14
The second factor is the mechanical design of the sprayer. The
Sensi
setting does affect the reaction time of your boom – the higher the number
the quicker the response. However, how high you can run the
Sensi
setting is determined to a large extent by mechanical issues related to the
boom and sprayer.
Important design issues include the style of main boom mount (for example,
center pivot or nonparallel links), the amount of mechanical damping and
spring centering on the main boom mount, and whether a main boom roll
system is available on the sprayer. All of these factors together determine
the maximum
Sensi
setting you can run on your UC4+ Spray Height
Control system. This, in turn, will set the reaction time of the boom in a
given situation.
The UC4+ electronics are rarely the limiting factor in determining overall
automatic height control performance.
5.1.3
UC4+ over Ditches, Waterways and Outside Rounds
Many situations exist where one sensor may be reading over terrain that does
not accurately reflect the situation for the rest of the boom. For example, if
you are spraying along a waterway, it may be necessary to run the outer
boom sensor out into the waterway itself. This situation is similar to the
picture in
Figure 3
. In this example, the outer sensor will bring the boom
lower than desired and may put the mid-point of the boom at risk. Outside
rounds adjacent to very weedy areas or tall thick grass are examples of the
opposite situation.
In these situations the operator must remain alert and override
AUTO
mode
when necessary. Addition of the optional severe terrain (inner) sensors will
greatly improve performance in these situations.
5.1.4
Driving Through Ditches and Over Terraces
Changes in terrain that include driving over terraces or through ditches are
special performance cases. This type of terrain can cause the sprayer or
spray cart to pitch and roll significantly. Sprayer operation at speeds of 15-
30 km/hr (10-20 mph) in severe terrain may result in rapid changes in boom
tip height. In these situations, typical sprayer hydraulic systems are not
capable of tip speeds high enough to correct for the induced error.
There are two solutions to this problem. The first solution is for the operator
to recognize these situations before they occur and manually raise the boom
section(s) to a safe height. To return to
AUTO
mode, use the "
AUTO
(YES)
" switch.
The second solution is to add a roll control system to your sprayer (if one is
available). This type of system will compensate for the sprayer roll in this
situation and also add stability to your boom in normal operating conditions.
