Harvesters, Tractors, and Sprayer Booms
Tilt sensors and inclinometers are used in many different ways on agricultural machinery and vehicles. Below are a few examples:
Sprayers
The ability to control sprayer boom angle and boom height with an automatic control system significantly improves the accuracy and efficacy when applying pesticides in several different ways, saving the end user both time and money.
Auto control of the boom angle and boom height improves spray uniformity by keeping the boom parallel to the ground and at the correct height, which reduces unwanted spray overlap between adjacent nozzles. It also improves uniformity by reducing spray drift by keeping the boom at an optimal height from the ground; if the boom is too high the spray is more susceptible to wind effects like drift and evaporation.
Auto control of the sprayer boom angle and height also safeguards your equipment by significantly decreasing the risk of the boom hitting the ground.
Tilt sensors and inclinometers are at the heart of any boom angle and height control system, continuously reporting the current vehicle angle and allowing for sprayer angle and height adjustments as the vehicle drives over hilly terrain.
GPS Error Correction
This really applies to all agricultural equipment, including sprayers. With more and more automation being integrated into agricultural equipment, vehicles rely on accurate GPS information to complete their given tasks. The problem is that GPS transceivers are typically mounted on the top of the equipment, which is often quite high off the ground. The difference in height between the vehicle tires and the GPS transceivers can lead to significant positioning errors, particularly on unlevel terrain. A basic diagram explaining this is shown below:
Tilt sensor and inclinometer data is combined with the height of the GPS transceiver to correct the position error, improving the efficiency and accuracy of your agricultural equipment.
