Modular UV-C Boom for Multi-Row Crop Treatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural crops are susceptible to diseases from fungus, mildew, and insects, and current pesticide application methods are time-consuming, harmful to health and the environment, and impose operational constraints on farms.

Innovation Solution

A modular treatment device mounted on an agricultural robot that uses UV-C light modules to treat multiple rows of plants simultaneously, equipped with sensors to prevent damage from excessive light exposure and obstacles, and adjustable arms to navigate uneven terrain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pesticides are used to treat plants, then disease prevention is improved, but health and environmental safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease preventionVSAvoidhealth and environmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical pesticide application systems with a mechanical/optical UV-C light treatment system. The UV-C light modules emit ultraviolet radiation that directly kills pathogens on plant surfaces without introducing harmful chemicals into the environment, thus maintaining disease prevention effectiveness while eliminating health and environmental hazards associated with pesticides

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the treatment parameter from chemical concentration to light intensity and exposure duration. By controlling UV-C light dosage (intensity × time), the system achieves effective pathogen elimination while avoiding the toxicological issues inherent in chemical pesticide applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If pesticides are applied to each row of plants, then disease prevention is improved, but treatment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease preventionVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple treatment functions into a single robotic platform that can simultaneously treat multiple rows of plants. The robotic system integrates UV-C light modules, navigation capabilities, and row-detection sensors to perform concurrent treatment across several rows, dramatically reducing total treatment time compared to sequential manual or mechanical pesticide application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic treatment device is designed as a multi-functional system that can navigate uneven terrain, detect plant rows, adjust treatment parameters, and apply UV-C light therapy. This universal platform replaces multiple specialized equipment (pesticide storage, application mechanisms, navigation systems) with a single integrated solution that improves operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If UV-C light modules are used to treat plants, then treatment speed is improved, but risk of light damage to plants increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment speedVSAvoidlight damage to plants

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates sensors that continuously monitor treatment conditions and provide feedback to the control system. These sensors detect plant responses, light intensity, and environmental conditions, allowing the system to adjust UV-C light dosage in real-time to prevent damage while maintaining effective treatment speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies UV-C light at controlled partial doses rather than continuous excessive exposure. By regulating light intensity and duration to optimal levels, the treatment achieves pathogen elimination effectiveness while staying below thresholds that would cause plant tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Adaptability or versatility

If modular treatment device navigates uneven terrain, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterrain navigation capabilityVSAvoidmechanical system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic, adjustable mechanical components including extendable arms and height-adjustable UV-C light modules that can adapt to varying terrain and plant heights. These dynamic elements allow the robotic system to navigate uneven ground effectively without requiring an overly complex fixed-structure chassis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Reduces treatment time and minimizes damage to plants and equipment by allowing concurrent treatment of multiple rows and adaptive navigation, while avoiding harmful pesticides.

Implementation Method 1

uses UV-C light modules to treat multiple rows of plants simultaneously

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV-C light emission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS20260000031A1Modular treatment device

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 OISHII FARM CORPORATION

AI summary

An agricultural robot includes a modular treatment device situated on top of a base. The modular treatment device includes a boom system having a first arm and a second arm. A plurality of light modules are located on the first arm and the second arm.