Objective
Background The introduction of compulsory testing of spraying machines requires a set of standards for testing these machines. All spraying machines must comply with these standards. Orchard sprayers or air blast sprayers, due to their specific nature, will need a specific testing procedure and adjustment technique for what concerns their vertical distribution of pesticides. Until now, no such objective testing procedure or adjustment technique exists. The project aims at developing such a procedure and technique. The package will also incorporate prediction software to assist the user and manufacturer of these machines in the adjustment of the sprayers and in the validation of new designs.
Objectives The objectives of this project are to develop a system for measuring and adjusting the vertical distribution of air blast sprayers with the following target specifications: 1. Repeatability of measurements: coefficient of variation (CV) equal to or better than 1.5%; deviation between any two runs of distribution measurements under controlled conditions: equal to or better than 3%. 2. Deviation between measured spray distribution data and measured dose received on trees under controlled conditions: equal to or better than 15%. 3. Modelling performance (integrated optimisation system): deviation between predicted and measured distribution: equal to or better than 10%.
Work programme In a first stage, a study will be carried out on sensor and aerosol modelling. Several principles for developing a suitable measuring technique will be investigated and one or more experimental sensors with associated electronic circuitry (input/output circuits, data acquisition and data display) realised. Sensor behaviour both in the laboratory and in the field will be monitored with a single nozzle set-up after which a suitable sensor can be selected. In a later stage, a theoretical calculation model will be developed and the measuring device scaled up for a multiple nozzle set-up and linked with suitable software and a knowledge base. The measuring technique must then be optimised and validated under field and extreme conditions and the newly developed technique compared with existing equipment. The package will also contain prediction software to assist the user in adjusting the various settings of the spraying machine according to the different biological stages of the fruit trees throughout the year (without leaves, with flowers, with leaves and finally with leaves and fruits). In a last stage, a description of the prototype and a cost estimation will be made.
State of progress The project started on 1 December 1998.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model
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Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CRS - Cooperative research contractsCoordinator
9200 Dendermonde
Belgium