Boom-Mounted Spray Vision for Real-Time Nozzle Pattern Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid application systems, such as sprayers, lack effective methods for real-time monitoring and control of fluid distribution patterns, leading to inefficiencies and inconsistencies in application uniformity and coverage.
Innovation Solution
The integration of cameras and lights on a boom arm of agricultural implements, coupled with a processing system, allows for real-time imaging and analysis of spray patterns, enabling precise control of nozzle operation and detection of blockages or drift, using artificial intelligence to adjust fluid application parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time imaging and analysis of spray patterns is implemented using cameras and lights, then measurement precision of fluid distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into separate components: cameras for imaging, lights for illumination, and a processing system for analysis. Each component performs a specific function, allowing for optimized design of individual elements while maintaining overall system precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a processing system as an intermediary between the optical sensors (cameras and lights) and the control system. This intermediary processes the raw image data to extract meaningful spray pattern information, simplifying the overall architecture by centralizing the analysis function.
2Manufacturing precision
If artificial intelligence is used to adjust fluid application parameters in real-time, then manufacturing precision of spray application is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs AI-based analysis and adjustment at periodic intervals rather than continuously. The processing system analyzes spray patterns at specific moments and makes adjustments as needed, reducing computational load and energy consumption while maintaining precision through targeted interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing imaging infrastructure and processing capabilities already present in modern agricultural equipment. By leveraging existing computational resources and integrating the AI analysis into the existing control architecture, the patent minimizes additional energy requirements while achieving precision spray application.
3Reliability
If comprehensive real-time monitoring of spray patterns is implemented, then reliability of fluid application is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system serves multiple functions: it analyzes spray patterns for uniformity, detects blockages, identifies drift, and provides feedback for control adjustments. By consolidating these diverse monitoring and control functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent improves reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where the processing system continuously monitors spray patterns and provides real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback enables automatic adjustments to maintain application uniformity and reliability without requiring complex manual intervention systems.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A system comprising a boom, a plurality of nozzles disposed along the boom, a light disposed on the boom to illuminate a spray pattern from at least one nozzle, a camera disposed on the boom to capture a first image of a spray from the at least one nozzle at a first time and a second image of no spray from the at least one nozzle at a second time, and a processor to calculate a difference between the first time and second time to determine a pulse width modulation of the at least one nozzle.