Artificial Seed Placement Monitoring With Dielectric Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seed placement monitoring systems in planters fail to accurately estimate seed depth and spacing due to seeds bouncing or rolling off-target and displacement during furrow closure, as sensors detect seeds before deposition and cannot account for post-deposition changes.

Innovation Solution

A system using artificial seeds with distinct dielectric properties, detectable by ground-penetrating radar or electromagnetic induction sensors, allows for monitoring seed placement post-deposition, enabling accurate determination of seed-related parameters by inferring from artificial to real seed data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If seed tube sensors are used to detect seeds before deposition, then seed detection capability is provided, but measurement precision of seed depth and spacing deteriorates due to seed movement during deposition and furrow closure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed detection capabilityVSAvoidseed depth and spacing measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of seeds at the seed tube outlet before they are deposited into the furrow. This preliminary action captures seed placement data at a known reference point, allowing the system to track and compensate for subsequent seed movements during deposition and furrow closure that would otherwise make measurement impossible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary computational model that correlates seed tube sensor data with actual seed placement in the furrow. This intermediary layer processes the relationship between detected seed positions and final seed positions, accounting for variables like seed bounce, roll, and displacement during furrow closure to produce accurate depth and spacing measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If sensors detect seeds before deposition into the furrow, then seed detection is enabled, but reliability of seed placement monitoring deteriorates due to seed bouncing, rolling, or landing off-target

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed detection capabilityVSAvoidseed placement monitoring accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring seed placement parameters and using this information to adjust and refine the computational model that predicts final seed positions. This feedback loop improves the reliability of placement monitoring over time, as the system learns from actual seed behavior patterns during deposition and furrow closure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of seeds at the seed tube outlet before they are deposited into the furrow. This preliminary action captures seed placement data at a known reference point, allowing the system to track and compensate for subsequent seed movements during deposition and furrow closure that would otherwise make measurement impossible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If conventional seed sensors are used, then seed detection before deposition is achieved, but measurement precision of post-deposition seed parameters deteriorates due to undetected seed displacement during furrow closure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepre-deposition seed detectionVSAvoidpost-deposition seed parameter accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary computational model that correlates seed tube sensor data with actual seed placement in the furrow. This intermediary layer processes the relationship between detected seed positions and final seed positions, accounting for variables like seed bounce, roll, and displacement during furrow closure to produce accurate depth and spacing measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of seeds at the seed tube outlet before they are deposited into the furrow. This preliminary action captures seed placement data at a known reference point, allowing the system to track and compensate for subsequent seed movements during deposition and furrow closure that would otherwise make measurement impossible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the accuracy of seed depth and spacing monitoring by leveraging the detectability of artificial seeds, providing reliable seed-related parameter determination even in challenging soil conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a seed sensor supported relative to the row unit and configured to generate data indicative of the artificial seeds as planted underneath a surface of the soil according to a dielectric property of the artificial seeds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric property detection: Dielectric

Implementation Method 2

detectable by ground-penetrating radar or electromagnetic induction sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12433186B2Systems and methods for monitoring seed placement within the ground using artificial seeds

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A system for monitoring seed placement within the ground during the performance of a planting operation includes a row unit configured to create a furrow in the soil for depositing seeds and to close the furrow after the seeds have been deposited therein, where the seeds deposited within the soil include both real seeds and artificial seeds. The system may further include a seed sensor supported relative to the row unit and configured to generate data indicative of the artificial seeds as planted underneath a surface of the soil according to a dielectric property of the artificial seeds. Additionally, the system may include a computing system configured to receive the data generated by the seed sensor, and to determine a seed-related parameter associated with the artificial seeds as planted underneath the surface of the soil based at least in part on the data generated by the seed sensor.