Automated Seed Tissue Sampling for High-Throughput Trait Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing tissue samples from seeds are inefficient and lack automation, leading to difficulties in identifying seeds that do not express desired traits during genetic improvement processes.
Innovation Solution
An automated seed sampling system comprising a seed loading assembly, a seed transport assembly, and a seed sampling assembly, which uses separating wheels, retention members, and automated samplers to singulate and remove tissue samples from seeds, with pneumatic operations to minimize damage and ensure high throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual seed sampling is used, then seed handling is simple, but processing speed is slow and productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides seed processing into distinct functional modules: seed loading assembly for singulation, transport assembly with retention members for movement, and sampling assembly for tissue removal. Each module handles a specific task, enabling high-throughput automated processing while maintaining manageable complexity through functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical handling with automated mechanisms including vacuum-powered retention members for seed capture, robotic positioning systems for precise seed placement, and automated cutting tools for tissue sampling. This substitution dramatically increases processing speed and consistency
2Productivity
If rapid seed processing is implemented, then productivity increases, but seed damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary seed singulation and orientation before sampling, using vacuum retention members to gently capture and position each seed. The cutting tool is precisely positioned and calibrated to remove only the required tissue sample size, minimizing mechanical stress and damage while maintaining high processing throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts operational parameters including cutting depth, cutting speed, and retention member vacuum pressure to optimize the balance between processing speed and seed integrity. These parameters are controlled to ensure rapid processing while preventing excessive force that could damage the seed
3Measurement precision
If statistical sampling is performed to cull seeds, then trait verification is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous automated seed processing where seeds are continuously loaded, transported, sampled, and sorted without interruption. The automated sampling assembly operates continuously to remove tissue samples for trait analysis, eliminating the time losses associated with manual batch processing and significantly accelerating the seed culling process
Data Source
AI summary
An automated method for removing tissue from a seed is provided. The automated method includes singulating a seed from a plurality of seeds and imaging the singulated seed to obtain at least one characteristic of the seed. The automated method further includes positioning the singulated seed in a sampler of an automated seed sampling assembly and removing, by the sampler, tissue from the singulated seed based on the at least one characteristic of the seed.