DigiHort: Digital Twins for Innovation of Future Orchard Systems

Abstract

New orchard systems of the future feature unconventional layouts and narrow canopies with fruit walls under intensive pruning and training practices. The development of such systems is not only time- and - labour consuming, but also faces other challenges in potential overuse of chemicals, in maintenance of fruit/nut quality and in response to climate change. Our DigiHort solution is to address those challenges via development of Digital Twins powered by High Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence. It includes two components: LIGHT and SPRAY.
The LIGHT component allows its users to have 3D digital twins of their orchard designs and pre-evaluate how different factors such as row orientation, tree spacing, canopy size and terrain could affect the potential orchard light environment. This can help decision makers optimise their orchard designs in silico before creating/reconfiguring real orchards in situ.
Using the SPRAY component, the growers can operate their sprayer digital twin within their orchard digital twin, configure the virtual sprayer with different nozzle types and directions, adjust vehicle speed and/or flight height, simulate spray operations with explicit droplets, evaluate wastage and coverage, and then figure out the optimal instructions to guide their real-world practices.
The ultimate purpose is to develop these two technologies into adoptable, affordable and easy-to-use decision-support tools for tree crop growers and horticulturalists to optimise orchard light quality, minimise spray wastage, narrow the range of investigations, and accelerate the innovation of future horticultural systems with better yield, lower cost and less pollution.