Smart Sprayer - Dose Control

The project aims to develop an innovative control system for a field crop sprayer that is able to deliver accurate doses across a field with modern, large-scale equipment operating at high work rates. The work will involve quantifying the limitations in current technology, designing, developing and implementing a new control system that involves integrating state-of-the-art hardware with innovative software strategies, testing the system performance and validating the benefits, and integrating with farm management software. The project is led by a UK sprayer manufacturer who aims to increase their ability to compete in a world market, has a research partner with expertise in pesticide application, sprayer control and precision agriculture who can provide independent testing and validation and dissemination of results, and a manufacturer of farm management software to ensure integration of the system to maximise uptake. A successful project will ensure major improvements in the accuracy of pesticide delivery, increasing the efficiency of the operation, maximising the performance of plant protection products and reducing environmental impacts.