Smart Sprayer with Venturi Mixer for Precision Pathogen Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current precision agriculture sprayer systems are inefficient and costly, often wasting treatment materials by applying them to unintended areas and failing to target pathogens effectively, due to outdated designs and lack of precision in material delivery.
Innovation Solution
A smart sprayer system integrated with a machine vision module and modular tool arm, featuring a containment shroud, airflow generator, and Venturi-type inspirator mixer, which allows for precise application of treatment materials to specific areas around or on commodity plants, minimizing waste and optimizing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If treatment material is applied using broadcast spraying to cover the entire commodity plant bed, then pathogen coverage is improved, but treatment material waste increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray system transitions from uniform broadcast application to localized targeted spraying. The camera system identifies specific plants requiring treatment, and the spray mechanism applies treatment material only to those localized areas, creating non-uniform but effective application patterns that reduce overall material usage while maintaining pathogen coverage where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical broadcast spraying with a vision-guided precision spraying mechanism. Computer vision technology detects plant locations and treatment needs, then controls spray actuation timing and positioning to deliver material precisely where pathogens are present, substituting random mechanical distribution with intelligent targeted delivery.
2Reliability
If high volume treatment material is used to penetrate plant structure and reach pathogens in cervices, then pathogen treatment efficacy is improved, but cost increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system performs preliminary detection and identification of plants containing pathogens before the spray mechanism activates. This advance detection allows the system to prepare targeted spray patterns and positions, delivering treatment material directly to infected areas rather than applying high volumes to entire plant structures, thereby reducing material quantity while maintaining efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies treatment material with localized precision to specific infected plant areas identified by the camera system. Instead of uniform high-volume application across all plants, the spray mechanism concentrates material delivery only where pathogens are detected, reducing overall material volume while ensuring adequate penetration and treatment of affected cervices and plant structures.
3Area of stationary object
If prior art spray systems with large plenums and multiple nozzles are used to create treatment material fog, then coverage area is improved, but treatment material waste increases and precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the large plenum chamber and multiple nozzle array from the spray mechanism. Instead of using a complex fog-generating plenum system that disperses material broadly, the invention employs a simplified single-nozzle or reduced-nozzle configuration that delivers material in concentrated streams directly to targeted plants, eliminating the material waste associated with broad fog distribution while maintaining adequate coverage of identified infection sites.
4Manufacturing precision
If precision sprayer systems with machine vision and modular tool arms are implemented, then treatment material precision is improved and waste is reduced, but capital cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform that combines machine vision, plant identification algorithms, precision positioning mechanisms, and controlled spray actuation. This multi-functional integration allows a single system to perform detection, analysis, positioning, and treatment delivery, reducing the need for separate specialized equipment and thereby managing overall system complexity while maintaining high application precision and material efficiency.
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 smart sprayer system significantly reduces material waste and cost by enabling precise application of treatment materials directly to pathogens, improving efficacy and reducing environmental impact through targeted delivery and efficient use of resources.
Implementation Method 1
Venturi type inspirator mixer
Data Source
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AI summary
An illustrative smart sprayer for a precision agricultural implement includes a mount for coupling the sprayer to a modular tool arm of the implement, and a spray head, an airflow generator, a solenoid valve, and an inspirator mixer located within a containment shroud. The smart sprayer is one of alternative agricultural tools that can be selectively coupled to and be operated by a control system of the common platform precision agricultural implement, including a machine vision module for identifying and locating commodity plants, non-commodity plants, and positioning the agricultural tools laterally and vertically relative to commodity plant lines.