Pattern Analysis of Agricultural Equipment

A rapid pattern analysis system was developed at Oklahoma State University which samples the swath deposition from agricultural aircraft. A 30.5 m track holding a paper tape is sprayed with a fluorescent dye tracer. The spray pattern is analyzed by feeding the paper tape through a modified filter fluorometer which produces an analog voltage proportional to the fluorescence on the tape. The voltage signal is graphed, and stored digitally on floppy disk for later evaluation. The pattern analysis system has been used as a tool for correcting aerial application spray patterns, single nozzle pattern studies, and investigation of various spray pattern phenomena.