Equipment for localized herbicides spraying for weed control in pre-planting and after soybean crop emergence using multispectral images and computer vision

• Grant number: 23/10681-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Agricultural Machinery and Implements
• Principal Investigator: Yuri Sarreta Oda
• Grantee: Yuri Sarreta Oda
• Company: Agrio Tecnologia Ltda
• CNAE: Desenvolvimento de programas de computador sob encomenda ; Consultoria em tecnologia da informação ; Serviços de engenharia
• City: São Carlos
• Pesquisadores principais: Lucas Orlandi de Oliveira
• Associated researchers: Bruno Sartorelli Laissener ; Jarbas Caiado de Castro Neto ; Samuel de Paula
• Associated research grant: 22/06153-2 - Development of a precision agriculture system applied to real time detection of soy plants and weeds in a controlled environment using multi spectral cameras and artificial intelligence, AP.PIPE
• Associated research grant(s): 24/07744-0 - Agrio's localized herbicides spray equipment marketing leverage by product design, exhibitions throughout brazilian's agriculture fairs, branding and visual identity development., AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/02335-4 - Development of a system based on Computer Vision for the real-time detection and classification of weeds and soybean plants using multispectral images, BP.TT; 24/02706-2 - Development of the enclosure and mechanics of Agrio Tecnologia selective sprayer prototype, BP.TT; 24/02334-8 - Equipment for localized herbicides spraying for weed control in pre-planting and after soybean crop emergence using multispectral images and computer vision, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Currently, Precision Agriculture (PA) is an area that has been receiving continuous investments in the country due to its potential to optimize agricultural inputs and productivity through data analysis, collected by sensors or implements. PA assists farmers in decision-making processes, enabling site-specific crop management considering the heterogeneity of plots and spatial-temporal variabilities. Total area chemical control of weeds using herbicides leads to significant environmental pollution, high costs for farmers purchasing these inputs, and unintended exposure of non-target organisms, contributing to herbicide resistance in weeds widely used in the field. To address these issues, localized spraying equipment designed to be installed in agricultural machinery has emerged as a promising alternative. These devices can apply herbicides solely to detected weeds, generating interest among the scientific-business community and numerous farmers worldwide. This research project aims to develop a prototype of such equipment capable of real-time detection and classification of weeds and soybean plants using Artificial Intelligence and multispectral images for installation on agricultural sprayers. The goal is to enable site-specific herbicide applications during different stages of crop management, such as desiccation and post-emergence. Unlike other solutions in the market, the proposed system stands out for its utilization of multispectral images acquired through the combination of two cameras: one color camera (RGB) and one monochromatic camera with a pass-band filter in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength. Additionally, the system employs state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence algorithms for detection and classification tasks, driving forward Agriculture 4.0 in the country. Furthermore, the system will be the first equipment commercially available in Brazil to effectively perform herbicide applications after soybean crop emergence in the field. This capability is achieved by leveraging a multispectral image database built in a soybean plantation during Phase I, which allows the developed AI algorithms to distinguish soybean plants from weeds. The system will also differentiate between narrow-leaf and broad-leaf weeds, enabling farmers to use more suitable selective herbicides to tackle specific weed infestations present in certain regions of their fields, thereby promoting weed control and helping prevent herbicide resistance. As outcomes, it is expected that the prototype developed by the end of this project will achieve detection and localized spraying accuracy above 99% in desiccation applications and at least 95% in post-emergence soybean crop applications, positioning itself as a market leader among competitors and driving Agrio Tecnologia to prominence in the Precision Agriculture sector. (AU)