Hardware and Software Design for Premixing In-Line Injection System Attached to Variable-Rate Orchard Sprayer

Abstract

.HighlightsA premixing in-line injection system was designed as a retrofit attachment to a laser-guided variable-rate orchard sprayer.A graphical user interface with touchscreen functions was incorporated into the system to facilitate field applications.Preliminary tests demonstrated that simulated pesticide and water could be accurately dispensed and discharged separately into the injection line and mixed well in the buffer tank.This premixing in-line injection system has great potential to further reduce pesticide waste and improve environmental stewardship for conventional and precision variable-rate sprayers.Abstract To eliminate the problems associated with leftover tank mixture in pesticide applications, a premixing in-line injection system was designed as an attachment to a laser-guided variable-rate orchard sprayer. The primary components of the system consisted of a chemical metering pump, a water pump, a two-stage static mixer, a premixing tank, a buffer tank, an electric shut-off valve, a chemical container, electronic control boards, a graphical user interface, and an embedded computer with a touch screen. Liquid level sensors were mounted in all tanks and the chemical container to control the fluid discharge and prevent overflows. The graphical user interface on the touch screen was designed for operators to communicate with the system and monitor the system status. During spray applications, the system performed with automatic loops in dispensing, mixing, and transferring the desired amounts of water and chemical concentrates to maintain the spray mixture at a constant concentration for use with variable-rate nozzles. The system was rinsed automatically when the spray application task was completed. Test results showed that simulated pesticide and water could be accurately delivered into the injection line and could be mixed well in the buffer tank before the spray mixture was discharged to the nozzles. The premixing in-line injection system is a potential technique to further reduce pesticide waste and improve environmental stewardship for both conventional and precision variable-rate orchard sprayers. Keywords: Automation, Environmental protection, Intelligent sprayer, Pesticide spray application, Precision agriculture, Tank mixture leftover.