Agricultural Spray Drone LIDAR Wind Compensation for Drift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spray drift caused by wind and wind gusts is a significant issue in agricultural production, leading to unintended deposition of chemical sprays on non-target areas, bystanders, water bodies, and neighboring fields, due to varying wind speeds and directions, which affect the flight path of aerial vehicles and the distribution of sprays.
Innovation Solution
An aerial vehicle equipped with a liquid chemical tank, liquid spray units, actuators, and sensors, including LIDAR for measuring wind direction, distance, and speed, which uses this data to control the vehicle's flight operations and spray unit settings to mitigate spray drift by adjusting height, position, and droplet size based on real-time wind conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If aerial vehicle flies at low height (1-2m) to apply spray, then spray deposition precision is improved, but spray drift onto non-target surfaces increases due to wind effects from ground obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wind measurement using LIDAR before spray application to predict and compensate for spray drift. The LIDAR sensor measures wind speed and direction in advance, allowing the control unit to calculate drift compensation values and adjust spray parameters proactively before the spray is released.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously measures wind conditions using LIDAR during flight and spray application, feeding this information back to the control unit which dynamically adjusts spray parameters. This closed-loop feedback system allows real-time compensation for changing wind conditions, maintaining spray deposition precision while minimizing drift.
2Productivity
If aerial vehicle increases flight speed to improve productivity, then productivity increases, but spray drift control precision deteriorates due to reduced response time to wind changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical wind sensors with LIDAR technology that uses light detection and ranging to measure wind speed and direction. This optical measurement system provides faster, more precise wind data without the mechanical limitations, enabling the vehicle to maintain high speed while accurately tracking wind conditions for spray compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The LIDAR system continuously measures wind conditions ahead of the vehicle, providing advance warning of wind changes. This preliminary wind data allows the control unit to pre-calculate compensation parameters, ensuring spray precision is maintained even at higher flight speeds where response time is limited.
3Manufacturing precision
If LIDAR sensor measures wind conditions in real-time to reduce spray drift, then spray deposition precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The LIDAR sensor serves multiple functions: it measures wind speed, wind direction, and can also be used for navigation and obstacle detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving precise spray deposition through wind measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit integrates the LIDAR wind measurement data with the vehicle's existing flight control and spray control systems. The system uses its own onboard processing power to calculate drift compensation parameters, eliminating the need for external complex processing equipment and keeping the overall system complexity manageable.
4Productivity
If spray is applied closer to field edges to increase productivity, then productivity increases, but spray drift onto non-target areas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The LIDAR system continuously monitors wind conditions near field edges, providing real-time feedback to the control unit. This enables dynamic adjustment of spray parameters specifically when operating near boundaries, allowing the vehicle to spray closer to edges for improved productivity while the feedback system compensates for drift that would otherwise contaminate non-target areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts spray parameters based on real-time wind measurements, particularly when operating near field edges. The control unit modifies spray pressure, droplet size, and timing dynamically in response to LIDAR wind data, enabling safe proximity spraying that increases productivity without causing drift to non-target areas.
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
This solution allows for more precise spray application, reducing drift and enabling spraying closer to edges or in higher wind conditions while avoiding unwanted areas, ensuring targeted deposition and minimizing double or missed application within fields.
Implementation Method 1
At least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor configured to measure the direction, distance and speed of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle
Implementation Method 2
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor housed within/attached to the aerial vehicle detects the direction, distance and speed of airborne particles
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an aerial vehicle (10). aerial vehicle comprises a liquid chemical tank (20), at least one liquid spray unit (30), at least one actuator (40), a plurality of sensors (50), and a processing unit (60). The liquid chemical tank is configured to hold a liquid chemical. The at least one liquid spray unit is configured to spray the liquid chemical. The at least one actuator is configured to operate the at least one liquid spray unit. At least one sensor (51) of the plurality of sensors is configured to measure a speed of the aerial vehicle relative to the ground. At least one sensor (52) of the plurality of sensors is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor configured to measure the direction and distance of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle with respect to a fore-aft axis of the aerial vehicle. The processing unit is configured to determine an air movement direction and distance relative to a projection of the fore-aft axis onto the ground and determine an air movement speed relative to the ground. The determination comprises utilisation of the speed of the aerial vehicle, the direction and distance of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle with respect to the fore-aft axis of the aerial vehicle and the speed of airborne particles relative to the aerial vehicle. The processing unit is configured to control at least one flying operation of the aerial vehicle and/or control the at least one actuator. Determination of at least one instruction for the control of the at least one flying operation of the aerial vehicle and/or determination of at least one instruction for the control the at least one actuator comprises utilisation of the determined air movement direction and distance relative to the projection of the fore-aft axis onto the ground and the determined air movement speed relative to the ground.