Optical Spray Control With Variable Image Depth for Fast Field Spraying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spraying methods face challenges in accurately and efficiently applying spraying agents to agricultural areas due to the need for high-speed plant recognition and weed detection, which increases computational load and energy consumption, especially when maintaining image overlap for precise application.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a control unit to adjust the depth of image evaluation areas based on the speed of the spraying device, allowing for variable image evaluation depths and reduced computational load by maintaining a constant frame rate, thereby optimizing energy consumption and enabling faster application speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the speed of the spraying device is increased to improve productivity, then the repetition rate must be increased to maintain image overlap, which increases energy consumption and thermal load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the evaluation area depth variable based on the current speed of the spraying device. When the device moves faster, the evaluation area depth is reduced proportionally, maintaining the appropriate temporal-spatial relationship between image capture and spray application without requiring increased repetition rate, thus avoiding additional energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of evaluation area depth dynamically according to the spraying device's speed. By adjusting this parameter in real-time, the system maintains accurate plant recognition and proper image overlap at any speed without increasing computational load or energy consumption, resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy use.
2Measurement precision
If the depth of the image evaluation area is increased to maintain image overlap at high speeds, then the computational load increases, but if decreased, then recognition accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the depth parameter of the image evaluation area based on the spraying device's speed. At higher speeds, the depth is reduced proportionally, maintaining the correct temporal-spatial relationship for accurate plant recognition while minimizing computational load. This parameter adaptation ensures recognition accuracy is maintained at any speed without excessive energy consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a constant evaluation area depth is used to simplify the system, then the device cannot adapt to varying speeds, but if variable depth is implemented, then the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a variable evaluation area depth parameter that automatically adjusts according to the spraying device's speed. This single parameter change enables the system to adapt to any operating speed while maintaining accurate plant recognition and proper spray timing. The control logic is straightforward, adding minimal complexity while maximizing adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for applying a spray (20) onto agricultural land (24) using at least one spray nozzle unit (16) of an agricultural spraying device, having the steps of: - detecting a field section (36) of the agricultural land (24) by means of at least one optical detection unit (18) in order to obtain image information (38) on the field section (36) with a depth T(image) (39) in the travel direction (30) of the spraying device (10); - identifying plants (22) in an image analysis region (40) of the obtained image information (38) by means of a control unit (26), wherein the image analysis region (40) represents a corresponding field analysis region (42) of the detected field section (36) with a depth T(analysis) (43) in the travel direction (30) of the spraying device (10); and - applying the spray (20) onto the field analysis region (42) of the detected field section (36) by means of the spray nozzle unit (16) of the agricultural spraying device (10) depending on the plants (22) identified in the image analysis region (40). The following additional step is carried out: - selecting a variable depth T(analysis) (43) of the image analysis region (40) by means of the control unit (26).