Development of systems for localized and rationalized application of the technology of herbicide application for railroads

• Grant number: 98/07685-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: November 01, 1998
• End date: September 30, 2004
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: José Armando Furlani Junior
• Grantee: José Armando Furlani Junior
• Company: Infrajato Engenharia Ltda
• City: Botucatu

Abstract

This research project aims to develop and evaluate new techniques and equipment for the application of herbicides. It is intended to bring together advanced technologies relating to the selection of snouts, construction of duster bars, electronic management and localized application. In addition, the project seeks to train the proposing company’s personnel in order to offer services in the control of nuisance plants on railroads and the development and employment of concepts of localized application of agricultural herbicides in general. In this second phase, we propose to build a piece of equipment for the localized application of herbicides and the implementation of an improved control system of nuisance plants on railroads, following the concepts of precision agriculture. The system will be based on an on-board computer to be installed in the cabin of the applying equipment, which will consider three main questions: the generation of the target maps for application, the navigation systtem and the work controller. Mapping of the targets will be carried out by means of prior passage of the equipment over the areas of application, at which time the operators will collect information about the targets, using special keyboards. The navigation software will receive the signals from the DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) and from radar (positioned with reference to the ground), providing information of position and time, which will enable the generation and reading of the geo-referenced maps. The target maps will be transformed into treatment maps with the help of a support and decision system, which corresponds to SGI (system of geographical information) structured in layers, with the ability to manipulate different data banks with support information for the mapping. The work control system will simultaneously read the treatment maps and position the duster, generating information on the dosage necessary and the precise location of application, which will be passed on as commands to the injection systems and the pulverized bars. The injection systems will receive the information and will mix the herbicide in the water in the necessary proportions and at the correct time. (AU)