IR/UV sensor-based spraying system
A handheld fluid spraying system includes a pump assembly configured to provide a pressurized liquid and a handheld fluid sprayer. The handheld fluid sprayer comprises a fluid inlet configured to receive the pressurized liquid, a spray tip having an outlet through which the pressurized liquid exits the handheld fluid sprayer to be applied to a surface, a trigger configured to control flow of the liquid through the handheld fluid sprayer, and a sensor configured to detect the liquid and to generate sensor data indicative thereof, the sensor being selected from the group consisting of an infrared (IR) sensor, a thermal imager, and a UV sensor. The handheld fluid spraying system further comprises a controller configured to determine a characteristic of the liquid based on the sensor data and to generate a control output based on the determined characteristic.
1 . An automated fluid spraying system comprising:
a sprayer configured to apply a fluid to a surface during a first pass;
a sensor configured to detect the fluid on the surface and to generate sensor data indicative of the fluid on the surface, the sensor being selected from the group consisting of an infrared (IR) sensor, a thermal imager, and a UV sensor; and
a controller configured to:
determine, based on the sensor data, a location of a first pass spray edge of the fluid on the surface applied during the first pass;
define a position of a second pass on the surface, adjacent the first pass, based on the determined location of the first pass spray edge; and
control movement of the sprayer relative to the surface based on the defined position of the second pass.
2 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control an actuator to drive the movement of the sprayer relative to the surface based on the defined position of the second pass.
3 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the movement of the sprayer during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
4 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 1 wherein the sprayer is coupled to end of a robotic arm, and the controller is configured to control an actuator to control movement of the robotic arm during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
5 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to control a rotor to control the movement of the sprayer during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
6 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises one of an IR sensor or a thermal imager;
wherein the controller is further configured to identify a temperature difference between the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass and a portion of the surface around the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass; and
wherein the controller determines the location of the first pass spray edge based on the identified temperature difference between the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass and the portion of the surface around the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass.
7 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 1 and further comprising an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature and generate sensor data indicative of the detected ambient temperature; and
wherein the controller determines the location of the first pass spray edge based further on the sensor data indicative of the detected ambient temperature.
8 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine, based on the sensor data, a first characteristic of a first area of the surface;
determine, based on the sensor data, a second characteristic of a second area of the surface; and
determine the location of the first pass spray edge based on one or more differences between the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
9 . An automated fluid spraying system comprising:
a sprayer configured to apply a fluid to a surface during a first pass;
a sensor configured to detect the fluid on the surface and to generate sensor data indicative of the fluid on the surface, the sensor being selected from the group consisting of an infrared (IR) sensor, a thermal imager, and a UV sensor; and
a controller including at least one processor and memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to:
determine, based on the sensor data, a location of a first pass spray edge of the fluid on the surface applied during the first pass;
define a position of a second pass on the surface, adjacent the first pass, based on the determined location of the first pass spray edge; and
control movement of the sprayer relative to the surface based on the defined position of the second pass.
10 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to an actuator to drive the movement of the sprayer relative to the surface based on the defined position of the second pass.
11 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to control the movement of the sprayer during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
12 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 9 , wherein the sprayer is coupled to end of a robotic arm, and the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to control an actuator to control movement of the robotic arm during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
13 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to control a rotor to control the movement of the sprayer during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
14 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 9 , wherein
the sensor comprises one of an IR sensor or a thermal imager; and
the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to:
identify a temperature difference between the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass and a portion of the surface around the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass; and
determine the location of the first pass spray edge based on the identified temperature difference between the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass and the portion of the surface around the fluid applied to the surface during the first pass.
15 . The automated fluid spraying system of claim 9 and further comprising an ambient temperature sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature and generate sensor data indicative of the detected ambient temperature; and
wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to determine the location of the first pass spray edge based further on the sensor data indicative of the detected ambient temperature.
16 . A computer implemented method of controlling an automated fluid spraying system, the computer implemented method comprising:
controlling a sprayer, of the automated fluid spraying system, to apply fluid to a surface during a first pass;
receiving sensor data generated by a sensor that detects the fluid on the surface, the sensor being selected from the group consisting of an infrared (IR) sensor, a thermal imager, and a UV sensor;
determining, based on the sensor data, a location of a first pass spray edge of the fluid on the surface applied during the first pass;
defining a position of a second pass on the surface, adjacent the first pass, based on the determined location of the first pass spray edge; and
controlling movement of the sprayer relative to the surface based on the defined position of the second pass.
17 . The computer implemented method of claim 16 , wherein controlling movement of the sprayer comprises controlling an actuator to drive the movement of the sprayer relative to the surface based on the defined position of the second pass.
18 . The computer implemented method of claim 16 , wherein controlling movement of the sprayer comprises controlling movement of the sprayer during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
19 . The computer implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the sprayer is coupled to end of a robotic arm, and controlling movement of the sprayer comprises controlling movement of the robotic arm during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.
20 . The computer implemented method of claim 16 , wherein controlling movement of the sprayer comprises controlling a rotor to control the movement of the sprayer during the second pass to control overlap of fluid applied during the second pass over fluid on the surface applied during the first pass.