Design, implementation, and performance assessment of an ultrasonic-guided bluetooth-controlled spraying rover for vegetable crop rows

Ultrasonic-guided bluetooth spraying rover for vegetables

Abstract

Precision agriculture is an emerging and transformative approach that utilises advanced technological tools to enhance crop management and increase overall agricultural productivity. This paper presents the conceptualisation, development, and practical execution of an automated spraying rover system designed to support precision spraying applications in vegetable farms. The system comprises a mobile rover equipped with ultrasonic sensing, a fluid spraying mechanism, and a wireless control interface, which can be operated using an Android smartphone via Bluetooth connectivity. The system design framework outlines both the hardware assembly and software structure, including the mechanical design of the rover, sensor integration, wireless communication protocols, control algorithms, and real-time farm-level deployment strategies. The rover design prioritises lightweight construction, directional mobility, and smooth navigation, ensuring efficient movement between crop rows under field conditions. Bluetooth communication enables seamless bidirectional interaction between the Android controller and the onboard microcontroller, allowing for the transmission of movement and spraying commands with minimal human intervention. Bluetooth is utilised as the primary communication channel due to its ease of use, low cost, and reliability for outdoor signal transfer. Field implementation of the automated spraying rover validates its feasibility for optimising spraying processes in real agricultural landscapes. The rover's ability to move accurately via Bluetooth commands while delivering controlled spray discharge demonstrates its potential to modernise and improve conventional spraying practices. This work contributes to the advancement of precision agriculture by demonstrating the practical use of rover-based spraying automation combined with a simple and accessible mobile control interface. The automated spraying system establishes a new pathway for improved spraying efficiency, reduced operational time, resource optimisation, and enhanced utilisation of farm inputs, supporting safer and more sustainable agricultural spraying solutions.