Testing of work quality characteristics of real-time precision application technology

Abstract

Nowadays strict environmental regulations prescribe the economical use of chemicals, their environmental friendly and precise application. The G&G Ltd. in Szeged (with the contribution of Szeged University and the University of Pannonia) developed a weed detection and weed patch spraying system that makes the precise control of weed patches possible along railway lines. This spraying train is equipped with an optical sensor to detect the amount of weed by the railway lines in its nine different sectors and it is able to apply targeted control by using herbicides selectively. In 2014, the G&G Ltd., the manufacturer and operator, which took out the patent for the equipment, requested the Julius Kühn Institut, Braunschweig and the Department of Mechanisation at the University of Pannonia, Georgikon Faculty to supervise the application precision of the spraying train. The task was to measure and evaluate the minimal sensitivity of the sensor, the precision of detection and application, the precision of spraying during different parts of the day, and the precision of the GPS. After summing up the results, it can be established that at a speed of 40 km/h the size of the sample sheet detected 100% was 5 x 5 cm. After examining the precision of detecting weeds and detecting mistakes the biggest deviations can be observed between the measurement data of the different parts of the day (lighting) and not between the spraying sectors. The appliance meets the general and task specific work quality requirements, its application can provide economical, environmental friendly, automatic and targeted spraying technology, which uses chemicals sparingly.