scholarly journals Design and Test of a Jet Remote Control Spraying Machine for Orchards

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 797-814
Author(s):  
Chi Ma ◽  
Guanglin Li ◽  
Qiangji Peng
Keyword(s):  
Remote Control ◽  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Structure Design ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Penetration Ability ◽  
Flow Rate Range ◽  
Targeting Accuracy

Aimed at issues associated with the poor air supply and poor automatic targeting accuracy of existing orchard sprayers, this paper designs a jet-type orchard remote control sprayer with automatic targeting which is suitable for standardized orchards in hilly and mountainous areas. By optimizing the structure of the diversion box, the uniformity of deposition and penetration ability of the pesticide droplets to the fruit tree canopy are improved, and a uniform wild field distribution is realized simultaneously. An accurate positioning of the fruit tree canopy space orientation is achieved through automatic targeting and azimuthal adjustment systems. When the target is detected, the solenoid valve is controlled to open, and vice versa, and the distance from the nozzle to the fruit tree canopy is adjusted in real time to improve the utilization rate of pesticides. The test results show that the effective range of the jet-type orchard remote control sprayer is no more than 3.5 m, and the maximum flow rate range is 6~6.5 L/min. Within the effective spraying range, the farther the distance is, the higher the automatic targeting accuracy. The pesticide droplets sprayed by the spraying machine have a certain penetration ability, and the uniformity of the droplets is good, which solves solidification problems caused by the penetration of pesticide into the soil. This research provides a reference for jet spraying operation and automatic targeting spraying structure design.

scholarly journals Three-Dimensional Morphological Measurement Method for a Fruit Tree Canopy Based on Kinect Sensor Self-Calibration

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haihui Yang ◽  
Xiaochan Wang ◽  
Guoxiang Sun
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Control ◽  
Point Cloud ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Morphological Parameters ◽  
Kinect Sensor ◽  
Self Calibration ◽  
Morphological Measurement ◽  
Tree Width

Perception of the fruit tree canopy is a vital technology for the intelligent control of a modern standardized orchard. Due to the complex three-dimensional (3D) structure of the fruit tree canopy, morphological parameters extracted from two-dimensional (2D) or single-perspective 3D images are not comprehensive enough. Three-dimensional information from different perspectives must be combined in order to perceive the canopy information efficiently and accurately in complex orchard field environment. The algorithms used for the registration and fusion of data from different perspectives and the subsequent extraction of fruit tree canopy related parameters are the keys to the problem. This study proposed a 3D morphological measurement method for a fruit tree canopy based on Kinect sensor self-calibration, including 3D point cloud generation, point cloud registration and canopy information extraction of apple tree canopy. Using 32 apple trees (Yanfu 3 variety) morphological parameters of the height (H), maximum canopy width (W) and canopy thickness (D) were calculated. The accuracy and applicability of this method for extraction of morphological parameters were statistically analyzed. The results showed that, on both sides of the fruit trees, the average relative error (ARE) values of the morphological parameters including the fruit tree height (H), maximum tree width (W) and canopy thickness (D) between the calculated values and measured values were 3.8%, 12.7% and 5.0%, respectively, under the V1 mode; the ARE values under the V2 mode were 3.3%, 9.5% and 4.9%, respectively; and the ARE values under the V1 and V2 merged mode were 2.5%, 3.6% and 3.2%, respectively. The measurement accuracy of the tree width (W) under the double visual angle mode had a significant advantage over that under the single visual angle mode. The 3D point cloud reconstruction method based on Kinect self-calibration proposed in this study has high precision and stable performance, and the auxiliary calibration objects are readily portable and easy to install. It can be applied to different experimental scenes to extract 3D information of fruit tree canopies and has important implications to achieve the intelligent control of standardized orchards.

Mechanical selective removal of flowers in a fruit tree canopy

2018 ◽  
pp. 339-346
Author(s):  
C. Seehuber ◽  
L. Damerow ◽  
A. Solomakhin ◽  
M.M. Blanke
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Selective Removal ◽  
Tree Canopy

A novel method for extracting skeleton of fruit tree from 3D point clouds

2020 ◽  
pp. 2050051
Author(s):  
Shenglian lu ◽  
Guo Li ◽  
Jian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
3D Point Clouds ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Manual Interaction ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Tree skeleton could be useful to agronomy researchers because the skeleton describes the shape and topological structure of a tree. The phenomenon of organs’ mutual occlusion in fruit tree canopy is usually very serious, this should result in a large amount of data missing in directed laser scanning 3D point clouds from a fruit tree. However, traditional approaches can be ineffective and problematic in extracting the tree skeleton correctly when the tree point clouds contain occlusions and missing points. To overcome this limitation, we present a method for accurate and fast extracting the skeleton of fruit tree from laser scanner measured 3D point clouds. The proposed method selects the start point and endpoint of a branch from the point clouds by user’s manual interaction, then a backward searching is used to find a path from the 3D point cloud with a radius parameter as a restriction. The experimental results in several kinds of fruit trees demonstrate that our method can extract the skeleton of a leafy fruit tree with highly accuracy.

scholarly journals A New Optimal Selection Method with Seasonal Flow and Irrigation Variability for Hydro Turbine Type and Size

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3212
Author(s):  
Kiattisak Sakulphan ◽  
Erik Bohez
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Hydropower Plant ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Flow Data ◽  
Average Flow ◽  
Seasonal Flow ◽  
Flow Rate Range

A micro hydropower plant of the run-of-river type is considered to be the most cost-effective investment in developing counties. This paper presents a novel methodology to improve flow estimation, without using the flow direction curve (FDC) method, to determine the turbine type and size to operate consistently. A higher precision is obtained through the use of seasonal flow occurrence data, irrigation variability, and fitting the best probability distribution function (PDF) using flow data. Flow data are grouped in classes based on the flow rate range. This method will need a larger dataset but it is reduced to a tractable amount by using the PDF. In the first part of the algorithm, the average flow of each range is used to select the turbine type. The second part of the algorithm determines the optimal size of the turbine type in a more accurate way, based on minimum and maximum flow rates in each class range instead of the average flow rate. A newly developed micro hydropower plant was installed and used for validation at Baan Khun Pae, Chiang Mai Province. It was found, over four years of observation from 2014–2018, that the plant capacity factor was 82%.

Design and testing of an automatic irrigation controller for fruit tree orchards, based on sap flow measurements

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (7) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Fernández ◽  
R. Romero ◽  
J. C. Montaño ◽  
A. Diaz-Espejo ◽  
J. L. Muriel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Control ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Sap Flow ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Pulse Velocity ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Stem Water Potential ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Flow Measurements

We designed and tested an automatic irrigation control system for fruit tree orchards, designated CRP. At the end of each day, the device calculates the irrigation dose (ID) from sap flow readings in the trunk of trees irrigated to replenish the crop water needs, relative to similar measurements made in over-irrigated trees. It then acts on the pump and electrovalve to supply an ID sufficient to keep the soil close to its field capacity during the irrigation period. Remote control of the system is possible from any computer or Smartphone connected to the Internet. We tested the CRP in an olive orchard in southern Spain. The device was robust and able to filter and amplify the output voltages of the heat-pulse velocity probes and to calculate reliable sap flow data. It calculated and supplied daily irrigation amounts to the orchard according to the specified irrigation protocol. The remote control facility proved to be useful for getting real-time information both on the CRP behaviour and the applied IDs, and for changing parameters of the irrigation protocol. For our conditions, olive trees with big root systems growing in a soil with a remarkable water-holding capacity, the approach mentioned above for calculating ID had not enough resolution to replace the daily crop water consumption. The device, however, was able to react when the soil water content fell below the threshold for soil water deficit. The threshold value was identified with simultaneous measurements of stem water potential in the instrumented trees. Our results suggest a change in the irrigation protocol that will allow the CRP to apply a recovery irrigation whenever that threshold is reached, making the device suitable for applying a deficit irrigation strategy in the orchard.

A MECHANICAL TRAP FOR SAMPLING POPULATIONS OF SMALL, ACTIVE INSECTS

1977 ◽  
Vol 109 (10) ◽  
pp. 1405-1407 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.R. Menzies ◽  
E.A.C. Hagley
Keyword(s):  
Conventional Method ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Resident Population ◽  
Rapid Movement ◽  
Tree Canopies

It is difficult to estimate numbers of small active insects, particularly predators, in fruit-tree canopies because of the frequent and rapid movement of these species. The conventional method of sampling such populations requires tapping the branch to dislodge the insects which fall to a cloth tray from which they are recovered and counted. However, many species take to flight very rapidly and escape before identification is possible. A sampling method was required which would rapidly enclose a volume of the canopy without disturbing the resident population, thereby eliminating inaccuracies in the sample obtained. This note describes a remotely operated mechanical trap which can be placed on a limb in the tree canopy. The insects thus trapped can be immobilized, counted, and identified.

scholarly journals An Image-based Method to Study the Fruit Tree Canopy and the Pruning Biomass Production in a Peach Orchard

HortScience ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1809-1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Lordan ◽  
Miquel Pascual ◽  
Francisco Fonseca ◽  
Víctor Montilla ◽  
Josep Papió ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Fruit Tree ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Trunk Diameter ◽  
Canopy Area ◽  
Image Technique ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Peach Orchard

The feasibility of two nondestructive methods based on image processing techniques was assessed for fruit tree research. The methods were evaluated in a 2-year (2011 and 2012) field experiment, during which various irrigation and soil management treatments were set up in a commercial peach orchard. Canopy image analysis was conducted using two approaches, namely the orthoimage and the lateral image technique. The proposed methods were compared with other classical measurements such as trunk diameter (TD) increase and pruning weight (PW). Orthoimage canopy area (OCA) analysis resulted in a reliable and sensitive technique to study the active crop growth along the growing season. The OCA values obtained were highly correlated with TD measurements (r2 = 0.88), thus describing an exponential significant model (y = 0.0997 e0.0521x). Cumulative crop growth was determined using the virtual pruning (VP) technique. VP estimates were well correlated with fruit tree PWs during 2011 (r2 = 0.86) and 2012 (r2 = 0.80). The nondestructive image-based techniques proved sensitive to crop growth and useful for the study of fruit tree canopies. On the basis of our results, we conclude that the proposed image analysis methods are valuable new approaches with wide applications in fruit tree research.

scholarly journals STUDY ON FILLING PERFORMANCE OF HOLE FERTILIZATION DEVICE AND OPTIMIZATION OF CAVITY

2021 ◽  
pp. 141-150
Author(s):  
Zhiqi Zheng ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Zhengdao Liu ◽  
Qingjie Wang ◽  
Hongbo Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rotational Speed ◽  
Structure Design ◽  
Variation Coefficient ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
Simulation Test ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Evaluation Indexes ◽  
Average Accuracy ◽  
Average Variation ◽  
Opening Width

Hole fertilization is an effective method to improve the utilization rate of chemical fertilizer. In order to improve the accuracy and stability of the amount of fertilizer discharging for the hole fertilization device, this paper proposed the method of rotary filling by notched disk, designed a hole fertilization device with notched disk, and completed the structure design of the device and cavity. Through the dynamic analysis of fertilizer particles in the process of fertilizer filling, this study found that the interface span of fertilizer cavity, the rotational speed of fertilizer disk, and the amount of fertilizer applied in each hole are the main factors affecting the performance of filling. Then, this study carried out the three-factor quadratic orthogonal rotation combination simulation test to optimize the structure of the cavity. The test used the discrete element method with interface span of fertilizer cavity, the rotational speed of fertilizer disk, and the amount of fertilizer applied in each hole as test factors and the accuracy and variation coefficient of filling amount as evaluation indexes. Results showed that the optimal performance was obtained when the cross section span of the cavity was 13.58°, the opening width was 29.56 mm, and the depth was 22.08 mm. The field validation showed that the average accuracy of filling amount per hole was 97.67%, and the average variation coefficient was 1.90%. The performance of fertilizer discharge satisfied the design requirements, and agreed with the law of the simulation results. The research results could provide a theoretical basis for the design of hole fertilization device and the improvement of filling performance.

Advancing Suction Performance in Hydrocarbon Liquids

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin A. Kaupert ◽  
Keijun Kamio
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Centrifugal Impeller ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Variable Pitch ◽  
Constant Pitch ◽  
Entire Flow ◽  
Flow Rate Range ◽  
Suction Performance

Details are presented on design investigations to advance the suction performance of inducers combined with centrifugal impellers for pumping liquid hydrocarbons such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). In particular minimizing the NPSHr3 is emphasized over the entire flow range. Design advances are made with the combined efforts of computational fluid dynamics, analytical methods, and test results. In particular the focus here is on inducer flow incidence and resulting blade loading by examining the NPSHr3 performance of the variable pitch and constant pitch helical style inducers for use over the full flow rate range taken as 35% to 130% of the pump BEP. Results indicate the combined centrifugal impeller with a variable pitch inducer tends to have lower NPSHr3 at BEP and below the pump BEP flow rate, but the constant pitch inducer can have superior performance near the pump maximum flow rate.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document