Greenhouse Transplanting Robot with Segmented Planting Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional agricultural machinery is unsuitable for greenhouse transplanting due to its large size and poor coordination between walking and planting units, resulting in low efficiency and the inability to plant multiple rows of seedlings simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A compact transplanting robot with a walking device and multiple planting devices, utilizing a single power source to drive walking leg modules along a semicircular trajectory and independent power sources for planting apparatuses, enabling simultaneous transplantation of multiple seedlings in a tripod gait and switching between walking and wheeled movement states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional agricultural machinery is used, then planting capability is provided, but the machinery is too large to work in greenhouse spaces with limited working area
Solution Approach 1:
The transplanting machine is divided into multiple independent planting units (first planting unit, second planting unit, third planting unit, fourth planting unit) that can be separately controlled and operated. Each unit has its own planting mechanism that can work independently or in coordination with others, allowing the machine to navigate and plant in the constrained greenhouse space effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine transitions from a single-plane operation to multi-dimensional operation by arranging planting units at different positions and orientations. The first and second planting units are arranged in a first direction while the third and fourth planting units are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, enabling the machine to plant in multiple rows simultaneously and navigate the three-dimensional greenhouse space more efficiently.
2Area of stationary object
If small-sized transplanting machines are used to fit greenhouse spaces, then space adaptability is improved, but coordination between walking unit and planting unit deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The walking unit is designed with universal functionality to support multiple planting units simultaneously. The walking mechanism can coordinate with any combination of planting units (first, second, third, or fourth planting units) through a unified control system, allowing the same walking unit to adapt to different planting configurations and row arrangements without requiring separate walking mechanisms for each planting unit.
3Productivity
If most transplanting machines plant only one or two rows of seedlings at the same time, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transplanting machine is divided into multiple independent planting units (first planting unit, second planting unit, third planting unit, fourth planting unit) that can be separately controlled and operated. Each unit has its own planting mechanism that can work independently or in coordination with others, allowing the machine to plant multiple rows simultaneously and significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple planting units are merged into a single integrated machine that shares common components such as the walking unit, control system, and power source. This merging approach allows the machine to plant multiple rows simultaneously while avoiding the need for completely separate machines for each row, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
4Productivity
If multiple planting units are used to plant multiple rows simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but control coordination between units deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple planting units through a unified interface. The same control system can coordinate the first, second, third, and fourth planting units using consistent control algorithms and communication protocols, allowing multiple rows to be planted simultaneously while maintaining simple and consistent control coordination across all units.
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
The robot significantly improves transplanting efficiency by allowing the simultaneous planting of multiple rows of seedlings and navigating narrow greenhouse spaces without turning, addressing the limitations of traditional machinery.
Implementation Method 1
the walking motor outputs power to two transmission shafts through a transmission assembly and two independent electromagnetic clutches; when any electromagnetic clutch is turned on, the corresponding transmission shaft outputs, through transmission gears on the transmission shaft, power to the walking leg module connected to the electromagnetic clutch
Data Source
AI summary
A transplanting robot applicable to a greenhouse includes a walking device and planting devices; the walking device includes a chassis, a driving assembly mounted on the chassis, and several walking leg modules arranged on two sides of the chassis; each walking leg module is provided with the planting device that moves synchronously with the walking leg module; the driving assembly is provided with a walking motor; and the walking motor outputs power to two transmission shafts through a transmission assembly and two independent electromagnetic clutches. When any electromagnetic clutch is turned on, the corresponding transmission shaft outputs, through transmission gears on the transmission shaft, power to the walking leg module connected to the electromagnetic clutch.