Planter Trench Profiling by Camera Motion and Artifact Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult for operators to visually inspect the shape of trenches formed by planter row units due to closing wheels covering the trenches, leading to decreased efficiency and productivity in seed and commodity deposition.
Innovation Solution
A camera system mounted on the planter row unit captures image data, which is processed by a computing device to determine geometric parameters of the trench, including depth and seed location, using camera displacement and artifact tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closing wheels are used to close trenches after seed deposition, then soil is properly covered and protected, but the operator cannot visually inspect trench shape and seed placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the trench and seed placement, creating a visual copy that can be viewed on a display device. This allows the operator to inspect the trench profile and seed deposition without physically accessing the area, resolving the contradiction between maintaining soil coverage and enabling visual inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and display system act as an intermediary between the operator and the trench. Instead of directly observing the trench, the operator views it through the camera's visual representation, allowing inspection while the closing wheels remain in place to protect the soil.
2Measurement precision
If the operator stops the tractor to visually inspect seed placement, then accurate observation is possible, but efficiency and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The camera creates a real-time visual copy of the trench and seed placement that can be viewed on a display device while the tractor continues moving. This eliminates the need to stop for inspection, maintaining both inspection accuracy and planting efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system allows the operator to continuously monitor seed placement and trench formation without interrupting the planting process. The camera and display enable ongoing observation while the tractor maintains continuous forward motion, preserving productivity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple images are captured and processed to determine geometric parameters, then accurate trench profiling is achieved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the camera's own displacement and motion characteristics to automatically calculate geometric parameters from the captured images. The processing algorithm leverages the known camera movement to derive trench profile information, reducing the need for external measurement devices and simplifying the overall system while maintaining accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for identifying geometric parameters of a trench during a planting process. The method includes, providing image data of the trench from a camera to a computing device, the image data including more than one image, identifying at least one artifact in a first image and a second image of the image data, determining camera displacement between the first image and the second image, and applying the camera displacement and positioning of the at least one artifact to identify a geometric location of the at least one artifact identified in the first image and the second image.