In the world of modern agriculture, efficiency and sustainability aren't just buzzwords—they're necessities. Farmers around the world are seeking ways to maximize yield while minimizing waste and environmental impact. That's why we're excited to share the details of a recent project where we implemented our advanced FJD ATS Precision Spray Autosteering System onto a powerful agricultural machine: a Vogel Noot boom sprayer in Germany.
Understanding the Workhorse: Vogel Noot Sprayer
Before diving into the technology, it's helpful to understand the machine itself. A Vogel Noot sprayer is a vital piece of agricultural equipment. Its primary job is to ensure the precise application of essential liquids—like pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers—across large crop fields.
The specific unit we worked with is a boom sprayer, characterized by several key features:
- Tractor-drawn/mounted unit: This massive implement is typically towed behind or mounted onto a powerful agricultural tractor, allowing a single driver to cover vast acreage quickly.
- Large tank: The bright red heart of the machine, clearly labeled "VOGEL NOOT," is the reservoir. This tank holds the liquid substances that are critical for crop health and protection.
- The boom: This is the machine's defining feature. It’s a long, collapsible metal structure that extends horizontally from the sides. When fully deployed in the field, this boom can span an enormous width, ensuring a uniform and efficient blanket of application.
Boom sprayers are the backbone of modern large-field crop management, making them an ideal candidate for a precision technology upgrade.
Precision Upgrade: Automation Through ECU and Valves
The goal of our project was to transform this essential piece of machinery from a standard sprayer into a high-precision, automated unit capable of smart application control. We achieved this by installing our specialized ATS-C controller to control the original valves of the sprayer. This upgrade brings three new powerful capabilities to the farmer:
Automatic Section Control
This automation feature allows the sprayer to automatically turn off individual boom sections when they pass over an area that has already been treated or when they cross into non-target areas (like headlands or field boundaries). This eliminates costly and harmful overlap.
Consistent Flow Rate Control
Our ATS-C system gives the farmer easy control over the flow rate. This makes sure the consistent dose is sprayed evenly across the whole width of the boom, even if the tractor speeds up or slows down. This helps farmers use their resources only where needed and stop waste.
After just one to two hours of cable wiring and retrofitting, we converted a manually-controlled sprayer into a smart, automated precision tool.
Behind the Scenes: The Engineer's View of the Installation
Our engineer provided a simple breakdown of how seamlessly our technology integrated with the existing Vogel Noot hardware:
"So this is the sprayer, Vogel Noot. We installed our ECU and valves to enable automation. You can see this component is the pressure sensor, and this one is the proportional valve. We utilize these existing points of control." Without changing too much of the original setup, the ATS can be a lightweight transformation to the sprayer.
"If we look back at the sprayer, you can see the control sections—notice this is actually a switch controlling the section, not the section itself. Crucially, there is also the flow meter above here. For the test, we simply installed our FJD cable. We take off the original connector, plug in the FJD connector, and connect it to the flow meter. And then, it works."
The installation centers around the junction box—the nerve center of the sprayer's electronics. The cable for the main valve, the proportional valve, and the flow meter are all accessible here. Our process involves connecting our custom pins and plugs into the existing architecture, making the integration straightforward and simple.