• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.151-162
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• 2022

This study was conducted to develop a rail-type boom sprayer, performing safe spraying with improved ergonomic postures during pesticide spraying of agro-photovoltaic power system. The sprayer was designed to reduce labor cost and to be safe from pesticide exposure, and was analyzed through a comparison with a conventional spray method. The rail-type boom sprayer, consisted of a self-propelled spray and hose winder, hose, and boom sprayer parts, was designed to automatically pull and spray in the vertical and horizontal directions. The performance of the sprayer for an agro-photovoltaic power system was appropriate. From the analysis of postures with the Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methods, the musculoskeletal risk factors to the body using the rail-type boom sprayer were less than those with the conventional power sprayer. In addition, the possibility of pesticide poisoning was reduced compared to the conventional power sprayer. The working capacity with the rail-type boom sprayer was more than five times greater, compared with the conventional power sprayer. After performing pesticide spraying with the rail-type boom sprayer, the labor cost was reduced to 42,750 won·yr^-1, which was 90% (402,750 won·yr^-1) less than the cost with the use of a conventional power sprayer (445,500 won·yr^-1).

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-150
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• 1997

To investigate the feasibility of a boom sprayer in the paddy field, an experimental boom sprayer for both broadcast and directed spraying to the lower part of rice plants was developed. The droplet deposition characteristics of the boom sprayers were experimentally compared to those of power sprayer. Water sensitive papers(WSP) and a machine vision system were used to evaluate the coverage rate and droplet density. It was shown that the broadcast application by the boom sprayer was the best coverage among the tested sprayers. Coverage tate and droplet density were affected by the distance between nozzles and the sprayer ground speed, The best result was obtained when the distance of 30cm and the speed of 1.7km/hr. The directed application showed inconsistency in overall droplet distribution. The inconsistency was judged to be caused by conflict between plants and boom extenders. The power sprayer showed a very wide range of droplet size distribution, relatively larger droplets and inconsistency in cove The power sprayer was judged to be inadequate for the low-volume precision application because of inconsistency in performance and difficulty in adjusting the spraying rate. Based on the droplet coverage characteristics, it was concluded that the self-propelled boom sprayer for the broadcast application was feasible for an alternative to the power sprayer in case of low volume, precision application in paddy condition.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2010

This study was conducted to develop a pull-type sprayer which performs the safe spraying with improved ergonomic postures while pesticide spraying of roses in floricultural facilities. The performance of the ergonomically designed sprayer was analyzed with a comparison of a conventional spray method. The pull-type sprayer, consisting of power pump, hose and nozzle parts was designed to manually pull and spray to upward and horizontal directions. From the analysis of postures with the RULA method, the labor load to arm and wrist using the pull-type sprayer was less than that with conventional power sprayer, so that the intensity of labor reduces. Working capacity with pull-type sprayer was two-fold greater than the conventional power sprayer. After performing pesticide spraying with the pull-type sprayer, the operating cost was reduced to \585,000/yr, which is 79% less than that of cost (\2,197,500/yr) for using conventional power sprayer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2000.11c
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• pp.707-714
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• 2000

For self-guiding track-type orchard sprayer, a low-cost steering controller was developed using two ultrasonic sensors, two DC motors and 80196kc microprocessor. The operating principle of controller was to travel the sprayer between artificial targets such as wood stick placed every 1 m along both sides of the demanded path of speed sprayer. Measuring distances to both targets ahead with the ultrasonic sensors mounted on the front end of sprayer, the controller could determine how much offset the position of sprayer was laterally. Then the steering angle was calculated to actuate DC motors connected to the steering clutches, where the fuzzy control algorithm was used. Equipped with the controller developed in this research, the sprayer could be traveled along demanded path, the centerline between targets, at speeds of up to 0.4m/sec with an accuracy of ${\pm}$20cm.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.406-413
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• 1996

A control system for a self-propelled boom sprayer to spray at uniform application rate was developed and evaluated. The ground speed of the sprayer was converted into voltage. The voltage was used as an input signal. Output signal was current of a servo motor, that controlled application pressure of the sprayer with a feedback control system. Spraying was executed at the pressure of 20~55 psi and the speed of 0.640~0.696 km/hr and 1.040-1.131 km/hr. Although the pressure and the speed of sprayer were changed continuously, application rate was tried to keep a nearly constant amount of 666.67 L/ha. This result showed that the developed control system for uniform application rate was adoptable for the self-propelled sprayer.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2020

Farmers using conventional sprayer system are exposed to pesticide poisoning and soil pollution due to pesticide application. In order to reduce this problem, the effective sprayer system is required. In this paper, we propose development of intelligent sprayer system using tree recognition. This intelligent sprayer system consists of an image recognition module, a remote control, a sprayer system, an air blower, and a control module. It is possible to spray pesticides automatically and manually through remote control using cameras and controls. We conducted a total of four experiments in tree recognition experiment, test of attachment and water sensitive papers, measurement of pesticide consumption, and measurement of worker exposure. The test results showed that the consumption of pesticides could be reduced while giving the same effect as conventional controls.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.391-398
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• 1999

The spraying status of the electrostatic sprayer was evaluated by processing surface spraying images of the natural leaves. Water solution of the fluorescent material was used as a spray medium. The image of the lights reflected by fluorescent droplets was captured under UV light using a color CCD camera. Coverage rate, particle density, and the size distribution of particles were analyzed from the surface images of leaves under various spraying conditions such as spraying nozzle angle and object distance. Spraying characteristics of the electrostatic sprayer was evaluated in comparison with the conventional one. In a case of electrostatic sprayer, coverage rate and particle density increased by the average of 1.57times and 1.01times respectively under various nozzle angles and distances. The number of particle under the diameter of 50 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ also increased significantly.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 1998

A variable flow-controlled boom sprayer was developed and evaluated. Field tests were conducted to evaluate the adoptability of the sprayerr with optimal conditions. Negative response time was obtained from the field test because pump and PTO were interlocked with the speed of sprayer. Another reason for the negative value was due to the definition of the response time. With constant on-time control, the system was unstable at the conditions of small tolerance and long control interval. The performances of the spray system were stable and accurate. The stable and synchronous responses were achieved with a variable on-time control. The flow control system with an optimal condition (1.0 sec of control interval, 2 of damping ratio, 1% of tolerance) provided the proper performance for uniform spraying. A standard operating procedure of the flow compensating boom sprayer for the ground speed variation was presented and recommended.

• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.50-58
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• 2001

Chemical application is very hazardous in confined spaces under the canopy ceiling in Korean vineyard. For a small orchard sprayer adaptable to such a working condition, a low-cost autonomous steering control system was developed using two ultrasonic sensors, two electrically-operated cylinders and 80196kc microprocessor. A distance ranging system timed the round-trip for each ultrasonic wave to travel against parallel targets, placed every 1.5m spacing along both sides of a desired path. A steering control algorithm of the autonomous operation began with ranging left and right targets and the heading was decided using difference between the distances. Electrically-operated cylinders actuated steering clutches to guide the sprayer. Evaluation tests showed that the orchard sprayer could travel within RMS value of 5cm along the desired path. Ground speed did not affect the performance of the autonomous guidance system at the speed ranges of 0.29~0.52m/sec.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.246-255
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• 1993

The paper presents the experimental studies on the effectiveness of some vibration isolators developed for reducing transmission of vibration from the powered knapsack sprayer to the back and shoulders of the operator. A test rig was used to conduct detailed experimental studies on the powered knapsack sprayer mounted on it and fitted with different vibration isolators. Structural features of vibration isolators have been presented and their effectiveness of isolating transmission of vibration, from the engine-blower of the sprayer to its main frame and the operator, has been presented and discussed. Vibration measurements and analyses made by using B & K equipment have proved that the vibration isolators are quite effective in reducing the vibration transmission. The operators felt much less discomfort when they used the sprayer fitted with the isolators developed for the purposes, as compared to the existing arrangement.