Spot.ag Tracker: A device for tracking pesticide application in spraying systems with hand-held lances

作物病虫害和杂草是提高农业生产力的主要制约因素，在热带和亚热带国家造成的损失占作物总量的40%以上。为了控制这些害虫和疾病，许多农民仍然使用背包喷雾器和手持长软管系统。据估计，全球销售了750万至900万个背包喷雾器。该项目旨在开发新技术，用于监控和指导背包式喷雾器和长软管系统的操作人员。任何问题都可能出错，特别是在协调喷雾器团队时。如果喷雾器走得太快，农药覆盖不足以有效控制病虫害，会产生抗药性；如果喷雾器走得太慢，农药就会在整个作物区域被覆盖之前用完，导致新的疫情爆发。维护不善的设备可能无法发挥应有的作用，而粗心和疏忽可能会进一步加剧问题。管理者需要一种更好的方式来密切关注这一过程。该项目将完成跟踪设备和嵌入式软件的开发，使农场管理人员能够跟踪喷洒溶液的速度、流量和位置，并获得管理和培训背包喷雾器的洞察力，以进行有效的有针对性的喷洒。主要的挑战在于由农药的腐蚀性、通常添加的粘合剂、溶液中的悬浮颗粒以及应用时的高压引起的流量传感问题。我们相信我们已经解决了这些问题。喷雾跟踪将补充Scarab的病虫害监测系统，使农业生产者能够避免作物损失，减少农药的使用，并帮助创造一种卓越的文化。

Crop pests, diseases and weeds are a major constraint to higher agricultural productivity, accounting for losses of over 40% of the total crop in tropical and subtropical countries. In order to control these pests and diseases, many farmers still use backpack sprayers and hand-held long-hose systems. An estimated 7.5-9 million backpack sprayers are sold globally. This project specifically aims to create new technology for monitoring and guiding operators of backpack sprayers and long-hose systems.Any number of issues can go wrong, particularly when coordinating teams of sprayers. If sprayers walk too fast, pesticide coverage is inadequate for effective pest and disease control and pesticide resistance will build; if sprayers walk too slowly, pesticides will be used up before the entire crop area is covered leading to new outbreaks. Poorly maintained equipment may not be delivering what it should, while carelessness and negligence may exasperate the issues further. Managers need a better way of keeping a close watch of the process.This project will finalize the development of a tracking device and embedded software that will enable farm managers to track the speed, flow and location of the sprayed solution and gain the insights to manage and train backpack sprayers to carry out effective targeted sprays. The main challenge lies in the flow sensing issues caused by the corrosive properties of pesticides, the adhesives commonly added, suspended particles in the solutions, and the high pressure at which they are applied. We believe that we have solved these issues.The spray tracking will complement Scarab's pest and disease monitoring systems enabling agricultural producers to avoid crop losses, reduce their use of pesticides, and help create a culture of excellence.