AMAZONE announces intelligent spot spray technology
SmartSprayer system identifies weeds in crops for a highly accurate spraying application, AMAZONE saidSprayer and spreader specialist, AMAZONE, has taken the covers off its newest precision spraying technology, the SmartSprayer, which could deliver up to 60 per cent in cost savings compared to a conventional spraying application, the company claimed.
The concept was officially unveiled at the 2019 Agritechnica show in Hanover, Germany, and was revealed to be the result of a collaboration between AMAZONE; German electronics giant, Bosch; and digital farming solutions specialist, xarvio; which is owned by crop protection company, BASF.
This technology is AMAZONE’s second spot spraying product after the AmaSpot which is a green-on-brown product, meaning it could only detect weed in fallow conditions.
The new SmartSprayer system is a green-on-green system that is capable of detecting weeds in among crops.
Bosch sensors, mounted every 1.1m across the boom, identify weeds.
The xarvio processor makes an application decision based on weed density, the crop, timing and field-specific strategies for weed control.
Pulse-width frequency modulation (PWFM) technology, found on AMAZONE’s existing AmaSpot spot spraying platform, then automatically opens and closes each valve.
“This system is incredibly accurate in all spraying conditions,” said AMAZONE Product Manager, Craig Hopkins.
“Active LED lighting eliminates any potential effect of shadows, poor light or darkness.
“The PWFM valves open and close in milliseconds, which means that application rate of each nozzle can be independently and precisely determined.
“Set on a 25cm spacing, the SpotFan 40-03 nozzles have a spraying angle of just 40 degrees to minimise overlap.”
Hopkins added the system can deliver potential savings of between 20 and 60 per cent.
“Spot application allows for significant savings in both inputs and time, as well as significantly increasing work rates,” he said.
“One spray tank can be used to treat a significantly larger area, reducing the number of refills required.
“It also reduces the amount of chemicals and waste entering the environment.”
AMAZONE spraying technology is distributed in Australia by the CLAAS Harvest Centre network.
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