Planter Row Unit Visualization System for Boundary Placement Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Planter section control is challenging due to latencies and tolerance stack-ups when a planter crosses boundaries at high speeds, making it difficult to accurately align seed or commodity placement with field boundaries without overlap or underlap.
Innovation Solution
A method using a visualization system mounted on a planter row unit, which emits patterned light onto the ground surface, captures images of the projected pattern, and determines error placement of commodities relative to boundaries. This system adjusts the mechanical delay offset factor of the planter section control to optimize commodity placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If planter section control is adjusted to align commodity placement with boundaries, then placement accuracy improves, but latencies and tolerance stack-ups worsen due to high travel speeds and system delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images of deposited commodities with a camera, processes the images to determine actual placement locations, compares these locations to desired boundary positions, and automatically adjusts the mechanical delay offset factor based on the determined error placement. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for latencies and tolerance stack-ups by continuously correcting placement errors in real-time operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual measurement and adjustment methods (mechanical tape measures, manual operator intervention) with an automated optical imaging and image processing system. The camera captures commodity positions, image processing algorithms determine placement accuracy, and automated control adjusts the mechanical delay offset, substituting mechanical measurement systems with optical and computational systems for higher precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual measurement methods are used to verify seed location, then placement accuracy can be checked, but operator time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-verification by automatically capturing images of deposited commodities, processing these images to determine placement locations, and comparing actual positions to desired boundary positions without requiring external manual measurement. The planter system itself generates and analyzes the data needed for verification, eliminating the need for operators to exit the vehicle and manually measure seed locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods (tape measures, physical ground checking) with automated optical imaging and computer vision technology. The camera and image processing system continuously monitor commodity placement accuracy during operation, substituting slow manual verification with rapid automated optical measurement that occurs without interrupting field work.
3Productivity
If the planter travels at high speed to increase productivity, then field work efficiency improves, but commodity placement accuracy deteriorates due to increased latencies and tolerance stack-ups
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the mechanical delay offset factor based on real-time image processing results and actual placement measurements. Rather than using a fixed delay value, the system continuously adapts the timing compensation parameter to account for variations in travel speed, ensuring accurate boundary alignment regardless of whether the planter is operating at high or low speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed-loop feedback system continuously monitors actual commodity placement positions through image capture and processing, compares these positions to desired boundary locations, and automatically adjusts the mechanical delay offset factor to correct any errors. This real-time feedback mechanism maintains placement accuracy even when travel speed varies, allowing high-speed operation without sacrificing precision.
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 method improves the accuracy of commodity placement by minimizing error placement relative to boundaries, reducing overlap and underlap, and optimizing the mechanical delay offset factor to enhance planter section control.
Implementation Method 1
emitting a patterned light from a visualization system mounted on a planter row unit onto a trench in a ground surface, wherein the visualization system includes a structured light unit mounted on the planter row unit
Implementation Method 2
capturing a two-dimensional image of the projected patterned light on the trench with the visualization system that includes a camera mounted on the planter row unit, wherein the two-dimensional image includes the commodity
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating an agricultural work machine (140) is disclosed. The method comprising: emitting (352) a patterned light from a visualization system (60) mounted on a planter row unit (14) onto a trench in a ground surface (G), wherein the visualization system (60) includes a structured light unit (64) mounted on the planter row unit (14); depositing a commodity in the trench by the planter row unit (14); capturing (354) a two-dimensional image of the projected patterned light on the trench with the visualization system (60) that includes a camera (62) mounted on the planter row unit (14), wherein the two-dimensional image includes the commodity (102); and determining (358), with a controller (80) operably connected to the camera (62), an error placement (210, 212) of the commodity (102) in the two-dimensional image relative to a boundary (200).