Accurate Variable Control System for Boom Sprayer Based on Auxiliary Antidrift System

Abstract

Control accuracy significantly affects the performances of boom sprayer. In this study, we develop a precise autocontrol technology based on the vehicle speed feedback. We utilize the auxiliary antidrift system of wind-curtain type air flow and the variable spraying control system for adaptive fertilizing and online measuring of working conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that the variable spraying control system could keep the speed error less than 3%. The air flow significantly improves the penetration of spraying, decreases the fog drip, and increases the pesticide utility. Benefitting from the auxiliary air flow, the average utility of pesticide is improved from 26.76% to 37.98%. Additionally, the speed feedback control reduces the consumption of pesticide by more than 12%.

A Review: Development of Plant Protection Methods and Advances in Pesticide Application Technology in Agro-Forestry Production

“…The core of VRT are variable spraying control systems used to achieve the spraying goal of on-demand applications [140,[144][145][146]. A developed variable control system was able to adaptively adjust the amount of sprayed pesticide based on the traveling speed of the sprayer [147]. A variable flow control system with a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller was tested in real time with deep learning [148].…”

“…A sprayer boom is an important weak damping elastomer used in common sprayers in plant protection and the entire sprayer boom needs to maintain an ideal height with the ground or crop canopy and uniform liquid distribution [147,157]. The elastic deformation of sprayer booms directly leads to overlapping spraying or missed spraying, which result in a decrease in droplet deposition uniformity.…”

Research Status, Methods and Prospects of Air-Assisted Spray Technology

“…For crops with different canopy morphology, such as rice, wheat, cotton, vine [57,58] and fruit trees, the relevant scholars carried out a large number of experimental research based on different air-assisted sprayers to explore the air flow control law [59,60], and summarized the optimal law of matching spray operation parameters under multiple operating conditions, thus providing important examples and data support for the application of precise spraying.…”

An electrical vortex air‐assisted spraying system for improving droplet deposition on rice

“…Usually, a large axial flow fan and a diversion device are used. 10,19,20 However, small-and medium-sized boom sprayers with spray widths smaller than 12 m are the primary HCBSs used in southern China and South Asia. It is challenging to install the sizeable axial fan and air-assisted system using pure hydraulic atomization.…”

“…The large boom sprayers have strong supportability and can bear the complex air supply system. Usually, a large axial flow fan and a diversion device are used 10,19,20 . However, small‐ and medium‐sized boom sprayers with spray widths smaller than 12 m are the primary HCBSs used in southern China and South Asia.…”