Progress 01/22/14 to 12/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Researchers, Operation S.A.F.E. testing personnel, NAAA personnel, Spray Plane Pilots, Extension agents, Farmers, and Consultants. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The system was tested at several connon applicant facilities, with representatives from the rice and chemical industries and with extension agents to help improve performance, speed, and acceptance into this industry. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The system and various components has been demonstrated at local events, producer meetings, operation S.A.F.E. events, and other public outlets. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A new method to detect rhodamine dye on airplane test strings was documented in a refereed journal article. This method consists of using a USB camera (with rhodamine filter) and a 5 mW green laser pointer to illuminate the string. The resulting fluorescent spot is read with the camera and a standard blob analysis (available with most machine vision and software systems) is used to determine the magnitude, size, and number of droplets on the string. When this illumination scheme is used on a moving string (which causes brilliant flashes), and these flashes are averaged and plotted together in a program, the airplane's application pattern can be determined. Results from the system indicate an 85% match with standard string fluorescent equipment, but is much easier to use, less expensive, and allows the fluorescence to be seen during analysis. This method may allow for tablets and smart phones to be used for pattern testing without expensive add-ons. Various methods were tested to create an automated dry material measurement system for weighing individual collection bags in the dry material pattern testing equipment. This research examined four different methods: 1) miniature load cell based weight scales, 2) material flow through a constricted orifice, 3) level detection in vials using small optical level sensors, and 4) a material impact measurement system using metal plates fitted with accelerometers. Miniature load cells and the optical level detection (in individual vials) had the best results based on accuracy, ease-of-use, and calibration across three different materials (urea, rice and rye grass seed). Accuracies ranged from 8 to 60 lbs. per acre, but weight scales had the best accuracy with variances of only 1 to 4 lbs. per acre (when using a 34 inch by 34 inch collector size). Future testing will be performed to determine the actual accuracy needed to accurately indicate adjustments on an airplane, and to develop a data collection system that will combine the data in real-time and graphically present the results.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Price,R.R. 2017. A Low Cost Spot Laser and Camera System for Fluorescent Dye Detection of Agricultural Aircraft Pattern Collection Strings. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Accepted for Publication.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Extension agents, local farmers within the State of Louisiana, and researchers. Changes/Problems:None. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Agents, producers, and consultants from the Rice industry provided feedback on the flight line testing of this system while it was being developed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Several presentations and example equipment were showcased at fly-in and Operation S.A.F.E. events held in Louisiana. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I plan on continuing to develop the spot laser system. A newer software package is needed that will collect and analyze data in a more consistent and automated fashion. The depth measurement vial system contained high variances at the bottom of the measurement range. For this reason, a better optical sensor is needed to obtain more consistent readings and/or the redesign of the depth-to-volume ratio of the material vials.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A spot laser system (research grade) was developed to detect liquid application patterns from spray planes for pattern analysis. This system scored well in producing the same patterns as the older WRK system. This system will be fully instituted next year for spray plane research. A material depth vial sensing system was created to measure the amount of dry material (rice and fertilizer) collected in a standard dry bag collection system for spray planes. This system uses multiple depth sensing vials to measure the material collected in each bag. Each vial contains electronics to agitate the bag (with a vibratory motor), measure the depth of the material, andsenddata to a central computer through a wireless link. The system then dumps the material to initiate a new run and clean the vial. Depth measurement in the vials had an accuracy of 11 lbs\acre on rice and 24 lbs.\acre on urea. When afive vial systems was created to check whole system variances, variances were good at the top and middle range of the depth measurement, but high at the bottom.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Price, R.R., and J. Flanagan, J. 2016. Development of a depth vial sensing systems for dry material catch bags. Louisiana Rice Research Board Report.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Price, R.R., D. Marten, and S.G. Hall. 2016. Development of New Equipment and Technologies for Pattern Testing Agricultural Spray Planes. ASABE Paper Presentation #2447772. Annual International Meeting, July 17-20, Orlando, Florida.
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for this project are members of the NAAA (National Agricultural Aircraft Association), members of the LAAA (Louisiana Agricultural Aircraft Association), operation S.A.F.E. personal, and other farmers and producers involved with pattern testing and the operation of agricultural aircraft and ground sprayers. Changes/Problems:Objective 1 (wet analysis system): Initially a small spot laser and camera evaluation system was used to replace the current wet analysis system, but this system was too cumbersome and the components did not easily interface with the current WRK string door and software. For this reason, a second system was constructed using lower cost optical components and microcontrollers. This system will be easy to interface with the current string door. Objective 2 (dry analysis system): The force plate system worked well on individual plates, but multiple plates did not exhibit the same calibration features and future research will evaluate material properties of the plates and mounting position of the accelerometers to determine if these two factors are causing problems. Additional electronics will be added to the optical system to prevent noise. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Agents, producers, and consultants from the Rice industry provided feedback on the flight line testing of this system while it was being developed. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Several demonstrations were given at fly-ins to showcase equipment. Three newsletters were developed to inform the community about development of the equipment. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I plan on continued development of the wet and dry analysis systems. The wet system will be tested with additional test strings and a test model built to operate on the flight line. The optical dry system will be retro-fitted with low pass filters to reduce electric noise and a wireless data transmission system may be used to collect the data.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
New fluorometer system for the "wet" pattern testing of agricultural aircraft: Testing of a single spot laser and camera system was completed this year and the results indicate that the system has the same sensitivities as the original WRK fluorometer system. In addition, a second system was developed which will replace the sensing element and electronics of the Turner fluorometer and allow direct connection to the WRK string door with a low cost light sensing chip, microcontroller, and LED system. Initial results from these tests indicate a good comparison with the original string pattern testing system, but future testing is needed to confirm results. Improve equipment for pattern testing spray planes and ground vehicles: A multiple force plate system was constructed to create an entire flight line analyzation system but calibration of the plates proved unsuccessful as some plates exhibited an exponential calibration curve while others exhibited a U-shape curve making them un-useable for testing. Reasons for these differences are unexplained. An optical system consisting of 27 collector bags also was constructed for testing. This system returned promising results, but vibrational motors used to clean the bags caused an exceeding amount of noise in the readings and changes are needed to correct this problem.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Price, R.R. 2015. Price Test Granular Applicator System Efficiency. Louisiana Rice Research Board Annual Report. LSU AgCenter.
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Price, R.R. 2015. Nozzle Types and Drift Reduction. In: 2015 Louisiana Suggested Chemical Weed Management Guide.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Price, R.R. 2015. Drift Research: Boom Height and Flow Rate. In: Louisiana Crop Newsletter. LSU AgCenter. Vol(5),Iss.(6).
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Progress 01/22/14 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Extension agents, local producers and farmers within the State of Louisiana, and researchers world-wide Changes/Problems: Current dry pattern testing equipment is slow and cumbersome to use and a real-time system is desired to aid in quick analysis of dry application patterns. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? During the reporting period, one invited main group speaker presentation was given on the impact plate system at IAAA meeting (in Moline, Ill), three articles and presentations were published in the books and magazines, six presentations were given at local field days on drift control, and fifteen spray planes were tested. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? I plan on developing better methods to test the newer string flourometer and to continue development of the newer dry material pattern testing systems.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Impact: The continued pattern testing of agricultural aircraft is crucial to drift reduction and leads to high application efficiencies and the conservation of agricultural resources and materials. Currently, the equipment for pattern testing of agricultural application equipment is outdated and requires an immense amount of time and labor to perform studies, which slows equipment development. The development of better testing systems, equipment, and methods will greatly enhance this area of testing and allow for the rapid testing of agricultural aircraft and tractor-mounted sprayers. Objective 1 (New fluorometer system): A new fluorometer system was tested which uses a single small laser spot and camera (with pixel analysis) to indicate the amount of dye on a string (instead of normal light intensity and typical high cost fluorometers).Initial readings indicate a strong signature and positive results, but the response is so exact that current equipment cannot quantify the sensor response. Better droplet size detection equipment (and technologies) will be available next year to accurately quantify the system response. Objective 2 (Improved equipment for pattern testing spray planes and ground vehicles): A dry collector system was developed for real-time field analysis of dry material patterns from spray planes and ground rigs. The system uses multiple thin plates placed across the flight line. Each plate contains an accelerometer and processor mounted on the plate underside to record the impact of dry material. The varying impacts are then plotted to indicate the application pattern of the airplane in real-time and diagnose problems (no other method exists to determine the correct overlap and application width of dry material spreaders on airplanes). Multiple plate designs were tested to determine which design had the best prediction qualities. A stainless steel pan (upside down orientation) had the best capabilities when used at 30 to 45 degree inclination angles (the angle reduces secondary bounces of material and allows the plate to “self-clean”).Laboratory testing of the system indicated repeatable accuracies for rice seed and nitrate fertilizer (urea) in the 20 to 40 lb/acre range at the 95% level (2 standard deviations). In addition, GPS units can be attached to the individual plates for location identification. A complete system (30 plates with wireless communications and remote batteries) will be tested for precision farming purposes. This equipment will create a faster dry material pattern testing system for aerial spray planes around the world.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Price, R.R., 2014. Nozzle type and drift reduction. In: 2014 Louisiana Suggested Chemical Weed Management Guide. pp. 201.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Price, R.R., S.G. Hall, and D. Marten. 2014. Development of an Electronic Sensor System to Improve the Pattern Testing of Aircraft When Planting Rice or Applying Fertilizer. Final Report. Louisiana Rice Research Board.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Price, R.R. 2014. Diacamba-resistant crops offer weed management options. In: 2014 Louisiana Soybean and Grain Promotion Board Report . Ed. Linda Foster Benedict and Rick Bogren. P. 5.
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