Risk management in solitary agricultural work: new technologies for handling emergency and falls from great heights (SHADE)

Solitary work and agricultural activities are the scenarios of a large number of severe injuries and deaths, also because first aid may be difficult to achieve in isolated locations. This work proposes a technology available on smartphones that allows triggering an emergency call when a fall from height or an unconsciousness state is detected. The results of several tests, which include different detection algorithms and scenarios, are reported in this work. Tests performed with the aid of a dummy have allowed developing a reliable algorithm for the detection of dangerous situations. This system is available as an Android application

Risk management in solitary agricultural work: new technologies for handling emergency and falls from great heights (SHADE)

Solitary work and agricultural activities are the scenarios of a large number of severe injuries and deaths, also because first aid may be difficult to achieve in isolated locations. This work proposes a technology available on smartphones that allows triggering an emergency call when a fall from height or an unconsciousness state is detected. The results of several tests, which include different detection algorithms and scenarios, are reported in this work. Tests performed with the aid of a dummy have allowed developing a reliable algorithm for the detection of dangerous situations. This system is available as an Android application

Eficiência e viabilidade econômica da aplicação de fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática da soja em Campo Grande, MS.

Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência e a viabilidade econômica da aplicação de fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática da soja, Phakopsora packyrhizi, em Campo Grande, MS. O ensaio foi conduzido em na safra 2007-2008. Foram avaliados os fungicidas (g i.a./ha): picoxistrobina + ciproconazole (40 + 16, 50 + 20 e 60 + 24) + nimbus 0,25% (v/v), piraclostrobina + epoxiconazole (66,5 + 25); azoxistrobina + ciproconazole (60 + 24) + nimbus 0,25% (v/v); trifloxistrobina + tebuconazole (50 + 100) + auero 0,13% (v/v) e trifloxistrobina + ciproconazole (56,25 + 24) + aureo 0,13% (v/v). Três aplicações foram realizadas, quinzenalmente, a partir do estádio fenológico R2. Foram realizadas 10 avaliações da severidade da doença (terços inferior e superior da planta) e três da desfolha (a partir do estádio R7), com intervalos de sete dias. Após plotagem das curvas de progresso (CP), foram calculadas as áreas abaixo das CP para a severidade da doença (AACPD) e desfolha (AACPDes). Ao final do ensaio, avaliou-se o rendimento de grãos (Rend - kg/ha), a massa de 1.000 grãos (MMG - g) e a viabilidade econômica do controle da doença. O clima durante a condução do ensaio foi favorável ao desenvolvimento da ferrugem asiática, constatando-se relação positiva entre a precipitação e a severidade da doença. Todos os fungicidas apresentaram valores de AACPD inferiores ao da testemunha, com destaque para picoxistrobina + ciproconazole (maior dose). Esse tratamento também apresentou o menor índice de AACPDes. Os fungicidas apresentaram índices semelhantes de Rend, embora superiores à testemunha. Quanto a MMG, maior índice foi atribuído a azoxistrobina + ciproconazole. A mistura trifloxistrobina + tebuconazole apresentou a menor eficiência de controle da ferrugem asiática. Com base na severidade da doença, rendimento de grãos e nos benefícios econômico gerados pela aplicação de fungicidas, identificou-se os fungicidas picoxistrobina + ciproconazole (60 + 24), azoxistrobina + ciproconazole e trifloxistrobina + ciproconazole como os mais promissores para o controle de P. packyrhizi

Unidades piloto do sistema de produção integrada de feijão comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) em plantios irrigados.

O Projeto de Produção Integrada de Feijão Comum pertence ao Sistema Agropecuário de Produção Integrada (SAPI), do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). É coordenado pela Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, em parceria com universidades, empresas públicas e privadas de assistência técnica e extensão rural, indústrias (beneficiamento e processamento), cooperativas e produtores. A implantação das Unidades Piloto tem como objetivo comparar os sistemas de produção integrada e convencional de feijão comum, analisando-se quanto ao impacto ambiental e aos aspectos socioeconômico e financeiro

Orientation Trajectory Planning Based on Unit Quaternions for Spray Painting Robots

In this paper, we present an approach for the orientation trajectory planning based on cubic B-splines with cumulative basis functions and unit quaternions for spray painting robots. The orientation representation based on unit quaternions avoids potential issues due to the representation singularity of Euler angles. Experimental results on an industrial spray painting robot demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach in obtaining a good approximation of the input orientations. Furthermore, continuity in velocity and acceleration is achieved, as well as limited values of the tangential velocity of the robot end-effector, as required in spray painting

Towards autonomous mapping in agriculture: A review of supportive technologies for ground robotics

This paper surveys the supportive technologies currently available for ground mobile robots used for autonomous mapping in agriculture. Unlike previous reviews, we describe state-of-the-art approaches and technologies aimed at extracting information from agricultural environments, not only for navigation purposes but especially for mapping and monitoring. The state-of-the-art platforms and sensors, the modern localization techniques, the navigation and path planning approaches, as well as the potentialities of artificial intelligence towards autonomous mapping in agriculture are analyzed. According to the findings of this review, many examples of recent mobile robots provide full navigation and autonomous mapping capability. Significant resources are currently devoted to this research area, in order to further improve mobile robot capabilities in this complex and challenging field

Robotic Mapping and Detection of Dynamic Objects in Outdoor Environments

This paper presents an approach for robotic mapping in dynamic environments. Thanks to a detection method based on the notion of free space, scanned points are classified as belonging to static or moving objects. The detected dynamic points are filtered from the point cloud of the environment, and a 2D heat map showing the distribution of the moving objects in the surveyed area is built. Experimental tests are carried out with an autonomous tracked mobile robot equipped with a 3D LiDAR sensor, a 9-axis IMU, and a GNSS receiver in a parking lot. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the approach in a mapping task with dynamic objects

Performance Investigation and Repeatability Assessment of a Mobile Robotic System for 3D Mapping

In this paper, we present a quantitative performance investigation and repeatability assessment of a mobile robotic system for 3D mapping. With the aim of a more efficient and automatic data acquisition process with respect to well-established manual topographic operations, a 3D laser scanner coupled with an inertial measurement unit is installed on a mobile platform and used to perform a high-resolution mapping of the surrounding environment. Point clouds obtained with the use of a mobile robot are compared with those acquired with the device carried manually as well as with a terrestrial laser scanner survey that serves as a ground truth. Experimental results show that both mapping modes provide similar accuracy and repeatability, whereas the robotic system compares favorably with respect to the handheld modality in terms of noise level and point distribution. The outcomes demonstrate the feasibility of the mobile robotic platform as a promising technology for automatic and accurate 3D mapping

Clinical and Immuno-Pathology Aspects of Canine Demodicosis

Canine demodicosis is a common and often severe dermatopathy of dogs. It is caused mainly by Demodex canis, a parasitic mite of the skin of dogs of the genus Demodex, of the order Acarina and family Demodecidae. This study is aimed to review the clinical-pathological presentation of canine demodicosis and the cytokine-mediated immune response to the cutaneous density of the mite. Only dogs with a defective immune response will present the disease, whether localised or generalised. Microscopically, the dermal inflammatory response is similar among dogs. Localised and generalised demodicosis and pyoderma associated with a high cutaneous density of mites are factors associated with aggravation of lesions in both forms of disease presentation. In addition, the participation of cytokines has been investigated in the induction of the immune response in the different forms of the disease. Although different research groups have invested in studies aimed at elucidating the canine demodicosis pathogenesis, there is still insufficient data to understand the important role of the host immune system in triggering clinical signs and the reproductive management is still an effective preventive method for disease perpetuation