Sprayer Camera Visualization for Precision Weed and Crop Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural sprayers face inefficiencies in substance application, leading to over-spraying or under-spraying due to the lack of precise targeting of crops and weeds, resulting in increased costs and potential environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural machine equipped with an imaging system that captures images of the field, processes them to identify crop and weed locations, and controls actuatable applicator mechanisms to apply substances precisely based on determined characteristics, generating a user interface for visualization and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional spraying methods are used without precise targeting, then the spraying operation is simple and fast, but substance application precision deteriorates leading to over-spraying or under-spraying
Solution Approach 1:
The spraying system is segmented into multiple independently controllable actuatable applicator mechanisms (nozzles) that can be individually controlled based on image data from different regions of the field. This allows precise targeting of specific plants while leaving other areas untreated, resolving the contradiction between application precision and system complexity by dividing the control function into discrete, manageable units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing images of the agricultural surface before spraying and processing them to identify plant characteristics and locations. This advance preparation allows the control system to pre-determine which areas require spraying and at what rates, enabling precise substance application when the actual spraying occurs without requiring complex real-time decision-making during operation.
2Loss of substance
If traditional broadcast spraying is used, then the spraying operation is simple and quick, but substance quantity increases leading to waste and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical broadcast spraying approach with an imaging and control system that uses optical sensors to detect plant characteristics and a computer control system to regulate substance application. This substitution enables precise measurement of plant properties (such as species, size, health status) and translates these measurements into controlled substance application rates, minimizing waste while ensuring adequate treatment of target plants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously capturing images of the agricultural surface, processing the image data to determine plant characteristics, and using this information to adjust substance application in real-time. The control system monitors the spraying process and makes adjustments based on actual plant conditions observed in the image data, ensuring optimal substance distribution and minimizing waste.
3Productivity
If precise image-based control is implemented, then substance application precision improves, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically capturing images, processing image data to identify plant characteristics, determining optimal substance application rates, and controlling the actuatable applicator mechanisms without requiring constant human intervention. The control system autonomously makes decisions about which plants to treat and at what rates, significantly improving spraying efficiency while reducing the operational burden on the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both the image processing unit, the decision-making algorithm executor, and the spraying mechanism controller. This universal system handles multiple functions that could otherwise require separate devices or manual operations, improving overall productivity while maintaining relatively simple operation through a unified control interface.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural machine includes a product application system comprising a plurality of actuatable applicator mechanisms, each actuatable applicator mechanism configured to apply a substance on an agricultural surface, an imaging system configured to obtain image data indicative of an image of plant matter on the agricultural surface, and a control system configured to determine a characteristic of the plant matter in an image region defined within the image, control one or more of the actuatable applicator mechanisms to apply the substance on the agricultural surface based on the determined characteristic, and generate a user interface display that displays the image and includes a display element that visually represents the image region within the image.