Smart Droplets: The pieces have come together!

Our technology components are ready to move us to the next phase

Smart Droplets is an EU-funded project coordinated by the Agricultural University of Athens, aiming to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of crop spraying practices. To this end, it enables a holistic technology solution, combining a wide range of digital technologies in an innovative approach. The mission of Smart Droplets is to address major challenges in the agricultural sector, such as the overuse of chemicals and the need to optimise resources and save inputs.

As the project is making progress, the pieces of the puzzle have been put in place, and the technologies involved in the project have reached a certain level of readiness; our project is moving towards the next exciting steps, where our crop spraying solution will be tested in the fields.

But what was needed to be achieved before we deploy our tractors in the Lithuanian wheat fields and in the Spanish apple orchards?

• Autonomous retrofit tractors: Smart Droplets will deploy an autonomous retrofit tractor that will carry the spraying machine and sensors to execute the spraying tasks successfully. To ensure that the tractors can move autonomously, with precision and safety, our partners, EURECAT and Agreenculture had to work both individually and in collaboration with each other. Both teams have great expertise in robotic technologies applied in agriculture and worked hard to overcome various challenges, helping the project to proceed to the next steps.

• Direct Injection Spraying system (DIS): DIS technology allows for the precise, separate application of various agrochemicals directly at the point of use, addressing common challenges like chemical mixing errors and off-target spraying. AGROMA’s dedication and persistence in assembling a state-of-the-art custom DIS crop spraying system have been commendable, despite the setbacks and challenges that are included in such a demanding task. The system will soon be installed on the autonomous tractors.

• Digital Twin models and IoT infrastructure: Smart Droplets will adopt a hybrid approach for spraying recommendations, combining predictions on regional, farm, and plant levels. Farmers need to implement reliable and safe solutions depending on the dynamic changes in their crops. The digital twin models serve this purpose by running various scenarios with data taken from the fields. Thanks to these models, the recommendations of the Farm Management Information Software can be effective, presenting the best possible choice for the producers. The Wageningen University has done excellent work in the development of these models.

 The importance of interoperability

Digital technologies cannot stand alone without effective data management and interpretation, as well as the crucial factor of interoperability.

Interoperability is essentially the state where all the different hardware and software included in the technology work together seamlessly. It is the ability of digital systems to communicate, exchange data, federate knowledge, and, in general, work together towards the common goal in a seamless manner. Within a project such as Smart Droplets, where a holistic solution needs to be developed, we can understand why this factor is so important. In order to achieve the needed level of interoperability, many partners had to team up with their colleagues and establish an effective way of communication and collaboration. This is why horizon research programs are so valuable, bringing together bright, innovative minds from different countries and scientific backgrounds to work for a common purpose.

Various sensors within machinery are needed to make sure that all the different hardware is working properly, and the IoT experts at Vizlore Labs are responsible for that.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.