Seeding Machine Acceleration Compensation for Precise Seed Placement

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural seeding machines face inaccuracies in seed distribution due to delays in speed measurement and transmission, leading to uneven seed application when speed changes occur, such as starting, turning, or driving on gradients, resulting in spots without seeds or excessive seed application.

Innovation Solution

A control system that compensates for anticipated speed changes by predicting future speed based on map data and sensor inputs, adjusting the seeding mechanism's drive to ensure precise application rates and positions, considering the time lag between speed changes and seed delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If speed measurement and transmission are used to control seed distribution, then seed placement precision is improved, but delays in speed measurement and transmission cause inaccuracies in seed distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed measurement precisionVSAvoidtime lag between speed changes and seed delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary action by predicting future speed values based on current and historical speed data before the actual speed change occurs. This allows the system to anticipate the time lag effect and adjust seed delivery commands in advance, compensating for the delay between speed measurement and seed delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring actual speed measurements and comparing them with predicted speed values. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the seed delivery commands to compensate for any discrepancies caused by time lags, ensuring accurate seed distribution despite measurement delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the seeding mechanism responds to speed changes, then seed application rate is adjusted, but delays cause uneven seed application when speed changes occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed application rate adjustmentVSAvoidseed application uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary action by predicting future speed values before actual speed changes occur. This allows the system to anticipate the time lag effect and adjust seed delivery commands in advance, compensating for the delay between speed measurement and seed delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring actual speed measurements and comparing them with predicted speed values. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the seed delivery commands to compensate for any discrepancies caused by time lags, ensuring accurate seed distribution despite measurement delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If speed information is used to compensate for temporal offset, then seed placement position is improved, but accelerations and decelerations cause seed gaps or overapplication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseed placement position precisionVSAvoidseed distribution reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary action by predicting future speed values based on current and historical speed data before the actual speed change occurs. This allows the system to anticipate the time lag effect and adjust seed delivery commands in advance, compensating for the delay between speed measurement and seed delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring actual speed measurements and comparing them with predicted speed values. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the seed delivery commands to compensate for any discrepancies caused by time lags, ensuring accurate seed distribution despite measurement delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250344630A1Acceleration compensation in controlling a seeding machine

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A seeding machine includes a seeding mechanism driven by a seeding motor. A motor command signal is compensated for accelerations based on a wheel based speed of a towing vehicle.