Development and assessment of a novel single-drive variable angle spraying machine

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Precision Agriculture
• Crop Science

Background:

• Traditional sprayers fail to adequately cover the undersides of crops.
• Ineffective spray coverage leads to increased pesticide use and environmental pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a variable angle spraying machine (VASM) for comprehensive crop coverage.
• To investigate the impact of VASM parameters on spray distribution and efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Design of a VASM utilizing a linkage system for multi-directional spraying.
• ADAMS simulation to analyze the relationship between input signals and spray angle.
• Control variable experiments measuring nozzle sweep time, pump pressure, and distance.
• Evaluation of spray coverage rates (top, side, bottom) under operational conditions.

Main Results:

• The VASM achieved comprehensive crop spraying, covering both leaf surfaces and undersides.
• Increasing distance (l) enhanced downward spray coverage (DSC) but reduced sideways spray coverage (SSC).
• Upward spray coverage (USC) initially decreased then increased with changing parameters.
• DSC was lower than USC and SSC due to gravity, especially in middle crop layers.

Conclusions:

• The VASM significantly improves coverage of crop undersides and inner leaf layers.
• This technology effectively reduces pesticide waste and environmental pollution.
• VASM offers a viable solution for efficient and targeted crop spraying.