Weather update AgroTechnique Holland
Agrifac wins Bronze Sickle with AICPlus
The field sprayer specialist Agrifac has won 'the Bronze Sikkel' at the AgroTechniek Holland (ATH) in Biddinghuizen. They received the prize for their AICPlus intelligent camera technology, which allows site-specific spraying.
Agrifac presented the AICPlus during the opening of their renewed factory, last February. There are now 3 machines running in practice with prototypes of the system. The company has been working on this for quite some time. AI stands for artificial intelligence. The cameras are self-learning.
Thousands of photos
In short, cameras continuously scan the crop or soil. They take thousands of photos and analyze the image. When weeds are found, the nozzle will only turn on above this plant.
In the Netherlands there is 1 machine running for the site-specific control of knight sorrel. A second machine is active in Australia for weed control, where the technique has been used for some time. However, the so-called 'spot spray system' usually uses sensors that detect chlorophyll and therefore cannot distinguish plants.
Developments
Agrifac is working hard on the technology. For example, a next step is the variable application of crop protection agents for haulm killing in potatoes. You don't have to use a drone or satellite images, but real time measurements and a task map are made while you spray. That simplifies the process. Another development is the site-specific control of dark dust in wheat. AICPlus is not yet for sale.
With the prize, AICPlus is the fifth winner of the Dutch incentive prize, which is awarded twice a year by the federation Fedecom, the organizer of the ATH. The fair will take place from 2 to 12 September on the Walibi site. In total sent the manufacturers offer 56 innovations for the price.
CNH, the parent company of Case IH, New Holland and Steyr, took second place. They received this for S-Brake, an intelligent trailer braking system that is integrated into the tractor. The third prize goes to Homburg with the WaterXTR system. This optimizes the PH value of the spray liquid.
Niels van der Boom
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