Development of remote-controlled solar-powered pesticide sprayer vehicle

Abstract

Pest species pose a significant threat to the agricultural industry as they can negatively impact crop productivity and result in potential financial losses due to damage. This research aims to address agricultural challenges in the local area and improve the efficiency of pesticide application. A solar-powered, remote-controlled, semi-automated knapsack sprayer vehicle has been developed to address this issue. It operates using a 100 AH battery that is charged by four 30W solar panels connected in tandem to produce 120 W, providing power to the motors and pump. The vehicle uses a 12 V hub motor to drive the back and steer the front and is equipped with a 12 V window regulator/wiper motor. The vehicle is controlled by a remote control and an HC-05 transmitter and receiver, programmed with an ATMEGA32A linked to a relay board. The vehicle utilizes a 116 psi ≈ 799.8 kPa pump for the sprayer. Results indicate that as the feed pressure increases, the flow rate steadily rises and reaches 4 L per minute at the 799.8 kPa pump. With a pump spray rate of 5 L per minute when increased and a pesticide tank capacity of 20 L, the vehicle can spray for a total of 4 min and cover 159 m. Employing a remote control reduces the need for manual labour, making pesticide spraying more consistent, efficient, and productive. The sprayer also saves time compared to traditional methods and poses no harm to the operator.