Planter Seed Spray Nozzle Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seed spraying systems waste agricultural fluids by spraying continuous bands across rows, leading to excessive waste and increased costs, especially with narrow row spacings, and require complex individual seed timing for accurate placement.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a controller to determine seed frequency based on planter speed-related parameters, controlling a nozzle assembly to spray a metered amount of fluid at the same frequency as seed dispensing, eliminating the need for complex individual seed timing by synchronizing fluid application with seed placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional continuous band spraying systems are used, then fluid coverage is uniform across the row, but excessive fluid waste occurs and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous band spray is segmented into discrete spray events triggered by individual seed detection. The system divides the row into seed-specific zones, activating nozzles only where seeds are present rather than spraying continuously across the entire row width.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray application transitions from uniform coverage to localized targeted application. Each seed location receives customized fluid treatment based on detection, allowing different spray rates and patterns at different locations along the row rather than a single continuous rate.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual seed timing is implemented for accurate fluid placement, then seed-specific fluid placement precision improves, but system complexity and processor requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsed spray activation synchronized with seed passage through the detection zone. Instead of continuous monitoring and decision-making for each seed, the system employs rhythmic spray cycles triggered at regular intervals corresponding to seed spacing and travel speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates spray timing based on anticipated seed locations derived from plant population data and travel speed, rather than waiting to detect and process each individual seed. This preliminary timing calculation simplifies the control logic by eliminating real-time individual seed tracking requirements.
3Productivity
If narrow row spacings are used to increase seed population, then productivity increases, but the gap between seeds widens and fluid waste increases with conventional systems
Solution Approach 1:
The spray system dynamically adapts to varying seed spacing patterns resulting from different row configurations. The control system adjusts spray timing and duration based on actual seed detection patterns, allowing effective coverage whether seeds are densely or sparsely distributed along the row.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes at least one nozzle assembly configured to spray fluid towards seeds planted within a furrow. The at least one nozzle assembly includes a valve. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the valve. The controller is configured to control operation of the valve such that fluid is sprayed at least one of on or adjacent to each seed within the furrow. The system further includes a detector communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to detect a location of each spray relative to a location of a respective one of the seeds within the furrow.