Sensor-based ultra-localized spraying solution

3S Spot Spray Sensor®, the field anomaly detection solution for spraying from EXEL Industries

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Context

2015

Paris Climate Agreement

The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to mitigate climate change by limiting global warming to below 2°C and aims to achieve the target of less than 1.5°C. It also aims to strengthen the capacity of countries to cope with the consequences of climate change and to support them in their efforts. The Paris Agreement is the first ever legally binding global agreement on climate change, adopted at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015.

2019

European Green Deal

Five years after the Paris Climate Agreement, the EU has committed to being the first continent to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Launched in 2019, the European Green Deal for Europe mobilises states to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels.With agriculture currently accounting for 10% of the EU’s GHGs, the Farm to Fork strategy is at the heart of the European Green Deal with the aim of making food systems fair, healthy and environmentally friendly. The strategy includes 27 concrete actions to transform the EU’s food system by 2030, including

– a 50% reduction in the use and risk of pesticides
–a reduction of at least 20% in fertiliser use – including animal manure
–a 50% reduction in sales of antimicrobials used for farm animals and aquaculture
–achieving 25% of agricultural land in organic farming, from the current level of 8%

2020

Launch of the 3S Spot Spray Sensor® project

1 year after its creation as a subsidiary of the Exel Industries group, Exxact Robotics launches the 3S Spot Spray Sensor® project. This on-board camera technology offers an acceleration in the ultra-localized spraying of the global spray machine giant’s brands. By combining advanced sensors and artificial intelligence, inputs are sprayed at the right dose and in the right place to safeguard the environment and limit addiction to the molecules used.

2021

3S Spot Spray Sensor® technology made official

Through the combined efforts of the R&D, software and hardware teams, as well as optical and field support providers, Exxact Robotics has made the 3S Spot Spray Sensor® technology official, just one year after the start of the project, with perfect integration into the sprayer booms of the Exel Industries group (Agrifac, Tecnoma, Evrard, Berthoud, ETWorks, etc.)

A solution adapted to farmers' needs

100% integrate

The 3S Spot Spray Sensor® benefits from close collaboration with sprayer manufacturers thanks to a partnership with the brands of the EXEL Industries group (Agrifac, Apache, Berthoud, Evrard, Hardi, Tecnoma…) which enables it to optimise the technology to the best of its ability to meet the constraints of the machine operators and to respond precisely to the needs of farmers.
Various subjects are thus perfected, such as the integration of the sensor boom for better stability control, communication with the sprayer’s regulation system for better application efficiency, and the integration of the console in the cab for better ergonomics, while ensuring an acceptable and rapidly amortizable cost for the farmers.

Industrial solution

The 3S Spot Spray Sensor® technology offers a significant reduction in the use of conventional chemical inputs (herbicide, nitrogen, fungicide and insecticide) thanks to specially designed on-board sensors that enable precise, localised spraying. The farmer’s product purchase costs and environmental impacts are drastically reduced, while potentially increasing crop yields.
High performance power and communication cabling has been developed to connect the cameras to a single high performance central unit, providing a reliable system that is easy and convenient to maintain and simple to upgrade.

Multipurpose

Specific real-time image analysis using artificial intelligence has been implemented to ensure that the system accurately detects and locates anomalies such as weeds, lack of fertilization, diseases or pests with the same material, for use on bare soil and standing crops, day and night, at speeds of up to 25 km/h.

The 3S Spot Spray Sensor® technology fits all sprayers:

One sensor every 3m, for high accuracy on the most common systems. Ideal for section cutting
One sensor every meter, for optimum accuracy and better shadow management in row crops. Ideal for nozzle spraying.

Perfect integration with EXEL Industries' brands

The 3S Spot Spray Sensor® benefits from close collaboration with sprayer manufacturers thanks to a partnership with the brands of the EXEL Industries group (Agrifac, Apache, Berthoud, Evrard, Hardi, Tecnoma…) which enables it to optimise the technology to the best of its ability to meet the constraints of the machine operators and to respond precisely to the needs of farmers.
Various subjects are thus perfected, such as the integration of the sensor boom for better stability control, communication with the sprayer’s regulation system for better application efficiency, and the integration of the console in the cab for better ergonomics, while ensuring an acceptable and rapidly amortizable cost for the farmers.

A quality process

Market acceptance of a major innovation such as ultra-localized spraying will rely heavily on effective spray application. That is why EXXACT Robotics has established collaborations with leading engineers and scientists from Eurofins Agroscience Services and Wageningen Plant Research, a department of Wageningen University and Research to measure the operational performance of the 3S Spot Spray system.