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Integration of Agronomy with Engineering. Development of In-season sensor-based application technologies. Variable Rate Nozzle system. Decision Making And Agronomic Strategy. Computer and Sensor Assembly. Direction of Travel. Plant.
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Integration of Agronomy with Engineering Development of In-season sensor-based application technologies
Variable Rate Nozzle system Decision Making And Agronomic Strategy Computer and Sensor Assembly Direction of Travel Plant First Generation Sensor-BasedNitrogen Management Systems Where next?
Optical Sensing • View • Absorption from plant leaves only Chlorophyll content • Sensor with narrow view – laser, spot measurements • Strategy to filter measurements from leaves only • Plant projected area Biomass • Vision based sensing for N independence • Processing to select plant proportion of view / eliminate soil background • Plant projected area * Absorption from plant leaves N uptake • Sensor with wide view /nadir orientation • Need minimal soil background effect • Side-looking sensors • Need background? • Leaning plant issues • Selective viewing of parts of plants • Upper and lower leaves
Other Optical Techniques • Spectral bands • Red/NIR, Green/NIR, NIR/short-IR • Auxillary pigments / xanthophyll • Water • Fluorescence • Chlorophyll fluorescence – now have Ultra-bright Blue LEDs • stress detection • UV excitation – now have UV LEDs! • GMO markers / indicators
Other parameters? • Height – top of crop canopy • Ultrasound • RADAR • Low cost FMCW devices • Soil moisture content • Dielectric • Neutron scattering • Electrical conductivity • Plant population • vision / optical / mechanical • Dielectric based plant biomass
Potential exploitable technologies • Faster / better micro-controllers • better data processing – more calculations per sec. • Different algorithms, SD on the fly, signal filtering/smoothing • Digital signal processors • better compensation for interferences – temperature, noise • more on-board interfaces • self-diagnostics • multiple parameters (eg. shaft encoder + temperature etc.) • Flash technology • Sensors etc. can be readily re-programmable • New functions as time progresses by downloading program • Multi-function devices • EEPROM • Large on-board non-volatile memory – remembers history
Potential exploitable technologies –cont- • Communications Networks • Types • CAN – ISO 11783 / J1939 • Standardized messaging compatible with Ag. equipment • VTs becoming available • RF – Bluetooth and other spread spectrum • POF • Advantages - Flexible distribution of tasks on machines • Sensors can talk with central box • Downloadable configuration / code • Sensor to sensor coordination • Economical reliable wiring • Centralized diagnostics
Potential exploitable technologies –cont- • MEMS • Better accelerometers / pressure transducers • Better guidance / Boom leveling • Cheaper pressure measurement / nozzle level? • New sensing technologies • Micro-pulse RADAR • IR detectors • Optical switches