Overlap Seeding Control Without Row Unit Lift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural product delivery systems face inefficiencies in maximizing field area coverage while minimizing overlapping travel paths, leading to double seeding and disruption of previously planted areas, especially in oddly shaped or inclined fields, and incur high complexity and cost with prior solutions that attempt to lift row units or completely stop and restart application.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that dispense 100% of the desired product amount in the first pass across the entire field, including overlap areas, and adjust the application rate in subsequent passes to match the percentage of product disturbed by row units, ensuring continuous operation without lifting row units out of the soil, thus minimizing over-seeding and maintaining efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the product delivery arrangement uses overlapping travel paths to maximize field area coverage, then the entire field area can be seeded, but double seeding occurs and previously planted areas are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different treatment to different areas of the field by identifying overlap zones and adjusting the metering rate specifically in those areas while maintaining full application in non-overlap areas, ensuring uniform seed distribution across the entire field
Solution Approach 2:
The metering rate parameter is dynamically adjusted based on location within the field. In overlap areas, the metering rate is reduced to compensate for the disruption caused by row units, while in non-overlap areas the full metering rate is maintained
2Object-generated harmful factors
If row units are completely stopped and restarted to prevent double seeding, then over-seeding is avoided, but time lag occurs affecting application rate accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely stopping and restarting the row units, the system dynamically adjusts the metering rate while the row units continue to move through the field, eliminating the time lag associated with complete stops and restarts
Solution Approach 2:
The row units maintain continuous operation through the overlap areas without stopping, and the metering system continuously adjusts the application rate to prevent over-seeding, ensuring uninterrupted seeding coverage
3Object-generated harmful factors
If row units are raised out of contact with soil in overlap areas to avoid double seeding, then over-seeding is prevented, but field areas go unplanted and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical system of lifting and lowering row units is replaced with a controlled metering rate adjustment system that prevents over-seeding through electronic control while maintaining continuous row unit contact with the soil
Solution Approach 2:
The metering rate parameter is adjusted in response to GPS location data to prevent over-seeding in overlap areas, eliminating the need for mechanical row unit lifting mechanisms
4Measurement precision
If the metering rate is adjusted in response to GPS location data, then precise control of application rate is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system integrates multiple functions including GPS location tracking, overlap area identification, and metering rate adjustment into a single unified system that manages the entire precision application process
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses GPS location data as feedback to continuously adjust the metering rate, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains precise application rates based on real-time position information
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and an apparatus minimize over-seeding and disruption of previously placed seed in an overlap area, when applying an agricultural product to a field with an agricultural product delivery arrangement having row units, by dispensing a predetermined first product amount equal to one hundred percent of a desired application to the field in a first pass through the entire field including the overlap area, and then dispensing a second product amount in a subsequent pass through the overlap area without raising row units out of the soil during the subsequent pass. The second product amount is determined as a function of a percentage the predetermined first product amount applied to the overlap area during the first pass that is disturbed by operative engagement of the row units with the soil during the subsequent pass over the overlap area.