time to provide the herbicide at the nozzles.