Variable Target Area Control for Precision Agricultural Spraying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural distribution machines, such as field sprayers, face challenges in achieving precise distribution of agricultural agents due to the need for subdivision of large areas into smaller sub-areas, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies, especially under changing conditions like varying driving speeds, and high system reaction times.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural distribution machine with a control device that allows for precise positioning and variable target area sizing around treated plants, enabling individual or group control of distribution elements based on defined positions, reducing the need for extensive computer power and allowing adaptation to changing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the agricultural area is subdivided into a large number of sub-areas to improve distribution precision, then the position accuracy of spray liquid distribution is improved, but the device complexity and computer power requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the agricultural area into treatment zones based on actual plant positions rather than pre-defined sub-areas. The control device activates distribution elements individually or in groups based on detected plant locations, creating dynamic segmentation that reduces computational requirements while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different distribution states to different spatial locations based on actual plant positions. Instead of uniform sub-area treatment, the system applies spray liquid only where needed (at actual plant positions), with variable target area sizes adapted to each plant's location and characteristics.
2Device complexity
If a fixed sub-area division is used to simplify the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to changing conditions such as varying driving speeds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by making the target area size variable rather than fixed. The control device adjusts the target area size surrounding each plant position in real-time based on changing driving speeds and system reaction times, allowing the system to adapt to varying operational conditions without increasing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed target area size is used to simplify control, then the ease of operation is improved, but the position accuracy of treating individual plants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by varying the target area size parameter for each plant based on its specific position, the detected plant's characteristics, and operational conditions. The control device automatically adjusts this parameter to achieve accurate treatment of individual plants while maintaining straightforward control operation.
4Force
If the distribution linkage extends across a large width to achieve high impact force, then the force of spray liquid distribution is improved, but the area covered by unnecessary spray increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by controlling distribution elements individually or in groups based on actual plant positions. Instead of activating the entire distribution linkage width, only the portions needed for treating detected plants are activated, reducing unnecessary spray application while maintaining adequate impact force where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an agricultural distribution machine (10) for the precise distribution of agricultural agents on an agricultural area (50), comprising several distribution elements (20a - 20i) arranged at intervals from one another on a distribution boom (14) and designed to distribute the agricultural agents, a determination device which is designed to define positions of plants to be treated with agents on the agricultural area (50), and a control device which is designed to control the distribution elements (20a - 20i) and to evaluate positions of plants to be treated with agents defined by means of the determination device.For the precise distribution of an active ingredient, the invention provides that the control device is also configured to control the distribution elements (20a - 20i) individually or in groups, at least based on the respective defined position of the plants and a target area (100) surrounding the positions of the plants, the size of which can be varied. The invention also relates to a method for the precise distribution of an agricultural active ingredient on an agricultural area (50).