Agricultural Nozzle Duty Cycle Control for Consistent Spray Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spray systems lack an effective method to monitor and adjust the flow conditions of agricultural products during spray operations, leading to inconsistencies in application quality across fields.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a sensing system to capture data on agricultural product flow conditions and boom movement, coupled with a computing system that receives target application conditions and generates duty cycle commands to adjust nozzle operation based on comparisons between target and detected conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional spray systems are used without monitoring, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the application quality is inconsistent and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect actual spray parameters (flow rate, pressure, boom position) and feeds this information back to a controller that adjusts nozzle operation in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures consistent application quality by continuously correcting deviations from target parameters, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment systems with automated electronic control. Sensors and controllers substitute for manual monitoring and adjustment, enabling precise application quality control while maintaining operational simplicity through automation. This substitution resolves the contradiction by transferring complexity from manual operation to automated systems.
2Productivity
If manual monitoring and adjustment is used, then the system is simpler, but the productivity and consistency of spray operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spray system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment through integrated sensors and automated control. The system monitors its own performance parameters and automatically corrects deviations without external intervention, enabling consistent high-productivity operation. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by automating the monitoring function, improving productivity while containing complexity within the automated system.
3Reliability
If no flow condition monitoring is implemented, then the system is simpler to operate, but the consistency of agricultural product application deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Flow sensors continuously monitor agricultural product flow conditions and provide feedback to the control system. The controller adjusts nozzle operation based on this feedback to maintain consistent application rates. This automated feedback loop ensures reliability and consistency while removing the burden of manual monitoring, thus resolving the contradiction between consistency and ease of operation.
4Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring and adjustment system is implemented, then the application precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electronic sensors and digital control systems to replace manual measurement and adjustment mechanisms. This substitution enables precise flow condition monitoring and automated adjustment while containing the complexity within standardized electronic components. The precision improvement is achieved through automated electronic measurement, which resolves the contradiction by making the monitoring system more precise while managing complexity through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for an agricultural application operation is provided herein. The method includes receiving a target application condition for an agricultural product to be exhausted from a nozzle assembly through an input device. The method also includes receiving an agricultural product flow condition and data related to boom movement from a sensing system. In addition, the method includes receiving a first duty cycle from a computing system. The method further includes determining a detected application condition based on the agricultural product flow condition, the data related to boom movement, and the first duty cycle with the computing system. Lastly, the method includes generating a duty cycle command based on a comparison of the target application condition to the detected application condition with the computing system.