A smarter way to spray – save chemicals, save money, and boost productivity.
Weedetect NIR by Goldacres is an advanced green-on-brown weed detection system using near-infrared technology to target weeds with precision and reduce chemical use by up to 90%. Spray and spot, ability to apply a blanket spray at a lower volume to make sure you get those smaller weeds, while applying a larger dose when the NIR system detects bigger weeds. Field conditions and weed load dependent.
Up to 25 km/h speed
With the help of advanced optics, gives high independence, allowing to achieve high robustness to changes in the measurement distance.
Plug & Play solution
Frees from prescanning the field, uploading data to a database, selecting specific crops. Tracking plant activity to create data for optimisation.
The sensors detect weeds (any plants with a given NI level) on soil.
Field tests October 2024 in Austria
- Weed size Class 1: 63 to 95 %
- Weed size Class 2: 84 to 99 %
- Weed size Class 3: 100 %
- False spraying: below 3 %
Detection probability depending on water content of soil and speed. Plants smaller 2 cm² area cannot be detected consistently.
Spot Spraying
The sensor modules only open the attached valves when a plant is detected. Depending on the position of the detected plant, the sensor actuates either the left or right-hand valve.
25cm valve spacing
Each sensor, covering 50 cm on the ground, drives two solenoid valves individually. The spray width of one valve is thereby 25 cm.
Force open/close all valves
The valves can be manually forced open or close.
The sensors detect weeds (any plants with a given NI level) on soil.
Indication of sensor status and plant detection
The sensor operating status and detection is indicated by the sensor module’s status LED and the feedback in the tablets’ user interface.
Sensor calibration
The sensor modules are calibrated during the assembly process.
Automatic adjustment of spraying timing based on driving speed
The sensor system receives the current driving speed of the land machine through a GPS antenna that is installed in the Data Module. Based on the speed, the spraying parameters are automatically adjusted.
Manual speed setting
Driving speed can be set manually in the UI which then automatically adjusts the spray timings.
Setting of the NI threshold
The NI threshold is set by the user within the UI on the tablet. By this, the “sensitivity” of the system is adjusted depending on soil conditions and preferences regarding the optimisation for detection probability or saving of chemicals. The NI threshold is used for development and prototyping phase. This can be changed to a “sensitivity” setting for the final product.
Firmware updates over the year: Sensor Module updates through Data Module
Sensor firmware can now be updated centrally via the Data Module over CAN bus, eliminating the need to update each sensor individually.
Live view of Sensor Module data and status
Display of current NI, detection and valve status. Refresh rate is limited, and not covering full internal Sensor Module speed.
Measurements independent of ambient temperature
Measured NI does not depend on the ambient temperature (given reasonable tolerances).
The system will calculate the total spray savings, including the overall average spray percentage and a rolling average updated over time. These indicators help assess system efficiency and track reductions in chemical usage across different conditions and operations.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Detection Technology | Near Infrared (NIR) |
| Spray Width (per valve) | 25 cm |
| Sensor Coverage | 50 cm (controls 2 valves) |
| Detection Speed | Up to 25 km/h |
| Valve Actuation | Left/Right individual based on plant |
| Control Unit | Tablet interface |
| Speed Input | GPS via Data Module |
| Manual Control | Force valves open/close |
| Firmware Updates | Via CAN bus (centralised) |
| Environmental Tolerance | Sunlight & temperature independent |
| Minimum Detectable Plant Size | 2 cm² |
| Calibration | Pre-set during assembly |
| Section Control | Supported via sensor grouping |
| Spray Savings Display | Total % and rolling average |