With Rometron weed-detection technology and pulse width frequency modulation noz- zle control, the Amazone UX AmaSpot trailed sprayers can deliver 100% to 30% applica- tion rate or be switched off altogether.
RGB camera detection French tech company Bilberry has also devel- oped a camera-based ‘intelligent’ weed detect- ing, identification and sprayer control system. It will treat weeds within crops. Guillaume Jourdain, co-founder and CEO, says: “The deep learning software and constant gathering of new field data from farms around the world, enables us to continuously improve the preci- sion of our system and add new types of weed to the ever growing library.” Earlier this year, Bilberry started working with sprayer maker Berthoud of France to exploit the Intelligent Spot Spraying System. But Dutch manufacturer Agrifac – another compa- ny of the Exel Industries group – has already launched a commercial version. It is called AiCPlus, for Condor self-propelled sprayers. Product manager Steven Koop explains how it functions: “We have RGB colour cameras mounted on the boom, recognising weeds and crops based on shape, structure and contrast. “They detect certain weeds, such as Rumex species in a grass field, and will only apply chemical where the weed is. That way you use less chemicals, you don’t harm the grass, and you only kill the weeds. So it’s better for the crop and with less impact on the environment as well.” With individually-controlled close-spaced noz- zles, a Condor additionally equipped with Agri- fac’s DynamicDosePlus technology can deliver variable rates from each nozzle in a minimum 25cm (10in) square under the control of a prescription map.
Hyperspectral imagery Carbon Bee AgTech’s weed location and identi- fication technology has attracted Kuhn- Blanchard, the crop protection arm of the Kuhn Group, to develop a spot sprayer using the firm’s AQiT-Sensor hyperspectral imagery
Rometron weed-detection is incorporated into the iPad operating system for SwarmFarm Ro- botics autonomous vehicles, now in commercial use in Australia for controlling a broad spec- trum of broadleaf and grass weeds in fallow paddocks after grain or cotton crops.
system. This was developed principally for gathering crop data by drones or ground vehi- cles, to make informed management deci- sions. For this application, it incorporates inter- nal GPS and a wifi access point and comes with a docking station that provides corrected images, interactive maps and results visualis- ation to highlight the presence of weeds or early disease symptoms. Kuhn-Blanchard aims to adapt the artificial
intelligence deep learning capability for re- al-time identification of different weed fami- lies within a crop, or post-harvest residues, for targeted spraying. Initial figures from trials are said to show savings of up to 80% in plant protection product usage by reducing treat- ments to the target plants. It also offers the prospect of improved weed resistance man- agement, adding to the cost-savings and environmental benefits.
▶ FUTURE FARMING | 24 May 2019 17
PHOTO: ROMETRON
PHOTO: ROMETRON
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