Planter Section Control Delay Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current planter section control systems face challenges in accurately adjusting seed and commodity placement relative to field boundaries, due to mechanical delays and latency issues, leading to potential overlap or underlap errors.
Innovation Solution
A visualization system mounted on a planter row unit emits patterned light onto the ground surface, captures images of the projected pattern, and uses a controller to determine error placements of commodities relative to boundaries. This system adjusts a mechanical delay offset factor to optimize commodity placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If planter section control is adjusted to align seed and commodity placement with field boundaries, then placement accuracy is improved, but mechanical delays and latency issues cause overlap or underlap errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by calculating and applying a mechanical delay offset factor before the planter reaches the boundary. The controller determines the offset based on the distance between the GPS antenna and the commodity delivery system, then pre-adjusts the section control timing to compensate for the mechanical delay, ensuring accurate placement at the boundary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring GPS position data and comparing the actual commodity placement location with the intended boundary location. The controller adjusts the mechanical delay offset factor based on this feedback to minimize overlap or underlap errors in subsequent operations.
2Measurement precision
If GPS system is mounted on the tractor to measure position, then measurement capability is provided, but latency occurs because row units are positioned rearwardly of the tractor
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary approach by calculating the positional offset between the GPS antenna on the tractor and the commodity delivery system on the row units. The controller applies this offset to compensate for the time delay, effectively translating the GPS position data to the actual commodity placement location.
3Productivity
If planter travels at high speed across boundary, then productivity is improved, but tolerance stack-ups and latencies increase making section control difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the mechanical delay offset factor before the planter crosses the boundary at high speed. By pre-determining the timing adjustment based on the known distance and speed, the system compensates for tolerance stack-ups that would otherwise accumulate during high-speed operation.
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 system improves the accuracy of seed and commodity placement by compensating for mechanical delays, reducing overlap and underlap errors, and enhancing overall planter section control efficiency.
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
Data Source
AI summary
A patterned light from a visualization system mounted on a planter row unit is emitted onto a ground surface. A commodity and/or a product is deposited in the ground surface. Images of the projected patterned light on the trench with the commodity and/or product are captured with the visualization system. A controller determines whether the commodity captured in the image is a boundary commodity relative to a boundary. An error placement of the boundary commodity in the image relative to a boundary is determined using geographical identification metadata. If the error placement is unacceptable, a mechanical delay offset factor of a planter section control coupled with the planter row unit is adjusted. The controller determines a product characterization of the product and an error characterization of the product characterization relative to the location of the commodity. If the error characterization is unacceptable then the mechanical delay offset factor is adjusted.