AUTOMATIC NOZZLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH ULTRASONIC SENSOR FOR ORCHARD SPRAYERS

Some improvements are needed in spraying with orchard sprayers. During the spraying process, it is also applied in the spaces between trees of cases where the tree spacing is high. For this reason, extra pesticides are consumed and harmful substances are added to the soil. Thus, the production costs increase and efficiency decreases, and also pesticide residues transferred from soil to crops cause health problems. In this study, ultrasonic sensors are placed on the right and left surfaces of the machine facing the tree. With the help of these sensors, the pesticides are sprayed as long as an object is detected within a certain distance. Spraying is stopped when the object is not detected, and this operation is carried out automatically. The developed system consists of an electronic control unit, solenoid valves, and ultrasonic sensors, controlled by a microcontroller. Thanks to this automatic control system, high rates of savings are achieved in pesticide consumption and the addition of harmful substances to the soil is prevented. In addition, thanks to the its compact structure, it can be easily mounted on existing sprayers that are controlled manually.

PDF

___

[1] Ilica, A. & Boz, A. F. (2018). Design of a Nozzle-Height Control System Using a Permanent Magnet Tubular Linear Synchronous Motor. Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, 24, 374-385. doi: 10.15832/ankutbd.456662.
[2] Keskin, M., Say, S., Sekerli, Y. & Arslan, A. (2018). Hassas Tarim Teknolojileri Ile Saglanabilecek Faydalar. Tarim Türk, 6, 14-17.
[3] Aydin, C., Sabanci, K. & Unlersen, M. F. (2017). Determination of Seed Volume in the Seed Tank of Pneumatic Precision Seeder by Using Microcontroller Based Control System. International Journal of Applied Mathematics, Electronics and Computers.
[4] Zhang, Z., Wang, X., Lai, Q. & Zhang, Z. (2018). Review of Variable-Rate Sprayer Applications Based on Real- Time Sensor Technologies.
[5] Li, L., He, X., Song, J., Liu, Y., Zeng, A., Yang, L., Liu, C. & Liu, Z. (2018). Design and Experiment of Variable Rate Orchard Sprayer Based on Laser Scanning Sensor. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 11, 101-108. doi: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181101.3183.
[6] Wei, Z., Xiu, W., Wei, D., Shuai, S., Songlin, W. & Pengfei, F. Design and Test of Automatic toward-Target Sprayer Used in Orchard. 2015 IEEE International Conference on Cyber Technology in Automation, Control, and Intelligent Systems (CYBER), 8-12 June 2015 2015. 697-702.
[7] Chen, Y., Zhu, H. & Ozkan, E. (2012). Development of a Variable-Rate Sprayer with Laser Scanning Sensor to Synchronize Spray Outputs to Tree Structures. Transactions of the ASABE, 55, 773- 781. doi: 10.13031/2013.41509.
[8] Jeon, H., Zhu, H., Derksen, R., Ozkan, E. & Krause, C. (2011). Evaluation of Ultrasonic Sensor for Variable-Rate Spray Applications. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 75, 213-221. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2010.11.007.
[9] Esau, T., Zaman, Q., Chang, Y., Schumann, A., Percival, D. & Farooque, A. (2013). SpotApplication of Fungicide for Wild Blueberry Using an Automated Prototype Variable Rate Sprayer. Precision Agriculture, 15. doi: 10.1007/s11119-013-9319-4.
[10] He, X., Yan, K., Chu, J., Wang, J. & Zeng, A. (2003). Design and Testing of the Automatic Target Detecting, Electrostatic, Air Assisted, Orchard Sprayer. 19.
[11] Solanelles, F., Escolà, A., Planas De Martí, S., Rosell, J. R., Camp, F. & Gràcia, F. (2006). An Electronic Control System for Pesticide Application Proportional to the Canopy Width of Tree Crops. Biosystems Engineering, 95, 473-481. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2006.08.004.
[12] Solanelles, F., Planas De Martí, S., Escolà, A. & Rosell, J. (2002). Spray Application Efficiency of an Electronic Control System for Proportional Application to the Canopy Volume. Aspects of Applied Biology, 66, 139-146.
[13] Zhai, C., Zhao, C., Wang, X., Zou, W., Mao, Y. & Zhang, R. (2010). Probing Method of Tree Spray Target Profile. Nongye Gongcheng Xuebao/Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 26, 173-177. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1002-6819.2010.12.029.
[14] Jeon, H. & Zhu, H. (2012). Development of a Variable-Rate Sprayer for Nursery Liner Applications. Transactions of the ASABE, 55, 303-312. doi: 10.13031/2013.41240.
[15] Zamahn, Q. & Salyani, M. (2004). Effects of Foliage Density and Ground Speed on Ultrasonic Measurement of Citrus Tree Volume. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 20. doi: 10.13031/2013.15887.
[16] Gil, E., Escolà, A., Rosell, J. R., Planas, S. & Val, L. (2007). Variable Rate Application of Plant Protection Products in Vineyard Using Ultrasonic Sensors. Crop Protection, 26, 1287-1297. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.11.003.
[17] K. Giles, D., J. Delwiche, M. & B. Dodd, R. (1987). Control of Orchard Spraying Based on Electronic Sensing of Target Characteristics. Transactions of the ASAE, 30, 1624-1636. doi: https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.30614.
[18] Molto, E., Martin-Gorriz, B. & A, G. (2001). Pesticide Loss Reduction by Automatic Adoption of Spraying on Globular Trees. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 78, 35-41.
[19] Llorens, J., Gil, E., Llop, J. & Escolà, A. (2010). Variable Rate Dosing in Precision Viticulture: Use of Electronic Devices to Improve Application Efficiency. Crop Protection, 29, 239-248. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2009.12.022.
[20] Tumbo, S., Salyani, M., Whitney, J., Wheaton, T. & Miller, W. (2002). Investigation of Laser and Ultrasonic Ranging Sensors for Measurements of Citrus Canopy Volume. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 18. doi: 10.13031/2013.8587.
[21] Warneke, B. W., Pscheidt, J. W. & Rosetta, R. Sensor Sprayers for Specialty Crop Production. 2019.
[22] Tewari, V. K., Chandel, A., Nare, B. & Kumar, S. P. (2018). Sonar Sensing Predicated Automatic Spraying Technology for Orchards. Current Science, 115, 1115-1123. doi: 10.18520/cs/v115/i6/1115-1123.
[23] Onler, E., Celen, I., Kiliç, E. & Durgut, M. (2014). Design of a Flow Rate Adjustement System Related to Tree Foliage Surface Estimation by Using Ultrasonic Sensors (Smart Spraying Machine). 10.
[24] Jsn-Sr04t ultrasonic sensor. https://www.amazon.com/Ultrasonic-Waterproof-JSN-SR04TIntegrated-Transducer/dp/B07SHLMSVZ (Accessed: 15 July 2020)
[25] Microchip. Pic18f45k80 Microcontroller. https://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/PIC18F45K80 (Accessed: 20 July 2020)