Operation mode evaluation in aerosol hot fog generator robotic system in orchard

Abstract

The article presents a self-propelled aerosol hot fog generator robotic platform developed at the All-Russian Research Institute of Agricultural Mechanisation. The study aimed to assess the distribution quality of hot fog in the fruit tree crown during technological plant protection procedures and to determine the platform’s effective motion modes. Field studies established the causes of chemicals loss during technological plant protective measures in the crown. We determined the effect of droplet size on leaf cover density and plotted the solution droplet penetration into the crown. In field experiments, we plotted the crown permeability by aerosol in transverse projection. A statistical analysis of factorial trials of the fog generator robotic platform for chemical plant protection revealed its most effective operation modes as follows: robotic platform speed 2.1 km/h, fog nozzle -- tree crown distance 1.28 m, working fluid flow rate 39.75 L/h. One-pass droplet density in equal penetration plane crossing the inter-row axis is 480 pcs/cm2. The row treatment from the other side doubles the droplet estimate. The study pinpoints and verifies advantages of the developed aerosol hot fog generator robotic platform in an orchard setting. The field data analyses suggest that this robotic system meets the technological requirements of fluid chemical plant protection at a high standard level.