Seed and Plant Sensing for Targeted Fluid and Solid Application

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural systems struggle to accurately target fluid and solid applications relative to seed placement in furrows and plant locations in fields, leading to inefficiencies and potential harm to seeds or plants.

Innovation Solution

The use of seed sensors to determine seed placement in furrows and plant sensors to locate plants within fields, enabling precise targeting of fluid and solid applications based on sensed data, with control systems to manage material application in relation to seed or plant positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional non-targeted fluid and solid application systems are used, then application coverage is achieved, but precision of targeting relative to seed placement and plant location deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of targetingVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the application field into multiple independently controllable segments (nozzles or applicators) that can be individually activated or deactivated based on real-time sensor data about seed placement or plant location, enabling precise targeting without requiring complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Seed sensors detect and record seed placement positions before fluid or solid application occurs, allowing the control system to pre-calculate and prepare targeted application patterns, ensuring materials are delivered to the correct locations with high precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If targeted application systems with sensors are implemented, then precision of material delivery is improved, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of material deliveryVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs universal sensors and control mechanisms that can function across different application scenarios (fluid delivery, solid delivery, seed monitoring, plant monitoring), reducing overall system complexity by using standardized components rather than specialized equipment for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors seed placement or plant location through sensors and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust material application in real-time, ensuring high precision delivery while maintaining manageable complexity through closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If material is applied without accurate seed or plant location data, then application speed is maintained, but risk of seed or plant damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk of seed or plant damageVSAvoidtime for location detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous operation by processing sensor data and controlling material delivery in an integrated real-time workflow, eliminating idle time between detection and application while ensuring no seed or plant damage occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12349620B2Targeted fluid/solid dispensing based on sensed seed data or sensed plant data

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 PRECISION PLANTING LLC

AI summary

A planter system includes seed sensors for determining seed placement in a furrow to then target at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the seed. Plant sensors determine locations of plants within a field and then target at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the plant.