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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401141

Research Project: Coordinated Precision Application Technologies for Sustainable Pest Management and Crop Protection

Location: Application Technology Research

Title: Target-oriented Intelligent Spraying

Author
item Zhu, Heping

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This book chapter presents rationales of the target-oriented intelligent spraying technology for specialty crop production, the technology development process, field test outcomes, chemical cost savings for growers and the environment, and future improvements. The target-oriented intelligent spraying technology is the harmonic integration of a laser scanning sensor and computational algorithms with electro-mechanical controllers that automatically spray plants with minimal pesticide use. It supplements human decisions and implements optimal strategies to manage the pesticide solution outputs as plants need. This new intelligent spray technology is designed for advancement of the standard 80-year-old orchard air-blast sprayers to precisely apply agrochemicals to protect specialty crops. It significantly saves production costs for growers, prevents the public and ecosystems from exposure to toxic pesticides, and offer a sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to protecting crops.