VARIABLE RATE SPRAYER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VARIABLY APPLYING AGROCHEMICALS

摘要

Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for controlling a variable-rate sprayer for precision agriculture. Highly efficient digital image processing enables rapid and reliable control of the variable rate sprayer. In one embodiment, image processing uses only a subset of luminance, hue, saturation and intensity textural features to provide rapid image recognition. In another embodiment, an image is decomposed into RGB components and a G is ratio determined. For example, the textural method is useful in growing season where colour differentiation is difficult. The G ratio method is useful in early spring and late fall where colour differentiation is possible. These rapid computationally light methods enable a mobile sprayer system to identify crop or field conditions in real-time and to dispense an appropriate amount of agrochemical in a specific section of the sprayer boom where the target has been detected as the mobile sprayer advances.