Agricultural Sprayer Boom Actuator Deflection Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inconsistent application of agricultural products due to boom movement during application operations, leading to potential overapplication or underapplication across a field.

Innovation Solution

An agricultural sprayer system equipped with a boom assembly that includes a rotatable boom arm, sensors to monitor position, and a computing system to calculate deflection magnitude and direction, activating an actuator to adjust the boom arm and maintain consistent application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the boom assembly is used during application operations, then agricultural products can be delivered to the field, but boom movement causes inconsistent application quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication quality consistencyVSAvoidboom position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the actual position of the boom assembly using sensors and compares it with the desired position. When deviations are detected, the control system automatically activates the actuator to adjust the boom arm position, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that maintains application quality consistency despite external disturbances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects and corrects boom position deviations without requiring manual intervention. The control system self-regulates by activating the actuator when deflection is detected, enabling the boom assembly to self-correct its position and maintain consistent application quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If sensors and computing systems are added to monitor boom position, then application precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment methods with automated electronic control. Sensors electronically detect boom position, the computing system processes this data to determine deflection, and an actuator automatically adjusts the boom arm, eliminating the need for continuous manual monitoring and adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the boom assembly by dynamically adjusting the boom arm position based on real-time sensor data. The control system modifies the angular position parameter of the boom arm to compensate for deflection, maintaining precise application despite changes in operating conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12207646B2Systems and methods for altering an actuator of an agricultural applicator

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An agricultural sprayer system is provided herein that can include a boom assembly having a frame and a boom arm operably coupled with the frame. The boom arm can be rotatable relative to the frame between a plurality of angles in a fore-aft direction. An actuator operably can be coupled with the frame and the boom arm and configured to rotate the boom arm between the plurality of angles. A sensor can be operably coupled with the boom assembly and configured to capture data associated with a position of the boom assembly. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to calculate a boom assembly deflection magnitude and a fore-aft deflection direction based on the data from the sensor and activate the actuator to rotate the boom arm relative to the frame when the magnitude of deflection deviates from a predefined threshold.