The Design of a Pressure Automatic Targeting Sprayer System with Variable Spray Rates

摘要

In a conventional sprayer, each spray unit sprays continuously with fixed spray rate within its spray range. It cannot differentiate the spray targets; nor can it change its spray amount according to the variation of the targets. This not only results in chemical waste, but also in environmental pollution. In order to overcome these shortcomings, a pressure automatic targeting sprayer system with variable spray rates is developed. This system consists of a CCD visual system and a quickly-response pressure sprayer system with variable spray rates. By determining the variations of the spraying targets, each individual spraying unit in this new system is able to provide targeted spraying. Moreover, it can also automatically adjust the spray rate according to the variations of the spray targets and the forwarding speed of the whole sprayer system. As a result, the spray rates of the system can vary between five to eight times. A simulation of this new system shows that, compared with conventional sprayer systems, the new system yields a chemical saving of over 75%. The study of this new system provides valuable theoretical and technical supports for the development of the precision variable spraying technology.