AiCPlus

Agrifac introduces the new AiCPlus camera system with integrated artificial intelligence that responds to what the camera observes. 

Soil composition, height profile, etc: No field is flat or has the same composition. The local microclimate also causes variation. Ignoring these variations results in a higher, less efficient use of chemicals, and doesn’t improve the yield. AiCPlus interprets what the camera sees. The different algorithms in AiCPlus were not programmed by a few technicians but learned from farmers, which guarantees that AiCPlus makes the same decisions a farmer would. The intelligent AiCPlus cameras are mounted every three metres on the boom and the system processes and analyses the crop in real time. The desired amounts can be applied immediately with DynamicDosePlus without the need for offline and time-consuming actions. 

Where spot spraying uses infrared technology and is only capable of detecting biomass, AiCPlus uses RGB cameras that are mounted on the boom to detect weeds in the crops. The artificial intelligence software recognises and distinguishes between shape, structure and contrast. The self-learning system needs only one season to recognise a new plant type. The cameras constantly scan all of the plants and all the information is bundled. The rule of thumb for AiCPlus is that an algorithm can be developed for each weed that can be seen in the field with the naked eye. A database is created for plant recognition. 

AiCPlus is not only active in the Netherlands but also in Australia. In the Netherlands, the system is used to detect certain weeds in a field such as broad-leaved dock(rumex obtusifolius). The camera detects the broad-leaved dock and the system sprays only the area the weed grows in. A characteristic of this type of weed is that its colour changes throughout the season and can even have up to 60,000 seeds per plant. These seeds can be active for 60 years, which is why this type of weed is difficult to eradicate. With AiCPlus, the specific nozzles only open when this type of weed is detected by the cameras. This prevents spraying a crop with chemicals it doesn’t need andmakes sure that weeds that are good for the land, such as clover, can thrive.

Last season, the location-specific spraying of wild radish in wheat was successfully carried out in Australia. The camera systems are a great way of preventing weeds from becoming resistant to pesticides. Only spraying where necessary means that you need less liquid and that the growth of the plants that are not sprayed is not affected. 

AiCPlus uses artificial intelligence to recognise the variations. Agrifac already had experience with variable haulm destruction in potatoes. The dose is increased in areas with a lot of leaves; in areas where the haulm is already pretty much dead, the machine sprays less chemicals. 

AiCPlus is fully in line with our 4Es for growers concept. Using the precise amount of chemicals is in line with efficiency and ecology. The resulting financial savings prove that the system is economical. AiCPlus is easy to use from the comfortable, ergonomically designed cab. This enables us to do the best for each individual plant while using less pesticides, liquid fertiliser and water. In short, a brilliantly simple solution.