The problem with camera/spot-spray systems that nobody wants to talk about - Part 5

Correction on WeedSeeker and classifications for spot sprayers.

I met with Scott Jameson (WeedSeeker Brand Manager) for WeedSeeker 2 on Friday and he gave me a wrap over the knuckles for neglecting to make the same distinction between the spray controller based camera systems with WeedSeeker 2 as I did with the WEED-IT. Sorry about that Scott.

#See the WeedSeeker 2 note below.

So let me make those distinctions clearer today. Since all spot sprayers are not the same, I'm going to classify them into three main groups. I'm not concerned with camera/s or sensors just the rate controller and nozzles. The spraying bits.

Group 1 - Single Spot Only

• WeedSeeker 2 (no rate controller required)
• WEED-IT (own rate controller)
• Carbon Bee (Sprayer rate controller integration required)

This group keep things simple. You choose a nozzle based on it operating in isolation without overlap and accept the fact that when consecutive nozzles engage, the rate approximately doubles.

Group 2 - Multi Nozzle with Single Spot capability.

• See & Spray
• Agrifac/Bilberry (AicPlus)
• Goldacres/Bilberry (WEEDETECT)
• Miller/Bilberry

With this group and the Carbon Bee from Group one, the spray rate control systems (as at Feb 2025) do not factor into account nozzle height and angle in their operations. They operate on blanket rates. This is totally fine in multi nozzle (side safety) mode because the nozzles overlap and it's situation normal.

When/if you switch over to single spot, unless you either, slow down a lot, double batch or change your nozzle to a suitable size and angle, your rate applied approximately halves because the rate controller is still blanket spraying.

That is why in our Apps we calculate a controller rate setting for you which is a bit less than double the single spot rate you are targeting.

Group 3 - Sectional and Pixel based spraying.

• Goldacres Section Select
• Any system applying based on satellite or drone maps.

The Goldacres section select is self explanatory, Every activation engages a full section of nozzles.They run on a blanket rate so situation normal, except that 80° nozzles should be used, at least on the section end to reduce the effects of wasted edges.

Map based applications usually cover a rectangle that will engage more than one nozzle at a time, so again we select the nozzles based on the multi spot (blanket) rate. Similarly, 80° nozzles are preferred.

That's it for today. Any questions arising, just call.

Dave

08 6102 5886

#WeedSeeker 2

WeedSeeker 2 operates apart from the rate controller. You simply set the pressure from the charts provided (produced by Bill Gordon they are calculated on nozzle height and angle), set the pressure manually and go. The App we produce for WeeSeeker users is another way of choosing nozzles. You can register and download your own custom App from App Central

Disclaimer - There may be other systems under development in Australia or information about potential improvements from manufacturers about which I am unaware. If any such information is available, please contact me and I will share it.