PRECISION FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM
Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The agricultural treatment system uses a treatment unit for spraying fluid at agricultural objects. The treatment unit is configured with a treatment head assembly that includes a moveable treatment head with one or more spraying tips. A first and second motor assembly are operated by the treatment unit to control the movement of the treatment head. The first motor assembly includes a first motor rotatable in a first rotational axis. A first linkage assembly is connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly. The first linkage assembly is rotatable by the first motor. The second linkage assembly is rotatable by the second motor.
1 . A treatment apparatus comprising:
a treatment head assembly comprising a moveable treatment head and one or more spraying tips;
a first motor assembly comprising a first motor, the first motor assembly rotatable in a first rotational axis;
a first linkage assembly connected to the first motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the first linkage assembly is rotatable by the first motor;
a second motor assembly comprising a second motor, the second motor rotatable in a second rotational axis, the first rotational axis being different than second rotational axis; and
a second linkage assembly connected to the second motor and the treatment head assembly, wherein the second link assembly is rotatable by the second motor.
2 . The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid regulator comprising a solenoid; and
a flexible tube fluidly coupled to fluid regulator and the treatment head assembly, wherein the treatment head assembly includes a spraying head and the one or more spraying tips.
3 . The treatment apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a controller configured to control the fluid regulator and the first and second motors thereby adjusting a position of the moveable treatment head and emitting a fluid from the one or more spraying tips.
4 . The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the first motor causes the treatment head assembly to pivot along a first axis, and rotation of the second motor causes the treatment head assembly to pivot along a second axis.
5 . The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , the first linkage assembly comprising a first leg having an inner side and a second leg having an inner side, wherein the inner sides limit a degree of rotation of the first motor by connecting with a post.
6 . The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a first set of two linkage arms, and the second linkage assembly comprises a second set of two linkage arms.
7 . The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a frame having a first and second opening for attachment to the treatment head assembly, and the second linkage assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is rotatably attached to the second arm and the first arm has an opening for attachment to the treatment head assembly.
8 . The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and second motor are operable such that the first motor rotates in a first plane and the second motor rotates in a second plane, the first plane being substantially perpendicular to the second plane.
9 . The treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and second motor are operable that while the treatment head assembly is in a neutral position a line extending from the center of the first motor would intersect the rotational axis of the treatment head assembly along one axis, and a line extending from the center of the second motor would intersect the rotational axis of the treatment head assembly along another axis.
10 . The treatment apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first encoder coupled to the first motor;
a second encoder coupled to the second motor; and
the microcontroller operably coupled to the first and second motors, and operably coupled to the first and second encoders.
11 . A method of treating a target object, the method comprising:
providing a spraying apparatus, the spraying apparatus comprising:
a spraying head assembly comprising one or more spraying tips, and a spraying head connected to one or more fluid sources;
a first motor assembly comprising a first motor and a first linkage assembly, the first linkage assembly interconnected with the spraying head assembly; and
a second motor assembly comprising a second motor a second linkage assembly, the second linkage assembly interconnected with the spraying head assembly;
determining a first target object to be sprayed with a first fluid emitted from the one or more spraying tips;
adjusting a position of the spraying head assembly via rotation of the first and/or second motors; and
emitting the first fluid at the first target object, the first fluid obtained from a first fluid source.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
rotating the first motor to adjust the spraying head to move along a first axis; and
rotating the second motor to adjust the spraying head to move along a second axis.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
regulating the flow of the first fluid by controlling a regulator to open and close causing a flow of the first fluid to start and stop.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
reading from a first encoder coupled to the first motor, one or more positions of the first motor; and
reading from a second encoder coupled with the second motor, one or more positions of the second motor; and
ceasing movement of the spaying head assembly based on the one or more positions of the first and second motor.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining a pose of a moving vehicle, the spraying apparatus being attached to the moving vehicle; and
based on the determined pose, adjusting the first and second motors such that the spraying head adjusts its position to emit the first fluid at the target object.
16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
wherein the first linkage assembly comprises a first leg and a second leg, the first and second leges rotatable by the motor; and
rotating first motor until the first or second leg stops against a post, thereby causing the spraying head to stop moving along the first axis.
17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining an amount of the first fluid to dispense at the first target object;
releasing the determined amount of the first fluid at the first target object;
determining an amount of the first fluid to dispense at a second target object; and
releasing the determined amount of the first fluid at the second target object.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the emitted first fluid is projected in a short pulse of less than 10 bursts per second, a volume of fluid ranging from 1 milliliter to 1 liter, a continuous volume of sprayed fluid over a period of 5 milliseconds to 300 seconds.
19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
obtaining, via one or more video cameras attached to a vehicle, video imagery of the emitted fluid while being dispensed at the first target object;
determining whether the emitted first fluid is hitting the first target object; and
determining an offset to spraying head assembly.
20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
emitting the second fluid at the first target object, the second fluid obtained from a second fluid source, via the spraying head.