UV-C Canopy Penetration via Leaf Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling plant pathogens and arthropod pests in strawberry crops rely heavily on chemical treatments, which can lead to resistance and regulatory challenges, while UV-C light systems are underutilized due to difficulties in penetrating the plant canopy.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a UV-C light array and a leaf manipulating assembly that creates a gap in the strawberry plant canopy, allowing UV-C light to penetrate and treat the undersides of leaves and the area between the canopy and the soil line, minimizing damage to the plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-C light is used to treat pathogens and arthropod pests, then pest control effectiveness is improved, but plant damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the leaf manipulating assembly movable and adjustable, allowing it to dynamically adjust the position and orientation of leaves during treatment. This enables the system to optimize UV-C light penetration while minimizing plant damage through real-time adaptation to plant growth stages and canopy structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters by manipulating leaf position and orientation to alter the path and intensity of UV-C light penetration. By adjusting leaf angles and canopy structure, the system optimizes the balance between delivering sufficient UV-C radiation for pest control and limiting exposure that would cause plant damage.
2Productivity
If UV-C light penetrates deep into the plant canopy to treat undersides of leaves, then treatment completeness is improved, but plant damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic leaf manipulation to temporarily reposition leaves, creating pathways for UV-C light to reach undersides and lower canopy areas. This dynamic adjustment allows complete treatment of previously inaccessible areas without subjecting the entire canopy to high UV-C doses that would cause damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the canopy treatment process into distinct zones (upper canopy, mid-canopy, lower canopy, and underside areas), applying different UV-C intensities and durations to each segment. This segmented approach ensures complete treatment of all areas while controlling overall exposure to prevent plant damage.
3Reliability
If chemical treatments are used to control pathogens and arthropods, then pest control effectiveness is improved, but resistance and regulatory challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical control systems with a physical UV-C light-based system. By using ultraviolet radiation to directly inhibit or kill pathogens and arthropods, the invention eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, thereby avoiding the development of chemical resistance and reducing regulatory compliance burdens.
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 effectively increases UV-C light penetration to 49.4% of the base of the strawberry plants, compared to 6.5% without canopy manipulation, providing efficient treatment of pathogens and arthropod pests without damaging the plants.
Implementation Method 1
UV-C irradiation is routinely used to kill pathogens and arthropod pests in multiple critical/sensitive systems
Implementation Method 2
a leaf manipulating assembly that creates a gap in the plant canopy so that the area under the plant canopy is exposed to and treated by the UV-C light array
Data Source
AI summary
A strawberry treatment platform includes an outer housing with at least one UV-C light array enclosed in the outer housing, and at least one strawberry plant manipulating assembly that extends downwardly from the outer housing. The strawberry treatment platform is structured so that, as the strawberry treatment platform moves across a strawberry plant bed, the plant manipulating assembly combs through the strawberry plants and creates a canopy gap in the strawberry bed plant canopy so that radiation from the UV-C light array treats the strawberry plants in the strawberry plant bed.