Precision Treatment Head Positioning for Targeted Crop Spraying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural technologies face challenges in efficiently and sustainably increasing food production to meet the demands of a growing global population, with existing methods being incremental and costly in terms of land, chemicals, time, and labor.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural treatment system featuring a moveable treatment head with spraying tips, controlled by motors and linkage assemblies, and a fluid regulator with a solenoid, allowing precise fluid emission and adjustment for targeted crop treatment, utilizing sensors and computer vision for autonomous identification and treatment of agricultural objects based on growth stage and history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional agricultural methods are used to increase food production, then output increases, but land use, chemical consumption, time, and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies treatments locally to specific agricultural objects rather than uniformly across entire fields. The treatment head assembly targets individual plants or crops based on sensor detection, delivering precise amounts of chemicals only where needed, thus reducing overall chemical consumption while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical and manual agricultural practices with an automated system using sensors, computer vision, and robotic treatment delivery. This substitution enables more efficient resource utilization and reduces waste through precise control of treatment application
2Productivity
If traditional agricultural methods are used to increase food production, then output increases, but land use increases
Solution Approach 1:
By applying treatments locally to specific agricultural objects rather than blanket coverage, the system increases the efficiency of land use. Each treatment is delivered precisely where needed, allowing for higher productivity per unit area without requiring additional land expansion
3Productivity
If traditional agricultural methods are used to increase food production, then output increases, but time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of agricultural objects using sensors and computer vision before treatment application. This preliminary action enables automated decision-making and treatment delivery, significantly reducing the time required compared to manual inspection and treatment methods
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates autonomously to detect, identify, and treat agricultural objects without human intervention. The automated treatment head assembly delivers treatments based on sensor data, eliminating the need for manual labor and reducing time consumption while maintaining or increasing productivity
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
The system enables efficient and precise application of treatments to specific agricultural objects, optimizing resource use and improving crop management by automating the identification and treatment process, thereby enhancing food production efficiency and sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
The treatment unit is configured with a treatment head assembly that includes a moveable treatment head with one or more spraying tips. A first and second motor assembly are operated by the treatment unit to control the movement of the treatment head. The first motor assembly includes a first motor rotatable in a first rotational axis. A first linkage assembly is connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly. The first linkage assembly is rotatable by the first motor. The second motor assembly includes a second motor rotatable in a second rotational axis. The first rotational axis is different from the second rotational axis. The second linkage assembly is rotatable by the second motor.
Implementation Method 2
The system includes one or more fluid tanks with a first tank configured or capable of holding or storing a first fluid. The system uses a pump in combination with a fluid regulator to obtain and disperse fluid from the fluid tanks.
Implementation Method 3
A first tube fluidly coupled from the fluid pump to the fluid input port. The system includes a moveable treatment head having one or more spraying tips, including a first spraying tip. A second tube is fluidly coupled from the fluid output port to the moveable treatment head.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The agricultural treatment system determines a vehicle pose of a vehicle as the vehicle moves along a path. The system identifies a first target agricultural object for treatment. Based on the determined vehicle pose, the system positions a treatment head of a first treatment unit such that a first projectile fluid may be emitted by the first treatment unit at the identified first target agricultural object. The system then causes an emitter to emit a fluid from the treatment head at the first target agricultural object.