Abstract
Precision spraying in agriculture is crucial for optimizing the application of pesticides while minimizing environmental impact. Despite significant advancements in control models for spraying systems, predictive control algorithms were not used. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a real-time control framework that integrates predictive control strategies to ensure consistent pressure output in a trailer sprayer. Based on information from various sensors, the framework anticipates and adapts to dynamic environmental conditions, enhancing accuracy and sustainability in spraying practices. A methodology is developed to define a proportional valve model. Based on this valve model, the predictive control model optimizes valve movements to minimize errors between predicted and reference pressures, thereby improving spraying efficiency. This study demonstrates the viability of predictive control in improving precision spraying systems applicable to autonomous robots, encouraging future advances in agricultural spraying technologies.

Abstract
Agricultural robots are exposed to adverse conditions reducing the components' lifetime. To reduce the number of inspection, repair and maintenance activities, we propose using audio-based systems to diagnose and detect anomalies in these robots. Audio-based systems are non-destructive/intrusive solutions. Besides, it provides a significant amount of data to diagnose problems and for a wiser scheduler for preventive activities. So, in this work, we installed two microphones in an agricultural robot with a mowing tool. Real audio data was collected with the robotic mowing tool operating in several conditions and stages. Besides, a Sound-based Anomalies Detector (SAD) is proposed and tested with this dataset. The SAD considers a short-time Fourier transform (STFT) computation stage connected to a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. The results with the collected dataset showed an F1 score between 95% and 100% in detecting anomalies in a mowing robot operation.

Abstract
Nutrient quantification in hydroponic systems is essential. Reagent-less spectral quantification of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium faces challenges in accessing information-rich spectral signals and unscrambling interference from each constituent. Herein, we introduce information equivalence between spectra and sample composition, enabling extraction of consistent covariance to isolate nutrient-specific spectral information (N, P or K) in Hoagland nutrient solutions using orthogonal covariance modes. Chemometrics methods quantify nitrogen and potassium, but not phosphate. Orthogonal covariance modes, however, enable quantification of all three nutrients: nitrogen (N) with R = 0.9926 and standard error of 17.22 ppm, phosphate (P) with R = 0.9196 and standard error of 63.62 ppm, and potassium (K) with R = 0.9975 and standard error of 9.51 ppm. Including pH information significantly improves phosphate quantification (R = 0.9638, standard error: 43.16 ppm). Results demonstrate a direct relationship between spectra and Hoagland nutrient solution information, preserving NPK orthogonality and supporting orthogonal covariance modes. These modes enhance detection sensitivity by maximizing information of the constituent being quantified, while minimizing interferences from others. Orthogonal covariance modes predicted nitrogen (R = 0.9474, standard error: 29.95 ppm) accurately. Phosphate and potassium showed strong interference from contaminants, but most extrapolation samples were correctly diagnosed above the reference interval (83.26%). Despite potassium features outside the knowledge base, a significant correlation was obtained (R = 0.6751). Orthogonal covariance modes use unique N, P or K information for quantification, not spurious correlations due to fertilizer composition. This approach minimizes interferences during extrapolation to complex samples, a crucial step towards resilient nutrient management in hydroponics using spectroscopy.

Abstract
As the need for replacing fossil and other non-renewable energy sources with renewables becomes more critical and urgent, wind energy appears to be among the two or three best choices for the short and medium time frames. The dominance of wind energy as the first choice in many regions, leads to an increasing impact of wind power quality on the overall grid. Wind energy’s inherent intermittent nature, both in intensity and longevity, could be an impediment to its adoption unless utility operators have the tools to anticipate the impact and integrate wind resources seamlessly by increasing or reducing its contribution to the overall capacity of the grid. The wind forecasting science is well established and has been the subject of serious study in multiple fields such as fluid dynamics, statistical analysis and numerical simulation and modeling. With the renewed interest and dependence on wind as a major energy source, these efforts have increased exponentially. One of the areas that shows great promise in developing improved forecasting tools, is the category of “Biological Inspired Optimization Techniques. The study presented in this paper is the result of a study to survey and assess an array of forecasting models and algorithms. © MIR Labs, www.mirlabs.net/ijcisim/index.html

Abstract
For a greenhouse located at UTAD-University, the methods used to estimate (in real-time) the parameters of the inside air temperature model will be described. The structure and the parameters of the climate discrete-time dynamic model were previously identified using data acquired during two different periods of the year. Several experiments showed that the second-order models identified achieve a close agreement between simulated and experimental data. Later, it was found that parameters change with varying operational conditions. Thus, for an efficient use of these models in real-time control, a recursive identification technique was implemented for the estimation of the parameters. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Abstract
The number of applications using machine vision and digital image processing techniques in the agricultural sector is increasing rapidly. These applications include land/aerial remote sensing of crops, detection and recognition of pathological stress conditions, shape and color characterization of fruits, among many other topics. In fact, quantification of the visual properties of horticultural products and plants can play an important role to improve and automate agricultural management tasks. In this paper, is described a plant leaf characterization system based on a personal computer. This system uses a digital scanner to acquire leaf images with a resolution of 150dpi. These images are afterwards processed in order to compute some leaf characteristic parameters, such as: leaf area and perimeter, existence of holes, width and length. With the implemented algorithms the errors between the measurements and the real values were typically less than +/-3% and +/-2.5% for the area and linear measurements, respectively. These tests and results were realized using sets of known size images and leaf images that were measured with the proposed system and with a commercial calibrated leaf area system LiCor from Delta-T Devices.