Autonomous Orchard Spraying With Sensor-Verified Path Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural equipment, particularly orchard spraying devices, are hazardous and labor-intensive due to exposed appendages and moving parts, posing risks to operators and being clumsy in dense tree canopies, with operations hindered by exhaustion and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A robotic agricultural system featuring autonomous delivery vehicles equipped with sensors and a control center that wirelessly manages paths and tasks, allowing for autonomous operation, collision avoidance, and efficient spraying without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated robotic systems are implemented, then operator safety and continuous operation are improved, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs agricultural tasks autonomously without human operators in the field, with only remote monitoring and control personnel needed. The system self-navigates, self-adjusts, and self-monitors through integrated sensors and control systems, eliminating the need for operators to be physically present and exposed to hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical control systems with electronic and software-based control. The robotic vehicle uses computer vision, GPS, and automated navigation algorithms instead of manual mechanical steering, and uses electronic control for spraying mechanisms rather than manual mechanical adjustment.
2Productivity
If robotic systems operate continuously without human intervention, then productivity increases, but system complexity and automation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is designed as a multi-functional platform that can perform various agricultural tasks including spraying, monitoring, and navigation. The same vehicle chassis and control system handle multiple functions, reducing the need for separate specialized equipment and simplifying the overall automation architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates continuous feedback loops through sensors that monitor spray application, vehicle position, and environmental conditions. This feedback enables real-time adjustments to maintain optimal performance and ensures consistent task completion without human intervention.
3Measurement precision
If autonomous navigation with sensor verification is implemented, then path accuracy and area coverage precision are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple navigation and verification systems (GPS, visual sensors, forward-looking sensors) into an integrated navigation platform. These systems work together synergistically, with each sensor type compensating for the limitations of others, achieving high precision without requiring any single complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses intermediate processing layers including computer vision algorithms and path planning software that translate raw sensor data into actionable navigation commands. These intermediary processing stages simplify the complexity by breaking down the navigation task into manageable computational steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic orchard spraying system having autonomous delivery vehicles (ADV), each autonomously delivering an amount of a premixed solution over a non-overlapping path verified by a forward-looking sensor, video, or both. Also, a mobile control center, configured to wirelessly inform the autonomous delivery vehicle of the path within the areas and to confirm that the autonomous delivery vehicle is following the path within the area. Additionally, a mapper vehicle generates the path within the area, the mapper vehicle being configured to communicate information about the path and the area to the command center. The mapper vehicle senses the path with a forward-looking LiDAR sensor, and senses the area with a GPS sensor. Moreover, a nurse truck has a reservoir of premixed solution for replenishing a tank of the ADV. ADVs and the control center communicate over a radio network, which may be a mesh network, a cellular network, or both.