Targeted Spray Head Control for Precision Weed Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural techniques face challenges in efficiently and accurately targeting treatments, such as weed removal, without harming surrounding plants, animals, or humans, and existing systems lack precision and accuracy in fluid delivery.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural treatment system with a motor assembly, linkage assembly, and treatment head assembly, equipped with a fluid regulator and spraying tips, allows for precise control over fluid delivery and targeting, utilizing computer vision and automation to identify and treat specific agricultural objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional agricultural spraying systems are used, then large areas can be treated, but precision and accuracy in targeting specific objects is poor, causing harm to surrounding plants and chemicals
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment head assembly is divided into multiple independent spraying tips that can be individually controlled. Each spraying tip can be activated or deactivated independently based on the detected position of target objects, allowing precise application of treatment fluid only where needed rather than treating entire areas uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies treatment fluid with locally varied properties - the fluid is applied only to specific locations where target objects are detected, with varying spray activation patterns based on local conditions. The motor assemblies and linkage mechanisms enable localized adjustment of spray direction and coverage area to match the precise location of targets.
2Productivity
If fluid spraying is used to treat target objects, then treatment coverage can be achieved, but fluid emission trails are created that may harm non-targeted plants, animals, and humans
Solution Approach 1:
The spraying tips are activated in periodic or sequential patterns rather than continuously. The system activates only the specific spraying tips needed for current target detection, deactivates others, moves to new positions, and activates different tips accordingly. This periodic activation pattern minimizes unnecessary fluid emission while maintaining continuous treatment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system identifies target objects and calculates optimal spray paths before fluid is actually dispensed. The motor assemblies position the treatment head and activate specific spraying tips in advance based on predicted target locations, ensuring fluid is released only when and where needed, preventing emission trails in non-target areas.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual or conventional automated spraying systems are used, then simplicity of operation is maintained, but precision and accuracy in fluid delivery are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assemblies and linkage mechanisms serve multiple functions - they position the treatment head, orient spraying tips toward targets, and control the activation patterns of multiple spraying tips. The detection system integrates object identification, position calculation, and spray planning into a unified control process, reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced capabilities.
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
The system achieves precise and safe treatment of targeted objects by minimizing fluid emission trails and ensuring accuracy, reducing harm to non-targeted plants, animals, and humans.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid regulator can include a solenoid valve
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural treatment system can include one or more motor assemblies, linkage assemblies coupled to the motor assemblies, and a treatment head assembly coupled to the linkage assemblies. Each motor assembly can rotate about a motor assembly rotational axis and each linkage assembly can move in a direction in response to motor assembly rotation about a motor assembly rotational axis. Portions of the treatment head assembly can rotate about one or more treatment head assembly rotational axes in response to linkage assembly movement. The treatment head assembly can include a treatment head, a fluid port that delivers a fluid into the treatment head, spraying tip(s) that spray the fluid onto an agricultural target object, and a fluid regulator that delivers the fluid from the fluid port to the spraying tip(s). The fluid regulator can be coupled to and can rotate with the treatment head, which can be movable.