A New Concept for Seed Precision Planting

Mechanically driven seed metering devices currently perform their function efficiently and are a good solution to the problem of metering rates as seed is planted, but there are many voids that could be filled with a substantial change to the metering process. Electronically controlled seed singulation devices can address many of the inefficiencies experienced in a mechanically driven seed metering device and have the potential to increase productivity and yield rates dramatically. This research involves the process of designing, developing, and testing the feasibility of an apparatus used to precision place single seeds in a furrow during a planting operation. The equipment incorporated is a linear solenoid actuator connected with a special draw not used with any current seed metering device yet. The design uses an electronic device (based on 555 timer) to assist the solenoid in one movement (the forth movement of the draw), the back movement being accomplished by a spring. An optical electronic device was developed to trigger the 555 timer and the solenoid. This prototype gives a glimpse of what is possible in the future of seed singulation. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.