Journal of Biosystems Engineering

Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery (한국농업기계학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Ultrasonic Sensor Controlled Sprayer for Variable Rate Liner Applications

초음파센서를 이용한 변량제어 스프레이어

  • Received : 2011.01.24
  • Accepted : 2011.02.15
  • Published : 2011.02.25
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

An experimental variable rate nursery sprayer was developed to adjust application rates for canopy volume in real time. The sprayer consisted of two vertical booms integrated with ultrasonic sensors, and variable rate nozzles coupled with pulse width modulation (PMW) based solenoid valves. A custom-designed microcontroller instructed the sensors to detect canopy size and occurrence and then controlled nozzles to achieve variable application rates. A spray delivery system, which consisted of diaphragm pump, pressure regulator and 4-cycle gasoline engine, offered the spray discharge function. Spray delay time, time adjustment in spray trigger for the leading distance of the sensor, was measured with a high-speed camera, and it was from 50 to 140 ms earlier than the desired time (398 ms) at 3.2 km/h under indoor conditions. Consequently, the sprayer triggered 4.5 to 12.5 cm prior to detected targets. Duty cycles of the sprayer were from 20 to 34 ms for senor-to-canopy (STC) distance from 0.30 to 0.76 m. Outdoor test confirmed that the nozzles were triggered from 290 to 380 ms after detecting tree canopy at 3.2 km/h. The spray rate of the new sprayer was 58.4 to 85.2% of the constant application rate (935 L/ha). Spray coverage was collected at four areas of evergreen canopy by water sensitive papers (WSP), and ranged from 1.9 to 41.1% and 1.8 to 34.7% for variable and constant rate applications, respectively. One WSP area had significant (P < 0.05) difference in mean spray coverage between two application conditions.

Keywords

References

  1. Balsari, P., G. Doruchowski, P. Marucco, M. Tamagnone, J. Van de Zonde, and M. Wenneker. 2008. A system adjusting the spray application to the target characteristics. Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGA Ejournal. Manuscript ALNARP 08 002 Vol. X. May, 2008.
  2. Gil, E., A. Escolà, J. R. Rosell, S. Planas, and L. Val. 2007. Variable rate application of plant protection products in vineyard using ultrasonic sensors. Crop Protection 26:1287-1297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.11.003
  3. Giles, D. K., M. J. Delwiche, and R. B. Dodd. 1987. Control of orchard spraying based on electronic sensing of target characteristics. Transactions of the ASAE 30(6):1624-1630. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.30614
  4. Giles, D. K., M. J. Delwiche, and R. B. Dodd. 1988. Electronic measurement of tree canopy volume. Transactions of the ASAE 31(6):264-273. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.30698
  5. Jeon, H. Y., H. Zhu, R. C. Derksen, H. E. Ozkan, and C. R. Krause. 2011. Evaluation of ultrasonic sensor for variable-rate spray applications. Computer and Electronics in Agriculture 75(1):213-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2010.11.007
  6. Molto, E., B. Martín, and A. Gutierrez. 2000. Design and testing of an automatic machine for spraying at a constant distance from the tree canopy. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 77(4):379-384. https://doi.org/10.1006/jaer.2000.0621
  7. SAS. 2008. SAS/STAT 9.2 User’s Guide. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.
  8. Solanelles, F., A. Escola, S. Planas, J. R. Rosell, H. Camp, and F. Gracia. 2006. An electronic control system for pesticide application proportional to the canopy width of tree crops. Biosystems Engineering 95(4):473-481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2006.08.004
  9. Tumbo, S. D., M. Salyani, J. D. White, T. A. Wheaton and W. M. Miller. 2002. Investigation of laser and ultrasonic ranging sensors for measurement of citrus canopy volume. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 18(3):367-372.
  10. Tyco Electronics. 2009. The application of relay coil suppression with DC relays. Application Notes 13C3311. Available at: http://relays.tycoelectronics.com/appnotes/app_pdfs/ 13c3311.pdf. Accessed 23 December 2009.
  11. USDA. 2007. Agricultural Chemical Usage 2006 Nursery and Floriculture Summary. Washington, D.C.: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
  12. Zaman, Q. U. and M. Salyani. 2004. Effects of foliage density and ground speed on ultrasonic measurement of citrus tree volume. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 20(2):173-178. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.15887
  13. Zhu, H., M. Salyani and R.D. Fox. 2010. A portable pixel recognition system for evaluating the distribution of spray deposits. ASABE paper No. 1008502. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE.