Variable Rate Variable Rate Application Application Equipment and Equipment and MechanismsMechanisms

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Mapping or on-board sensorsMapping or on-board sensors Requirement for rapid changes in rate Requirement for rapid changes in rate Requirement for accurate and precise Requirement for accurate and precise

rate acquisitionrate acquisition Requirement for accurate and precise Requirement for accurate and precise

distribution and depositiondistribution and deposition

Principles of Chemical ApplicationPrinciples of Chemical ApplicationPrinciples of Chemical ApplicationPrinciples of Chemical Application

Perfect uniformity not possiblePerfect uniformity not possible Physical laws dictate rate and Physical laws dictate rate and

distributiondistribution Metering and distribution device Metering and distribution device

designs control performancedesigns control performance

Liquid MeteringLiquid Metering

‘Controlling the rate of flow’‘Controlling the rate of flow’

Liquid MeteringLiquid Metering

‘Controlling the rate of flow’‘Controlling the rate of flow’

Orifice FlowOrifice FlowOrifice FlowOrifice Flow

AgChem Variable Rate ApplicatorAgChem Variable Rate Applicator

Case-Tyler-Capstan Air command System

How do we change rates and treat How do we change rates and treat small areas?small areas?How do we change rates and treat How do we change rates and treat small areas?small areas?

Valves must Valves must operate at high operate at high speedsspeeds

Valves must enable Valves must enable stepping of rates – stepping of rates – e.g. 1x, 2x, 4x e.g. 1x, 2x, 4x combinations for combinations for 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, and off 6x, 7x, and off ratesrates

Variable Rate Spray Variable Rate Spray NozzlesNozzles

Sensed Sensed AreaArea

Sensor Assy.Sensor Assy.

Patchen Cartridge ValvePatchen Cartridge ValvePatchen Cartridge ValvePatchen Cartridge Valve

Designed as part of the Designed as part of the Weedseeker sense/spot-Weedseeker sense/spot-spray systemspray system

Poppet-type cartridge Poppet-type cartridge valvevalve

Patchen SchematicPatchen SchematicPatchen SchematicPatchen Schematic

Discharge Discharge Coefficient: 0.07 Coefficient: 0.07 gpm/(psi^0.5)gpm/(psi^0.5)

Steady State Steady State Current Current Requirement: Requirement: 0.32 Amps0.32 Amps

Why Minimum Treatment Distance?Why Minimum Treatment Distance?Why Minimum Treatment Distance?Why Minimum Treatment Distance?

Need application Need application resolution to match resolution to match sensed resolutionsensed resolution

Treatment Distance Treatment Distance is a function of a is a function of a minimum treatment minimum treatment time and ground time and ground speed. speed.

Variable Rate Spray NozzlesVariable Rate Spray Nozzles

Sensed AreaSensed AreaSensor Assy.Sensor Assy.

Tri-valve Set for Varying RateTri-valve Set for Varying RateTri-valve Set for Varying RateTri-valve Set for Varying Rate

Stepped rates -Stepped rates -1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x and 5x, 6x, 7x and offoff

Can treat 0.6 by Can treat 0.6 by 0.6 m area 0.6 m area applying the applying the target rate on target rate on 85% of that area85% of that area

Stepped Application Using a 3 Valve SetStepped Application Using a 3 Valve SetStepped Application Using a 3 Valve SetStepped Application Using a 3 Valve Set

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

NDVI

Ap

pl.

Ra

te, l

b/a

c

"Ideal Rate"

Stepped Appl. Rate

OSU/GreenSeeker Unit 1OSU/GreenSeeker Unit 1 N-Fertilizer Applicator N-Fertilizer ApplicatorOSU/GreenSeeker Unit 1OSU/GreenSeeker Unit 1 N-Fertilizer Applicator N-Fertilizer Applicator

GreenSeeker RT500

GreenSeeker RT200

GreenSeeker RT500

GreenSeeker RT200

RT200 and RT 500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT 500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT 500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT 500 Specifications

Estimated Price $15,000 Estimated Price $15,000 for 60 ft applicatorfor 60 ft applicator

Senses and treats boom Senses and treats boom width by 20 to 30 feetwidth by 20 to 30 feet

Utilizes existing variable Utilizes existing variable rate sprayer controllers rate sprayer controllers and valvesand valves

Combination Combination Sense and Sense and TreatTreat, and , and Sense, Predict, Sense, Predict, and Treat and Treat strategies strategies

Reaction time limited by Reaction time limited by existing controller and existing controller and valvesvalves

Estimated Price $60,000 Estimated Price $60,000 for 60 ft applicator for 60 ft applicator No No Longer ManufacturedLonger Manufactured

Senses and treats each 2 ft Senses and treats each 2 ft by 2 ft areaby 2 ft area

Uses NTech high speed Uses NTech high speed and high resolution and high resolution controller and valvescontroller and valves

Sense and TreatSense and Treat strategy strategy

Reaction time < 0.1 sReaction time < 0.1 s

RT200 RT500

RT200 and RT 500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT 500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT 500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT 500 Specifications

Reaction time Reaction time limited by existing limited by existing controller and controller and valvesvalves– Capstan Pulse Capstan Pulse

Width ModulationWidth Modulation 3 to 10Hz, 0 to 8 x 3 to 10Hz, 0 to 8 x

– Raven type flow Raven type flow control valve control valve 1 to 5 s, 1 to 2.5 x1 to 5 s, 1 to 2.5 x

Reaction time < 0.1 sReaction time < 0.1 sRT200 RT500

Sensing and Treatment Sensing and Treatment Scale and StrategyScale and StrategySensing and Treatment Sensing and Treatment Scale and StrategyScale and Strategy

2 ft by 2 ft

30 ft by 60 ft

Sensed Area

Treated Area

Sense, Predict, and Treat StrategySense, Predict, and Treat Strategy

High Resolution Sense and Treat Strategy

RT200 RT500

Sensing and

Treatment Scale

Sensing and

Treatment Scale

GreenSeeker RT200

Equipped with Capstan PWM Sharpshooter

RT200 and RT500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT500 SpecificationsRT200 and RT500 Specifications

6 sensors on 606 sensors on 60++ ft boom ft boom Can readily be mated with Can readily be mated with

existing dry fertilizer and existing dry fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia anhydrous ammonia applicatorsapplicators

Fast installation with Fast installation with minimal modificationsminimal modifications

System intended for System intended for fertilizer and possibly and fertilizer and possibly and possibly products such as possibly products such as growth regulators and growth regulators and defoliants defoliants

30 sensor on 60 ft boom30 sensor on 60 ft boom Existing dry fertilizer Existing dry fertilizer

applicators cannot be applicators cannot be used with this system used with this system

System custom installed System custom installed on each manufacturer’s on each manufacturer’s sprayer /boomsprayer /boom

Can detect and spray Can detect and spray weeds in fallow/no-till as weeds in fallow/no-till as well as apply fertilizerwell as apply fertilizer

System can be used for System can be used for other crops and materialsother crops and materials

RT200 RT500

Ag Chem Variable Rate Granular Ag Chem Variable Rate Granular Materials ApplicatorMaterials ApplicatorAg Chem Variable Rate Granular Ag Chem Variable Rate Granular Materials ApplicatorMaterials Applicator