Smart machines transform China's farms

Smart Corner Irrigation System

This intelligent add-on for center-pivot irrigation systems addresses a common challenge: ensuring the corners of square or irregularly shaped fields receive sufficient water.

The system adds an adjustable "corner arm" to the end of a center-pivot irrigation system. When the machine reaches a field corner, the arm automatically extends and swings into position to cover areas that would otherwise be missed. The arm retracts as the machine moves on. Combined with Beidou positioning, intelligent trajectory algorithms and drone-generated irrigation prescription maps, the system adjusts water and fertilizer application according to crop moisture and growth conditions. Farmers can remotely control irrigation speed and water volume using smartphones. The system has been deployed in Henan province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Source: Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences