With its proactive BoomControl, HORSCH presents a further development in the boom control sector, taking it to a whole new level. The system acts proactively, offering decisive advantages in terms of precision, efficiency and safety. Proactive BoomControl will be awarded a silver medal at the Agritechnica 2025.
With the well-known BoomControl system, the boom is controlled by ultrasonic sensors that are directed relatively steeply downwards and only cover a small part of the target area. These sensors measure the distance to the target area and control the boom as soon as deviations are detected. As only a small section directly below the sensor is measured and the forward view is limited, it is only possible to react to the distance measured at specific points (boom to target area).
The proactive BoomControl goes much further: the previous sensors are replaced by 3D radar sensors the cones of which overlap. The radar point cloud does not only allow for detecting the target surface, but also for detecting the soil surface through the population. This data is used to model a population surface contour in the immediate vicinity of the boom. The boom follows this modelled target area precisely and maintains a constant spraying distance. By calculating all sensor data, the target area distance is also optimised between the sensor positions. In addition, the data from the radar sensors can be used to detect obstacles or to determine the population density.
This offers users a number of advantages: due to further optimisations, the system helps to maintain the optimum target area distance, thereby improving application. Band and spot application also require high precision with regard to boom control. Precise boom control is the cornerstone of application accuracy. The system is less sensitive to dust, rain or spray droplets in the sensor area. Soil grooves or deep furrows are detected at an early stage allowing the boom control system to take countermeasures in good time and prevent abrupt lowering. Gaps in the crop and obstacles are also detected and automatically overridden.
In addition, the system registers all objects enabling population density estimation. Thus, it can also serve as a ‘smart sensor’ and support the user with regard to making further population management decisions. Due to the target area modelled in advance, proactive BoomControl acts proactively instead of merely reacting. This ensures that the optimum application distance to the target area is always maintained across the entire boom width.
