Smart-Inject by Knight: Precision Spot Spraying with Instant Response and Zero Cross-Contamination

By injecting neat or semi-diluted products directly at the nozzle, the innovative Knight Smart-Inject system ensures instant delivery for precise spot spraying of crop clusters and weeds.

Overcoming Delays and Blockages

Operating as a fully independent system, Smart-Inject works with spray boom arms equipped with recirculation lines, completely eliminating the risk of cross-contamination.

At the same time, the patent-pending system also solves the common issue of timing delay—the lag between injection of the product into the spray line and its actual discharge from the nozzle, explains developer Brian Knight.

“This delay is a particular challenge when spraying patches or individual weeds,” says Knight. “By the time the chemical reaches the nozzle, the boom may have already passed over the target. Injecting directly into the nozzle provides an instant response.”

He adds, “It also means the system can be used with recirculating boom setups, where unused spray mix is returned to the tank, as the chemical never contaminates the spray lines.”

This allows spot or patch spraying to be performed simultaneously with blanket applications, without any risk of contaminating the entire spraying system.

A Simple Yet Powerful System

Smart-Inject is based on a straightforward concept. Neat or semi-diluted products are stored either in their original containers or in a larger tank, connected to a closed transfer system. A small pump pressurizes micro-lines that run directly to the nozzle body—between the air shutoff solenoid valves or pulse width modulation (PWM) valves and the nozzle cap.

The injection is triggered either by a prescription map or by onboard camera sensors. These signals activate an additional PWM solenoid on the nozzle body, which opens to inject liquid between the shutoff valve and the nozzle cap.

The system—winner of a Gold Innovation Award at the recent LAMMA Show—is compatible with all sprayer types. According to Knight, the plan is to offer the technology via a third-party, making it accessible to a wide range of manufacturers worldwide.

Smarter Boom Control with Contour Master

Knight has also developed Contour Master, an in-house engineered solution for improved boom height control and terrain tracking. The system delivers boom height and leveling adjustments and includes 6G option control.

It uses independent distance sensors—four on the standard version and six on the 6G variant (for 30m and 36m Tri-Fold booms). The 6G version adds an extra VG pivot point between the mid and outer boom sections, providing ±8° of tip adjustment, in addition to the ±5° movement from the rear boom frame.