Innovative irrigation system

• What was needed: micro flizz® energy chain
• Requirements: difficult environmental conditions due to the use of chemicals and outdoor use; 400 m long cable strands
• Industry: agricultural engineering
• Success for the customer: by using microflizz® energy chain, the Hummingbird is reliably supplied with signals and energy; this allows the system to reliably utilise its advantages (less water, chemical and energy consumption, lower costs, protection of the environment)

The Hummingbird is an innovative system that combines several applications working at high speed and with high precision. The machine consists of several synchronised cable chains of 400 m in length, which are driven by a single servomotor. The technology can be used in irrigation systems, among other applications. The Hummingbird can be fitted with a wide variety of tools, such as nozzles or sensors, which fulfil different tasks directly above the crop. Depending on the crop, the system can be raised or lowered. In combination with the latest software, information on the condition of the crop, such as temperature or nutrients, can be transmitted in real time. A simple plug-and-play concept also enables new wiring harnesses to be added quickly.
Previously, the various tasks associated with harvesting were carried out using different methods, many of which were severely limited in their capabilities. For example, there are agrochemical applications that deliver chemicals to the plants along with irrigation. Mixing chemicals and water led to poor results, as the chemicals usually flowed through the foliage directly into the soil and eventually reached the groundwater. The use of agricultural machinery for irrigation or the addition of chemical substances required at least one driver who was exposed to toxic substances. In addition, it was not possible to time the addition of agrochemicals correctly, e.g. at night or directly after irrigation.

The Hummingbird creates a fundamental change for every irrigation installation in fields and greenhouses. The solution is based on an irrigation system that circulates over the crop. No additional machine is required to treat the crop. With the machine, the work can be carried out automatically at any time of the day or night, e.g. directly after watering the plants and without a person being exposed to the chemical substances. The machine is based on an exoskeleton, a structure that can be installed on an existing irrigation system, e.g. in a greenhouse. micro flizz® e-chain®, which runs in aluminium profiles, guides the various cables and wires safely through the system. The movements within the system are driven by a single servomotor that operates at just five horsepower. Moving the entire irrigation system across the field never requires more than 15 hp, which is significantly less than alternative agricultural irrigation solutions and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. As the nozzles control the crop particularly precisely in the field and also adjust to the height, it requires only small amounts of chemical additives. To summarise, the Hummingbird offers a number of clear advantages: it requires less water, fewer chemicals, less energy, produces a healthier crop at lower production costs and protects the environment at the same time.