Selective spraying - the future is already here

A unique technology for the agricultural sector was demonstrated in the fields near the town. Bulgarovo, obl. Bourgas. The technology called SNIPER like a sniper shot the weeds in the field before the eyes of dozens of Bulgarian farmers. Through a system of sensors, SNIPER recognizes weeds and treats them with the exact norm herbicide. This intelligent system has cameras every 3 meters that control the spray nozzle by nozzle based on color, shape and texture. The development is part of the innovative solutions of the French sprinkler manufacturer Berthoud.

The demonstration of this technology convinced farmers that the technological revolution in agriculture is coming in full force. Berthoud's team, who hosted the event, shared that our country is actually one of the three places in Europe where the French company has been testing its developments for two years. The SNIPER system is the result of these tests and offers farmers a ready-made solution to reduce their herbicide costs and at the same time limit the negative impact on the environment. Ivo Kumanov, manager of NIK explained why the technology was described as revolutionary by our farmers: “The technology is revolutionary because in the last 20 years many innovations have been made in order to improve the protection of crops from pests, but none of them completely changes the approach of work. With SNIPER we have a new approach that allows spraying selectively, that is, the system has its own artificial intelligence by deciding for itself whether the plant is a weed or a crop, deciding for itself whether to treat or not and what the norm should be. We set two norms during the field experiment: basic and double. This means that for taller weeds, a double dose of the herbicide will be sprayed.”

The field tests of the selective spraying that formed the basis of the demonstration took place in front of a group of farmers from all over the country, and all to one were impressed by the work of Berthoud's artificial intelligence. This artificial intelligence creates algorithms that adapt to the culture and conditions of the field and easily recognize weeds, knowing what the main crop is, which in this case was corn in the phase from sixth to eighth leaf. To make it easier to see the operation of the system the sprayer worked with a special blue paint, and as can be seen in the pictures below from the box the accuracy of application is definitely impressive.

The results in practiceWhat practical results did the field test of working with artificial intelligence in a field of 180 acres of corn show? The crop sown in no-till conditions has so far not been treated with herbicide, the applied rate in the field is 15 l/ha, but only in the areas with weeds that the SNIPER system has detected. Thus, 1800 liters of solution were applied to the field of 180 decares, which is in practice an extremely large economy.Indeed, this system works, and the better news is that 100% available today for Berthoud models —Raptor, Brownand Vantage. The Raptor self-propelled model is one of the most widespread in our country in the last 4 years, and this means that many farmers can start spraying with artificial intelligence as early as next season. Selective spraying is where it is needed, which means it is both efficient and economical. Mode of operation of the revolutionary systemHow does this innovative system work? A question that certainly needs an expert answer, at least because the innovation is revolutionary and perhaps it is difficult to believe that this type of technology is available and accessible to Bulgarian farmers.

“SNIPER has sensors every 3 meters that have 3 types of cameras built in: RGB camera., multispectral camera and Hyperspectral camera, and each transmits an accurate GPS position. Thus, each plant is scanned, based on artificial intelligence and the database is judged of which species it is and whether it should be applied herbicide, respectively and in what rate - single or double. Undoubtedly, this system changes the way we spray with herbicide and enables farmers to realize great savings in preparations and resources.” Ivo Kumanov explained.

Although it is quite new, the technology is ready for application and can be ordered both for the new self-propelled sprayers, which are now leaving the factory, as well as for machines already delivered in Bulgaria in the form of additional equipment, the only condition being that the sprayer has the Spraytronic system known in our country, which is available to every sprayer with nozzle by nozzle control. In addition to precise sectional control, the system also helps to maintain a constant droplet size, which is extremely important for achieving a good effect from any plant protection product. Spraytronic can apply a different rate even to two adjacent nozzles. This makes it possible to apply a double dose to weeds that Sniper estimated to be larger.

“We believe that very soon we will have the first working machines in the field and we will be able together with our customers to tell and show more about the results of selective spraying with artificial intelligence.” - added Ivo Kumanov