Nozzle control aiming to hit the right spot

Part of Ag Leader’s DirectCommand precision planting, spreading and spraying technology, RightSpot controls up to 144 nozzles individually and is said to give more consistent and accurate coverage over a range of operating speeds.

It is suitable for retro attachment to a wide range of self-propelled and trailed sprayers.

Ag Leader Asia Pacific sales manager, Doug Amos, says with increasing input costs and tightening environmental regulations, producers need to look at ways of increasing the efficacy, accuracy and productivity of their spraying operations.

“Adding nozzle-by-nozzle control to their existing sprayer can deliver immediate agronomic and financial benefits by minimising under- or over-application and the potential for spray drift,” he adds.

RightSpot utilises pulse width modulation technology to maintain a consistent, user-defined boom pressure and application rate, regardless of operating speed. This compares with a traditional sprayer that regulates the application rate by increasing or decreasing boom pressure as the ground speed of the sprayer changes: This means any reduction in speed, such as when travelling over rough conditions or around obstacles, will produce a larger droplet size, resulting in reduced coverage and efficacy. Conversely, any increase in speed will result in a smaller droplet size, increasing the risk of chemical drift onto adjacent crops.

RightSpot, controls flow rate and pressure independently, meaning operators can speed up or slow down without sacrificing the droplet size or coverage. The system can also shut off each nozzle automatically, allowing the operator to follow the most efficient path of travel rather than tracing around obstacles.

Additionally, automatic turn compensation adjusts the application rate on the inner and outer portions of the boom to ensure a consistent rate is applied right across the boom during turning.

Amos also points out that the system can be retrofitted to any make or size of sprayer.

“Twenty years ago, farmers could only make changes to the entire boom, while 10 years ago they could control the operation of each section, but today they can control individual nozzles,” he says.

The manufacturer suggests RightSpot is a cost-effective method of upgrading a late-model, self-propelled or trailed sprayer into a state-of-the-art precision sprayer. The system is controlled using Ag Leader’s universal InCommand 1200 terminal, which also controls the company’s steering/guidance systems, precision planting and spreading solutions.
The system will be available via the Ag Leader dealer network throughout Australasia from this spring onwards.