Agricultural Treatment Automation With Sensor-Based Actuator Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machinery requires significant manual intervention to adapt to varying crop conditions and needs, leading to inefficiencies in applying phytosanitary products and subsoiling treatments.
Innovation Solution
A method and equipment using sensors, actuators, and algorithms to automatically adjust machinery operations based on real-time data and pre-collected information, allowing for intelligent automation of treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual intervention is used to adapt machinery to varying crop conditions, then the user can control and adjust parameters, but the productivity and efficiency are reduced due to time-consuming manual adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the machinery automatically detects crop conditions through sensors and adjusts its own actuators without manual intervention. The control unit receives data from sensors, processes information, and automatically activates or deactivates actuators based on detected vegetation conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying crop conditions autonomously and maintain high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensors detect real-time crop conditions (vegetation presence, density, height), transmit this information to the control unit, which then adjusts actuator positions and operations accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the machinery automatically adapts to changing conditions while maintaining optimal treatment application efficiency
2Device complexity
If the machinery is designed with fixed actuators and parameters, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different crop conditions and areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed actuators to dynamic adjustable actuators that can automatically change their position and operation based on real-time sensor data. The actuators are equipped with control mechanisms that allow them to adapt their state (activated/deactivated, position adjusted) according to detected vegetation conditions, enabling the machinery to handle diverse crop scenarios without requiring multiple fixed configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit and sensor system serve multiple functions: detecting various crop parameters (vegetation presence, density, height), processing this information, and controlling different types of actuators (spray nozzles, subsoiler depth, etc.). This multi-functional design allows a single system to adapt to different crop conditions and treatment requirements without requiring separate specialized equipment for each scenario
3Productivity
If phytosanitary products are applied without detection of vegetation presence, then the treatment process is simplified, but the loss of substance increases due to product waste in areas without plants
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to continuously detect vegetation presence and transmit this information to the control unit, which then activates or deactivates spray actuators based on the detection. When vegetation is detected, the spray actuators are activated to apply phytosanitary products; when no vegetation is detected, the actuators are deactivated to prevent product waste. This feedback mechanism maintains high application speed while minimizing substance loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality control by applying phytosanitary products only in specific areas where vegetation is detected, rather than uniformly across the entire treatment area. The actuators are selectively activated based on local vegetation conditions, ensuring products are applied only where needed and reducing waste in vegetation-free areas while maintaining efficient treatment progress
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
Reduces the need for manual adaptation by dynamically adjusting actuators and machinery operations to suit varying crop conditions, optimizing product application and ploughing depth, and minimizing waste.
Implementation Method 1
ultrasound sensors capable of detecting, in an embodiment for the application of phytosanitary treatments, the vegetation presence and/or volume in the area to be treated
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and equipment for intelligent automation of agricultural treatments comprising digitalising a machine (1) with sensors (3) and actuators (4) connected to an electronic box (5) which, in turn, is connected via Bluetooth to a mobile device (6), tablet or smartphone, with a specific app and communication with the cloud; and, being programmed in the app itself or in a remote processor (7), specific algorithms which, based on the data from the sensors (3) and/or measuring devices and, optionally, from other devices via loT and satellite, execute the calculations that define the parameters of the actuators (4) of the machine (1) that are activated or deactivated, in accordance with at least one piece of information entered into the app indicating which machine (1) is being actuated. For product dosing treatments, with sprayers (1.1) associated with a tank (1.2), it comprises ultrasound sensors (3.5) to detect the presence and/or volume of vegetation.