Acting instead of reacting: Silver medal for proactive BoomControl
With its proactive BoomControl, HORSCH pioneers the further development of the active boom control system. The forward-looking system was awarded a silver medal at the Agritechnica.
At the Agritechnica 2013, the active boom control system BoomControl was awarded a silver medal by the DLG. The system ensures precise maintenance of the working height even at high operational speeds and in hilly terrain and in recent year has proven itself extensively in practice. Proactive BoomControl represents a further development of the boom control systems and is to take it to a new level in the future. The system acts proactively, offering decisive advantages in terms of precision, efficiency and safety. At the Agritechnica 2025, proactive BoomControl was awarded a silver medal at the DLG Innovation Award AGRITECHNICA.
Modelling a crop surface contour
With the well-known BoomControl, the boom is controlled by ultrasonic sensors that are directed downwards in a relatively steep angle and only cover part of the target area in relation to the total working width. These sensors measure the distance to the target area. As soon as deviations from the set distance (boom to target area) are detected, the boom adjusts. As measurements are only taken in a small section directly below the sensor and the advance view is small, the boom reacts to these limited measured values.
Proactive BoomControl goes much further: the previous sensors are replaced by 3D radar sensors whose cones overlap in the area in front of the boom. The radar point cloud allows for a complete recording of the target surface in the area in front of the boom. A target surface contour can be modelled from this data. The boom follows this modelled target area precisely and maintains a constant spraying distance. Thus, an optimum target area distance is achieved across the entire boom width. In addition, the data from the radar sensors can be used to detect gaps in the population or possibly also to record the population density.
Improved application
In the future, the system will contribute to maintaining the optimum target area distance and thus to improving application by further optimising the boom control system. Particularly in the case of deep soil furrows or terraced terrain, the more forward-looking and full-area detection helps to optimise the boom control system. Gaps in the population and low obstacles are also detected and overridden automatically. Band and spot application require high precision with regard to the control of the boom. Precise boom control is the cornerstone of application accuracy.
In addition, the density of the radar point cloud allows for a population density estimation. Thus, the system can also serve as a “smart sensor” and support the user with regard to further decisions in the population management sector.
Due to the target area modelled in advance, proactive BoomControl acts proactively rather than reactively. This ensures that the optimum distance to the target area is always maintained across the entire boom width.