Intelligent automated system based on a fuzzy logic system for plant protection product control in orchards

The spraying of plant protection product (PPP) in orchards is a very hazardous working procedure, owing to the spray drift caused by the uneven operation of conventional axial boom sprayers. This research describes an intelligent automated system for precise (PPP) distribution in real-time. It is ba...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of agricultural and biological engineering Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 92 - 102
Main Authors Berk, P., Belšak, A., Stajnko, D., Lakota, M., Muškinja, N., Hočevar, M., Rakun, J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Beijing International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (IJABE) 01.05.2019
Subjects
Agricultural engineering
Agriculture
Algorithms
Automation
Decision making
Economic conditions
Environmental impact
Fuzzy logic
Fuzzy sets
Fuzzy systems
Laboratories
Leaf area
Methods
Orchards
Pesticides
Plant protection
Pulse duration modulation
Sensors
Software
Sprayers
Spraying
Sprays
Trees
Valves
United States > US
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Summary:The spraying of plant protection product (PPP) in orchards is a very hazardous working procedure, owing to the spray drift caused by the uneven operation of conventional axial boom sprayers. This research describes an intelligent automated system for precise (PPP) distribution in real-time. It is based on an intelligent decision-making model using ultrasonic measurements of leaf area density under laboratory conditions, which serve to trigger electromagnetic valves (EMV) on the axial boom sprayer. A fuzzy logic algorithm was an integrated part of the intelligent system for controlling the PPP by generating the pulse width modulation signal and applying it through the EMV of the prototype boom sprayer. The results showed that by using an intelligent decision-making model, the same efficiency as with conventional methods could be achieved, but with reduced usage of plant protection products. Thus, the intelligent automated system used 4.8 times less spray mixture than the conventional one.
ISSN:1934-6344
1934-6352
DOI:10.25165/j.ijabe.20191203.4476