Forward-Looking Spray Boom Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spray boom systems face challenges in efficiently adjusting to changing terrain and obstacles at higher speeds, as they rely on measuring ground distance after the fact, leading to potential damage and inefficiencies in spray pattern consistency.
Innovation Solution
An articulated spray boom system equipped with a signal system using light emitting diodes and an image sensor to measure structures ahead, allowing the boom to adjust its height and orientation before reaching them, enabling operation at higher speeds and maintaining a consistent spray pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the spray boom is extended to cover more land with each pass, then the productivity is improved, but the likelihood of encountering obstacles and damage to the spray boom increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of obstacles using a transducer positioned forward of the spray boom. By detecting structures ahead of the boom and calculating their distance, the system can preemptively adjust the boom height before the boom reaches the obstacle, preventing damage while maintaining wide coverage.
2Reliability
If the operator manually adjusts the spray boom to avoid obstacles, then the reliability is improved, but the productivity is reduced due to the difficulty of maintaining vigilant watch over the entire path
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic obstacle detection and boom height adjustment without requiring continuous manual monitoring by the operator. The transducer autonomously detects obstacles, calculates distances, and the control system automatically actuates the hydraulic lift to adjust boom height, freeing the operator to focus on other operational tasks.
3Measurement precision
If the transducer is extended forward of the spray boom to measure ground distance, then the measurement precision is improved, but the transducer becomes susceptible to undesirable vibration which adds error to the ground distance calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the transducer positioning parameters by extending it forward of the boom to an optimal distance that balances early obstacle detection with minimizing vibration susceptibility. This parameter optimization allows the system to maintain measurement precision while reducing the negative effects of vibration on calculation accuracy.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the hydraulic system readjusts the orientation of the spray boom, then the adaptability is improved, but by the time the adjustment is made, the spray boom has already covered the area of ground measured by the transducer
Solution Approach 1:
The forward positioning of the transducer enables preliminary detection of obstacles before the spray boom reaches them. This advance detection provides sufficient lead time for the hydraulic system to readjust the boom orientation and height, ensuring the boom is properly positioned before encountering the obstacle, thereby eliminating the time loss issue.
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
Enables the spray boom to operate at higher speeds while avoiding obstacles and maintaining a consistent spray pattern by accurately adjusting its height and orientation in real-time, reducing the risk of damage and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A signal system produces a signal representative of a structure at least two meters ahead of the boom lift assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A boom sprayer and method of adjusting a boom assembly. A camera is attached to the boom assembly and aimed forward of the boom sprayer. The camera collects information associated with the dimensions and location of oncoming structures, such as crops, hills, fences and the like, and relays the information to a controller. The controller uses various actuators to lift, tilt and/or pivot the boom assembly to position the boom assembly at a desired height when the boom assembly passes over the structures.